State Animal Cruelty Laws
Click on each state for a definition of animals laws
and penalties in each state.
Alabama
ALA.
CODE
§§ (11-14)
-- last amended 2000
Definition of Animal:
Dog or cat shall mean any domesticated member of the dog or cat
family.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overloads,
overdrives, deprives of necessary sustenance or shelter,
unnecessarily or cruelly beats, injures, mutilates, or causes
the same to be done; intentionally tortures any dog or cat or
skins a domestic dog or cat or offers for sale or exchange or
offers to buy or exchange the fur, hide, or pelt of a domestic
dog or cat.
-
Cruelty
to a dog or cat.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $1000
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months
-
Intentionally tortures any dog or cat.
-
Class
C Felony
-
Fine
up to $5000
-
Imprisonment up to 10 years
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Research, protection of life or property, training; shoots dog
or cat with a BB gun for defecating/urinating on property.
Alaska
ALASKA
STAT. §§ 11.61.140 et seq. -- last amended 1998
Definition of Animal:
A vertebrate living creature not a human being, but does not
include fish.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Knowingly
inflicts severe physical pain or suffering; or with criminal
negligence fails to care for an animal and causes its death or
severe pain or prolonged suffering.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Neither
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Community service, restitution.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, research, training, or veterinary care.
Arizona
ARIZ. REV.
STAT. § § 13-2910 et seq. -- last amended 1999
Definition of Animal:
A mammal, bird, reptile or amphibian.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly subjects an animal to
neglect or abandonment, fails to provide medical attention to
prevent suffering or inflicts unnecessary physical injury,
mistreatment, or death.
-
Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly subjects an animal to
cruel treatment.
-
Class
1 Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $2500.
-
Imprisonment for 6 months.
-
Intentionally subjects any animal to cruel neglect, cruel
mistreatment, or kills or harms a working or service animal.
-
Class
6 Felony
-
Fine
up to $150,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1.5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Seizure
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Community service, no animal ownership for 3 years, restitution.
Exemptions:
Hunting, poisoning rodents or dogs killing or wounding
livestock.
Arkansas
ARK. CODE
ANN. §§ 5-62-101 et seq. -- last amended 2001
Definition of Animal:
Every living creature.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Knowingly
abandons any animal, subjects it to cruel mistreatment or cruel
neglect, or kills or injures an animal without the owner's
consent.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Seizure
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, counseling.
Exemptions:
Hunting, livestock protection.
California
CAL. PENAL
CODE
§§ 597
et seq. -- last amended 1998
Definition of Animal:
Every dumb creature.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, wounds
or kills an animal. Overdrives, overloads, overworks, tortures,
torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, drink, or shelter,
cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly kills any animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor or Felony (may be charged either way)
-
Fine
up to $20,000 (for either)
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year (for either).
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Unique
Provisions:
Elephant abuse.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, research.
Colorado
COLO. REV.
STAT. §§ 18-9-202 et seq. -- last amended 2002
Definition of Animal:
Any living dumb creature.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Knowingly
or with criminal negligence overdrives, overloads, overworks,
tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance,
unnecessarily or cruelly beats, needlessly mutilates or kills,
carries or confines in a cruel or reckless manner, fails to
provide proper food, drink, or shelter, or abandons any animal.
A person commits the crime of aggravated cruelty to animals if
the person: knowingly or intentionally tortures or torments an
animal that needlessly injures, mutilates, or kills an animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
1 Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 18 months.
-
Aggravated cruelty to animals.
-
Class
6 Felony
-
Fine
up to $100,000.
-
Imprisonment for up to 18 months.
-
Second or
subsequent offense of cruelty to animals.
-
Class
5 Felony
-
Fine
up to $100,000.
-
Imprisonment for up to 3 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Neither
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Anger management, psychological counseling, community service,
restitution.
Exemptions:
Farming, rodeos, veterinary care.
Connecticut
CONN. GEN.
STAT. §§ 53-247 et seq. -- last amended 1996
Definition of Animal:
All brute creatures and birds.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overdrives, overloads, overworks, tortures, deprives of
necessary sustenance, mutilates or cruelly beats or kills or
unjustifiably injures any animal, or fails to provide any
confined animal with proper care such as wholesome air, food and
water, or administers a poisonous or noxious drug, or abandons
or carries in a cruel manner, or fights, baits or harasses an
animal for the purpose of making it perform.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor or felony in statute.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Intentionally and maliciously tortures or injures an animal.
-
Misdemeanor or felony in statute.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Unique
Provisions:
Humane poultry transport.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, research, veterinary care.
Delaware
DEL. CODE
ANN. tit. 11, §§ 1325 et seq. -- last amended 1999
Definition of Animal:
Does not include fish, crustacea or molluska.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Subjects
any animal to cruel mistreatment or neglect, or kills an animal
without the owner's consent, or cruelly or unnecessarily kills
or injures any animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor
-
$1000
fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 years.
