Animal Laws By States

States


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

Definition of Animal: Any vertebrate member of the animal kingdom.

Statute Summary: A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:

Abandons, cruelly mistreats, or cruelly neglects an animal.

  • Abandonment or cruel neglect.
    • Class II Misdemeanor
    • Fine up to $1000.
    • Imprisonment up to 6 months.
  • 2nd or subsequent offense of abandonment or cruel neglect.
    • Class I Misdemeanor
    • Fine up to $1000.
    • Imprisonment up to 1 year.
  • Cruelty to animals.
    • Class I Misdemeanor
    • Fine up to $1000.
    • Imprisonment up to 1 year.
  • 2nd or subsequent offense of cruelty to animals.
    • Class IV Felony
    • Fine up to $10,000.
    • Imprisonment up to 5 years.

Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure: Seizure

Other Sentencing Provisions: Cost of care.

Exemptions: Farming, hunting, research, rodeos, training, veterinary care, humane euthanization, pest control.

Nevada

NEV. REV. STAT. §§ 574.050 et seq. -- last amended 2001

Definition of Animal: Does not include the human race, but includes every other living creature.

Statute Summary: A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:

Overdrives, overloads, tortures, cruelly beats, unjustifiably injures, maims, mutilates, kills, administers a poisonous or noxious drug, deprives of or neglects to provide necessary sustenance, food or drink, or abandons an animal.

  • Cruelty to animals.
    • Misdemeanor
    • $200 to $1000 fine.
    • 2 days to 6 months imprisonment.
  • 2nd offense of cruelty to animals.
    • Misdemeanor
    • $500 to $1000 fine.
    • 10 days - 6 months imprisonment.
  • 3rd or subsequent offense of cruelty to animals.
    • Category C Felony
    • Fine up to $10,000.
    • 1 year to 5 years imprisonment.

Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure: Both

Other Sentencing Provisions: Community service, cost of care, psychiatric evaluation and counseling.

Unique Provisions: Poisoning horses, mules, or cattle is a Category C felony.

Exemptions: Rodeos, livestock shows, ranching, hunting, dangerous animals, farming, research.

New Hampshire

N.H. REV. STAT. ANN. §§ 644:8 et seq. -- last amended 1999

Definition of Animal: A domestic animal, a household pet or a wild animal in captivity

Statute Summary: A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:

Negligently deprives any animal in his possession or custody of necessary care, sustenance or shelter; negligently beats, cruelly whips, tortures, mutilates or in any manner mistreats; negligently overdrives, overworks, overloads or otherwise abuses any animal intended for labor; negligently permits or causes any animal to be subjected to cruelty, inhumane treatment or unnecessary suffering, etc.; purposely beats, cruelly whips, tortures, or mutilates any animal.

  • Cruelty to animals.
    • Misdemeanor
    • Fine up to $2000.
    • Imprisonment up to 1 year.
  • 2nd or subsequent offense of cruelty to animals.
    • Class B Felony
    • Fine up to $4000.
    • Imprisonment up to 7 years.
  • Cruelly whips, mutilates, tortures or beats an animal.
    • Class B Felony
    • Fine up to $4000.
    • Imprisonment up to 7 years.

Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure: Both

Other Sentencing Provisions: Community service, cost of care, limited ownership of animals.

Exemptions: Veterinary care.

New Jersey

N.J. REV. STAT. ANN. §§ 4:22.15 et seq. -- last amended 2001

Definition of Animal: Includes the whole brute creation.

Statute Summary: A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person: overdrives, overloads, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, carries in a cruel manner, abandons a sick or disabled animal, cruelly beats or otherwise abuses, needlessly mutilates, or kills a living animal. A person commits the crime of "aggravated cruelty" if the person purposely, knowingly, or recklessly: torments, tortures, maims, hangs, unnecessarily or cruelly beats, needlessly mutilates, or cruelly kills a living animal or creature; or causes or procures any such act be done.

  • Cruelty to animals
    • Disorderly persons offense.
    • $250 to $1000 fine.
    • Imprisonment up to 6 months.
  • "Aggravated cruelty" to animals
    • Felony crime of the fourth degree.
    • Fine up to $1,000.
    • Up to 18 months imprisonment.

Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure: Both

Other Sentencing Provisions: Community service, psychological counseling, cost of care.

Unique Provisions: Provides for civil remedies.

Exemptions: Farming, exhibitions, equestrian teams, pet shops.

New Mexico

N.M. STAT. ANN. §§ 30-18-1 et seq. -- last amended 2001

Definition of Animal: Does not include insects or reptiles.

Statute Summary: A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:

Negligently mistreats, injures, kills without lawful justification or torments, fails to provide necessary sustenance to an animal. Intentionally or maliciously tortures, mutilates, injures, or poisons an animal.

  • Cruelty to animals.
    • Misdemeanor.
    • Fine up to $1000.
    • Imprisonment up to 1 year.
  • 4th or subsequent offense of cruelty to animals.
    • 4th Degree Felony.
    • Fine up to $5000.
    • 18 months imprisonment.
  • Extreme cruelty to animals.
    • 4th Degree Felony.
    • Fine up to $5000.
    • 18 months imprisonment.

Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure: Both

Other Sentencing Provisions: Animal cruelty prevention program, cost of care, counseling.

Exemptions: Farming, cockfighting, hunting, pest control, rodeos, veterinary care.

New York

N.Y. AGRIC. & MKTS LAW §§ 350 et seq. -- last amended 1985

Definition of Animal: Every living creature except a human being.

Statute Summary: A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:

Overdrives, overloads, deprives of necessary sustenance, food, or drink, abandons, carries in a cruel manner, poisons, tortures, cruelly beats or unjustifiably injures, maims, mutilates or kills any animal. With no justifiable purpose, intentionally kills or intentionally causes serious physical injury to a companion animal.

  • Cruelty to animals.
    • Misdemeanor.
    • Fine up to $1000.