Animal Cruelty Laws by State (2026)
How each state handles animal cruelty and the penalties, from each state's code.
| State | Animal cruelty |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Cruelty to animals — recklessly or negligently subjecting an animal to cruel mistreatment or neglect, or killing or injuring another's animal without good cause — is a Class A misdemeanor: up to 1 year in jail and up to $3,000, with minimum fines of $500 on a second conviction and $1,000 on a third. Aggravated cruelty to animals — intentionally or knowingly torturing an animal (including causing its death) — is a Class C felony (1 year and 1 day to 10 years). For dogs and cats, intentional torture or skinning (or dealing in their fur) is first-degree cruelty, a Class C felony; cruel overloading, starving, beating or mutilating is second-degree cruelty, a Class A misdemeanor. The statutes read do not set a criminal ownership ban, but a court may refuse to return a seized dog or cat to an owner found unfit and order the owner to pay its care costs. Ala. Code 1975 §§ 13A-11-14, 13A-11-14.1, 13A-11-241, 13A-11-245; Ala. Code 1975 §§ 13A-5-6, 13A-5-7, 13A-5-11, 13A-5-12 |
| Alaska | Cruelty to animals includes knowingly inflicting severe or prolonged pain or suffering, killing or injuring an animal in a decompression chamber, or intentionally poisoning a pet or livestock, all class C felonies (up to 5 years). Criminally negligent failure to care for an animal that causes its death or severe suffering, killing or injuring an animal to intimidate a person, and sexual conduct with animals are class A misdemeanors (up to 1 year), but become class C felonies with a prior conviction within 10 years. Each animal is a separate offense, and the court may order forfeiture of the animals, repayment of care costs, and a ban or limit on owning or keeping animals for up to 10 years. AS 11.61.140; AS 12.55.125(e), 12.55.135(a) |
| Arizona | Most cruelty — intentionally, knowingly or recklessly subjecting an animal in your care to cruel neglect or abandonment, failing to get it needed medical care, inflicting unnecessary injury, recklessly mistreating an animal, or leaving an animal confined in a vehicle where injury or death is likely — is a class 1 misdemeanor (up to 6 months and $2,500). It is a class 6 felony to intentionally or knowingly neglect or abandon an animal causing serious physical injury, or to intentionally or knowingly subject any animal to cruel mistreatment. It is a class 5 felony to intentionally or knowingly cruelly mistreat or kill a domestic animal without legal privilege, or to kill or seriously harm a service or working animal. If a person on probation for animal cruelty is charged with a new violation and released, the court must bar them from possessing or having contact with any animal; the section does not set a general post-conviction ownership ban. A.R.S. § 13-2910; A.R.S. §§ 13-702(D), 13-707 |
| Arkansas | Animal cruelty — knowingly mistreating an animal, killing or injuring another's animal, abandoning it, or failing to provide adequate food, water or shelter — is an unclassified misdemeanor on a first offense ($150 to $1,000 fine and 1 day to 1 year in jail or community service), with higher minimums for a second and third offense within 5 years; a fourth offense within 5 years is a Class D felony. Aggravated cruelty — knowingly torturing a dog, cat or horse — is a Class D felony on a first offense (up to 6 years) and a Class C felony (3 to 10 years) for a repeat within 5 years. Courts must order a psychiatric or psychological evaluation and, if appropriate, counseling at the offender's expense. The sections read do not set an ownership ban. Ark. Code §§ 5-62-103, 5-62-104; Ark. Code §§ 5-4-201, 5-4-401 |
| California | Maliciously and intentionally maiming, mutilating, torturing, wounding or killing an animal, and overworking, tormenting, cruelly beating, depriving an animal of food, water or shelter, or otherwise subjecting an animal in one's care to needless suffering, are 'wobblers': punishable as a felony under Penal Code 1170(h) (16 months, 2 or 3 years in county jail) and/or a fine up to $20,000, or as a misdemeanor with up to 1 year in county jail and/or a fine up to $20,000. After a misdemeanor cruelty conviction a person may not own, possess, care for or live with any animal for 5 years, and after a felony conviction for 10 years, punishable by a $1,000 fine (with limited exceptions such as livestock owners). Cal. Penal Code 597(a)-(d); 597.9(a)-(b); 1170(h)(1) |