-
Intentional cruelty.
-
Class
F Felony
-
$5000
fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 3 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, no animal ownership for 5 - 15 years.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, protection of life or property, research,
veterinary care.
District of Columbia
D.C. CODE
ANN. §§ 22-801 et seq. -- last amended 1994
Definition of Animal:
All living and sentient creatures (human beings excepted).
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overdrives, overloads, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives
of necessary sustenance, cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly
kills, or fails to provide proper food, drink, or shelter.
Cruelly drives or works when unfit for labor, or cruelly
abandons, or carries in a cruel manner. Fails to provide proper
food or shelter for any sick or disabled animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $250.
-
Imprisonment up to 180 days.
-
Cruelty
to animals resulting in serious bodily injury or death.
-
Felony.
-
Fine
up to $25,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Seizure
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Research.
Florida
FLA. STAT.
§§ 828.12 et seq. -- last amended 1999
Definition of Animal:
No.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overloads,
overdrives, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance or
shelter, or unnecessarily mutilates or kills any animal, or
carries in a cruel manner; intentionally commits an act which
results in a cruel death, or the repeated infliction of
unnecessary pain or suffering; fails to supply a confined animal
with sufficient food, water, or exercise, or abandons any
animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
1st
Degree Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Intentional cruelty.
-
3rd
Degree Felony
-
Fine
up to $10,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Veterinary care.
Georgia
GA. CODE
ANN. § 16-12-4 et seq. -- last amended 2000
Definition of Animal:
Shall not include any fish nor shall such term include any pest
that might be exterminated.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Commits an
act, omission, or neglect which causes unjustifiable physical
pain, suffering, or death to any living animal; knowingly and
maliciously causes death or physical harm to an animal by
rendering part of such animal's body useless or by seriously
disfiguring such animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals
-
Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
2nd or
subsequent offense
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
2nd or
subsequent offense resulting in death
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $10,000.
-
Imprisonment 3 months to 1 year.
-
Aggravated Cruelty
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $15,000.
-
Imprisonment 1 to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Neither
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
No.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, protection of person or property, zoological,
exhibition, trapping, pest control, veterinary care, research.
Hawaii
HAW. REV.
STAT. § § 711-1109 et seq. -- last amended 1998
Definition of Animal:
Undefined.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly overdrives, overloads,
tortures, torments, cruelly beats or starves any animal, or
deprives of necessary sustenance, or mutilates, poisons, or
kills without need, or carries in a cruel or inhumane manner.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $2000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
No.
Exemptions:
Research, or veterinary care.
Idaho
IDAHO CODE
§§ 25-3502
et seq. -- last amended 1996
Definition of Animal:
Any vertebrate member of the animal kingdom, except man.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Is cruel
to any animal, or causes or procures any animal to be cruelly
treated, or abandons, or carries any animal in a cruel manner;
cruelty means the intentional and malicious infliction of pain,
physical suffering, injury or death upon an animal, or to
maliciously kill, maim, wound, overdrive, overload, overwork,
torture, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance, drink or
shelter, cruelly beat, mutilate or cruelly kill an animal, or
needlessly inflict unnecessary cruelty on an unfit animal, or to
abandon, or confine an animal in unsanitary conditions, or fail
to provide sustenance, water, or shelter.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor
-
$100
to $5000 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Exhibitions, farming, research, veterinary care, protection of
life or property, predatory animals, diseased or disabled
animals.
Illinois
ILL. COMP.
STAT. ch. 510, para. 70/1 et seq. -- last amended 1986
Definition of Animal:
Every living creature, domestic or wild, but does not include
man.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Beats,
cruelly treats, torments, starves, overworks, abandons, or
otherwise commits any act that causes an animal to suffer
serious injury or death.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
C Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1500.
-
Imprisonment up to 30 days.
-
Aggravated cruelty
-
Class
A Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $2500.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Animal
torture.
-
Class
4 Felony.
-
Fine
up to $25,000.
-
Imprisonment 1 year to 3 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, counseling.
Unique
Provisions:
Defines owner's duties.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting.
Indiana
IND. CODE
§§35-46-3-1 et seq. -- last amended 1998
Definition of Animal:
Does not include a human being.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Knowingly
or intentionally tortures, beats, or mutilates a vertebrate
animal.
-
Abandons
or neglects animals
-
Class
B Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 180 days.
-
Tortures
or mutilates animals.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Previous,
unrelated conviction under §35-46-3-3.
-
Class
D Felony *
-
Fine
up to $10,000.
-
An
additional 1-1/2 years imprisonment.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Discipline, protection of person or property, prolonged
suffering.
Iowa
IOWA CODE
§§717B.1
et seq. -- last amended 2000
Definition of Animal:
A nonhuman vertebrate, but does not include livestock, any game,
fur-bearing animal, fish, reptile, or amphibian.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally injures, maims, disfigures, or destroys an animal
owned by another, in any manner, including intentional
poisoning; inflicts upon the animal severe physical pain with a
depraved or sadistic intent to cause prolonged suffering or
death.
-
Animal
neglect (negligently)
-
Simple Misdemeanor.
-
$50
to $500 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 30 days.
-
Animal
neglect (intentionally)
-
Serious Misdemeanor.
-
$250
to $1500 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Animal
abuse
-
Aggravated Misdemeanor.
-
$500
to $5000 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
-
Animal
torture
-
Aggravated Misdemeanor.
-
$500
to $5000 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years
-
2nd or
subsequent offense of animal torture
-
Class
D Felony*.
-
$500
to $7500 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, restitution.
Exemptions:
Consent of owner, veterinary care, order by court,
hunting/trapping, protection of person or property, farming,
research.
Kansas
KAN. STAT.
ANN. §§ 21-4310 et seq. -- last amended 1996
Definition of Animal:
Every living vertebrate except a human being.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally kills, injures, maims, tortures, mutilates,
abandons, or fails to provide food, water, or shelter.
-
Cruelty
to animals
-
Class
A Nonperson Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $2500.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Farming, protection of property, research, rodeos, veterinary
practices, hunting/trapping, diseased disabled animals.
Kentucky
KY. REV.
STAT. ANN. §§ 525.125, .130, .135 -- last amended 03/31/03
Definition of Animal:
Every warm-blooded living creature except a human being. (§
446.010(2))
Statute
Summary:
§ 525.125:
The following persons are guilty of cruelty to animals in the
first degree whenever a four-legged animal is caused to fight
for pleasure or profit:
-
The owner
of the animal,
-
The owner
of the property on which the fight is conducted if the owner
knows of the fight, and
-
Anyone
who participates in the organization of the fight.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
D felony.
-
Fine
of $1,000 to $10,000.
-
Imprisonment from 1 to 5 years.
§ 525.130:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally or wantonly causes cruel or injurious mistreatment
through abandonment, mutilation, beating, torturing (any animal
other than a dog or cat [see § 525.135]), tormenting, failing to
provide adequate food, drink, space, or health care, or subjects
any animal to cruel neglect, or kills any animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $500.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
§ 525.135:
A person is guilty of torture of a dog or cat when he/she:
Intentionally inflicts (or subjects) a dog or cat to extreme
physical pain or injury, motivated by an intent to increase or
prolong the pain of the animal.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Seizure
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
No.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, humane purposes, veterinary, agricultural,
spaying, neutering, cosmetic purposes, sporting activities,
animal research, in defense of self or another, in defense of a
domestic animal, and animal or pest control.
Louisiana
LA. REV.
STAT. ANN. §§ 14:102.1 et seq. -- last amended 1997
Definition of Animal:
Fowl shall not be defined as animals except Orders
Psittaciformes and Passeriformes.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally or with criminal negligence tortures, maims,
mutilates, overdrives, overloads, overworks, torments, cruelly
beats, unjustifiably injures, fails to provide property food,
drink, shelter, and veterinary care, abandons, confines without
proper care, carries in a cruel manner, poisons or drugs,
mistreats, or injures without the owner's permission.
-
Simple
Cruelty.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
-
Aggravated Cruelty.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
$5000
to $25,000 fine.
-
1 to
10 years imprisonment.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Community service, cost of care.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, research, veterinary practices.
Maine
ME. REV.
STAT. ANN. tit. 17 §§ 1031 et seq. -- last amended 2001
Definition of Animal:
Every living, sentient creature not a human being.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly kills or attempts to
kill an animal or causes extreme physical pain to an animal,
maliciously kills an animal, or intentionally or knowingly
tortures an animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
D Crime.
-
$500
to $5,000 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Subsequent violation of cruelty to animals:
-
Class
C Crime.
-
$1,000 to $10,000 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
-
Aggravated cruelty to animals:
-
Class
C Crime.
-
$1,000 to $10,000 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, housing, counseling, cost of veterinary medical
treatment, limited future ownership.
Unique
Provisions:
Prohibits cruelty to birds. Provides for a civil violation for
cruelty to animals (7 §4011)
Exemptions:
Pest control, research, veterinary care.
Maryland
MD. CODE
ANN. art. 27, §§ 59 et seq. -- last amended 2001
Definition of Animal:
No.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overdrives, overloads, deprives of necessary sustenance,
tortures, torments, or cruelly beats, inflicts unnecessary
suffering or pain upon the animal, or fails to provide necessary
veterinary care, proper drink, air, space, shelter, or
protection from the weather; intentionally mutilates or cruelly
kills an animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 90 days.