| Colorado | Cruelty to animals — knowingly, recklessly or negligently tormenting, beating, starving, neglecting, abandoning or otherwise mistreating an animal, or recklessly or negligently torturing, mutilating or needlessly killing one — is a class 1 misdemeanor (up to 364 days and $1,000), with a $500 mandatory minimum fine; a second or later conviction is a class 6 felony with 90 days in jail or home detention required if probation is granted. Aggravated cruelty — knowingly torturing, needlessly mutilating or needlessly killing an animal, or knowingly killing a police animal — is a class 4 felony (2 to 6 years). The court must order an evaluation before sentencing and may require treatment, and for any felony cruelty conviction must bar the offender from owning, possessing or caring for a pet animal for 3 to 5 years unless the treatment provider recommends otherwise. C.R.S. § 18-9-202(1), (1.5), (2)(a.5)(V.5), (2)(b), (2)(c); C.R.S. §§ 18-1.3-401, 18-1.3-501, 18-1.3-503 |
| Connecticut | Torturing, beating, starving, abandoning or neglecting an animal in your care (failing to give proper food, water, air or shelter) is punishable for a first offense by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine, and any later offense is a Class D felony (up to 5 years). Maliciously and intentionally maiming, mutilating, torturing, wounding or killing an animal is a Class D felony for a first offense and a Class C felony (1 to 10 years) for a repeat offense. Animal fighting is a Class D felony, and intentionally killing a police animal or search-and-rescue dog on duty carries up to 10 years and a $10,000 fine. On any conviction under this law, the court must bar the person for five years from owning, possessing, living with, adopting or fostering any animal and from jobs or volunteer roles involving animal care. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-247; Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-35a, 53a-36, 53a-41, 53a-42 |
| Delaware | Cruelty to animals, such as cruel mistreatment or neglect or killing or injuring another person's animal without consent, is a Class A misdemeanor. Intentionally killing or seriously injuring an animal cruelly or unnecessarily is a Class F felony (up to 3 years). After two misdemeanor cruelty convictions, later misdemeanor-level offenses are Class F felonies, and after one felony, later felony-level offenses are Class E felonies. A misdemeanor conviction bars the person from owning or living with animals for 5 years (10 years after a second), and a felony conviction for 15 years (for life after a second). 11 Del. C. § 1325; 11 Del. C. §§ 4205, 4206 |
| District of Columbia | Knowingly torturing, tormenting, cruelly beating, mutilating, overworking or starving an animal, or an owner or keeper failing to provide proper food, water, shelter, space or veterinary care, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail, a fine stated in the section of up to $250, or both. Doing any of these with intent to cause serious bodily injury or death, or with extreme indifference to animal life, where serious injury or death results, is a felony with up to 5 years and a fine of up to $25,000. The court may order forfeiture of the animal, counseling, repayment of care costs, and a ban on owning or possessing animals for a set period. D.C. Code § 22-1001 |
| Florida | Animal cruelty (unnecessarily tormenting, overloading, starving, mutilating or killing an animal, or carrying it cruelly) is a first-degree misdemeanor, up to 1 year and a fine of up to $5,000. Aggravated animal cruelty (an act or failure to act causing a cruel death or excessive or repeated unnecessary pain and suffering) is a third-degree felony, up to 5 years and a $10,000 fine; knowing torture brings a mandatory $2,500 fine and counseling, and a repeat conviction requires a $5,000 fine and at least 6 months in jail with no early release. An adult who commits aggravated cruelty in front of a minor or entices a minor to do it commits a separate third-degree felony. The court may bar a convicted person from owning or keeping animals for a period it sets. Fla. Stat. § 828.12; Fla. Stat. §§ 775.082, 775.083 |
| Georgia | Cruelty to animals (causing physical pain, suffering or death by an unjustifiable act or omission, or a keeper failing to provide adequate food, water, sanitary conditions or ventilation) is a misdemeanor, and a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature for a second or later conviction. Aggravated cruelty to animals (maliciously killing, seriously disfiguring, torturing or poisoning an animal, or neglect causing death or serious disfigurement) is a felony with 1 to 5 years and a fine of up to $15,000; a second or later conviction carries 1 to 10 years and up to $100,000. The judge may order a psychological evaluation before sentencing. O.C.G.A. § 16-12-4 |