-
Aggravated cruelty to animals.
-
Felony
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 3 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, counseling.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, pest elimination, training, veterinary care.
Massachusetts
MASS. GEN.
LAWS ch. 272 §§ 77 et seq. and MASS. GEN. LAWS ch. 266 §
112 -- last amended 1989
Definition of Animal:
No.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overdrives, overloads, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives
of necessary sustenance, cruelly beats, mutilates or kills, uses
in a cruel race or game, unnecessarily fails to provide any
animal with proper food, drink, shelter, sanitary environment,
or protection from the weather, or willfully abandons it, or
carries it in a cruel manner, or knowingly and willfully
authorizes or permits it to be subjected to unnecessary torture,
suffering or cruelty of any kind.
-
Cruelty
to animals
-
Defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Malicious
killing of animals.
-
Defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Unique
Provisions:
Prohibits animal races.
Exemptions:
Use of bait in fishing.
Michigan
MICH.
COMP. LAWS
§§ 750.50
et seq. -- last amended 1998
Definition of Animal:
Vertebrates other than a human being.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Fails to
provide with adequate care, cruelly drives, works, or beats, or
carries in a cruel manner, or abandons, or willfully or
negligently allows any animal, including a disabled one, to
suffer unnecessary neglect, torture, or pain; willfully,
maliciously and without just cause or excuse kills, tortures,
mutilates, maims, or disfigures an animal or exposes an animal
to poison.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 93 days.
-
2nd
violation of cruelty to animals
-
Felony
-
Fine
up to $2000.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
-
3rd or
subsequent violation of cruelty to animals.
-
Felony
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 4 years.
-
Willfully
or maliciously killing or injuring an animal.
-
Felony
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 4 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Community service, cost of care, counseling, no future animal
ownership (if a felony).
Unique
Provisions:
Defines tether length.
Exemptions:
Farming, fishing, horse racing, hunting, pest control, research,
zoos.
Minnesota
MINN STAT.
§§ 343.20 et seq. -- last amended 2001
Definition of Animal:
Includes any animal owned, possessed by, cared for, or
controlled by a person for the present or future enjoyment of
that person or another as a pet or companion, or any stray pet
or stray companion animal.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overdrives, overloads, tortures, cruelly beats, neglects,
unjustifiably injures, maims, mutilates, or kills any animal ,
or cruelly works an animal unfit for labor, or abandons, or
deprives an animal of necessary food, water, or shelter.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $700.
-
Imprisonment up to 90 days.
-
2nd or
subsequent violation of cruelty to animals.
-
Gross
Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $3000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Intentional cruelty to animals resulting in bodily harm.
-
Gross
Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $3000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
2nd or
subsequent violation of intentional cruelty to animals
resulting in bodily harm
-
Defined by statute.
-
Fine
up to $5,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
-
Intentional cruelty to animals resulting in death or great
bodily harm.
-
Defined by statute.
-
Fine
up to $5,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, psychological behavioral or other counseling,
limited animal ownership.
Exemptions:
None
Mississippi
MISS. CODE
ANN. §§ 97-41-1 et seq. -- last amended 1997
Definition of Animal:
Any feline, exotic animal, canine, horse, mule, jack or jennet.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overrides,
overdrives, overloads, tortures, torments, unjustifiably
injures, deprives of necessary sustenance, food, or drink,
carries in a cruel manner, poisons, abandons, cruelly beats,
needlessly mutilates, or kills any living creature.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
-
Malicious
injury to dogs.
-
Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, limited future ownership.
Unique
Provisions:
Livestock protection.
Exemptions:
None
Missouri
MO. REV.
STAT. §§ 578.005 et seq. -- last amended 1998
Definition of Animal:
Every living vertebrate except a human being.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally or purposely kills an animal, causes injury or
suffering, or fails to provide adequate care.
-
Animal
neglect and abandonment.
-
Class
C Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $500.
-
Imprisonment up to 15 days.
-
Animal
abuse.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Animal
torture or mutilation
-
Class
D Felony.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, pest control, protection of person or property
or livestock, research, rodeos, training, veterinary care, zoos.
Montana
MONT. CODE
ANN. §§ 45-8-209 et seq. -- last amended 1993
Definition of Animal:
No.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Knowingly
or negligently subjects an animal to mistreatment or neglect by
overworking, beating, tormenting, injuring, killing, carrying in
a cruel manner, failing to provide an animal with proper food,
drink, shelter, or medical care, or abandoning a helpless
animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $500.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
-
2nd or
subsequent offense of cruelty to animals.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Forfeiture
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, limited future ownership.
Unique
Provisions:
Prohibits animal races.
Exemptions:
Farming, research, humane euthanization.
Nebraska
NEB. REV.
STAT. §§ 28-1008 et seq. -- last amended 2002