| Hawaii | Cruelty to animals in the first degree (intentionally or knowingly torturing, mutilating or poisoning a pet or horse causing serious injury or death, or killing another person's pet without authority) is a Class C felony (5 years), and the person may not own or possess any pet or horse for at least five years. Cruelty to animals in the second degree (overworking, beating, starving or needlessly killing an animal, depriving a pet of food or water, animal fighting, cruel confinement, or prohibited dog tethering) is a misdemeanor, or a Class C felony if it involves ten or more pets at once. Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 711-1108.5, 711-1109; Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 706-640, 706-659, 706-660, 706-663 |
| Idaho | Cruelty to animals is a misdemeanor: a first conviction carries up to six months in jail and a fine of $100 to $5,000; a second within ten years up to nine months and $200 to $7,000; a third or later within fifteen years up to twelve months and $500 to $9,000. It becomes a felony on a third conviction within fifteen years when the earlier violations involved intentional or malicious infliction of pain, physical suffering, injury or death. Torturing a companion animal is a misdemeanor the first time and a felony on a later conviction, or on a first conviction if the person has a felony for injuring a human within the past ten years. On any conviction the court may terminate the person's right to own or care for the animal involved or animals owned at the time. Idaho Code §§ 25-3504, 25-3504A, 25-3520A |
| Illinois | Under the Humane Care for Animals Act no person or owner may beat, cruelly treat, torment, starve, overwork or otherwise abuse an animal, abandon an animal, or leave a companion dog or cat in life-threatening extreme heat or cold that causes injury, death or conditions such as hypothermia or frostbite. Cruel treatment is a Class A misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent conviction is a Class 4 felony (1 to 3 years); abusing a companion animal in front of a child adds a $250 fine and at least 100 hours of community service. Aggravated cruelty (intentionally causing a companion animal serious injury or death) is a Class 4 felony, and a repeat offense is a Class 3 felony. Animal torture is a Class 3 felony (2 to 5 years) with a required psychological evaluation and treatment. 510 ILCS 70/3.01, 70/3.02, 70/3.03; 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-40, -45, -55 |
| Indiana | Knowingly or intentionally abusing a vertebrate animal is cruelty to an animal, a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $5,000). It is a Level 6 felony (6 months to 2.5 years) if the person has a prior conviction, acts to threaten or terrorize a family or household member, commits it in front of a minor, or the animal is permanently disfigured, made unconscious, seriously impaired or killed. Torturing or mutilating a vertebrate animal, and killing someone else's domestic animal without consent, are Level 6 felonies. Recklessly, knowingly or intentionally abandoning or neglecting an animal in one's custody is a Class A misdemeanor, a Level 6 felony with a prior conviction, in front of a minor, with serious harm or death, or when a person with 10 or more animals fails to provide adequate food, water and shelter; the court must consider ordering counseling. IC 35-46-3-7, 35-46-3-12, 35-46-3-12.5; IC 35-50-2-7; IC 35-50-3-2 |
| Iowa | Animal abuse (intentionally, knowingly or recklessly injuring or killing an animal by force, violence or poisoning) is a serious misdemeanor if it causes injury and an aggravated misdemeanor if it causes serious injury or death. Animal neglect by an owner who confines an animal without adequate food, water, sanitation, shelter, grooming or needed vet care is a simple misdemeanor, a serious misdemeanor if it injures the animal, and an aggravated misdemeanor if it causes serious injury or death. Animal torture (inflicting severe and prolonged or repeated pain causing serious injury or death) is an aggravated misdemeanor. Abuse or neglect causing serious injury or death, and torture, become class D felonies (up to five years) for a person with a prior conviction for animal abuse, neglect, torture, bestiality, animal fighting or injuring a police dog. Courts must order a psychological evaluation and treatment for juveniles and for adults convicted of the aggravated-misdemeanor or felony offenses. The statutes read do not set an ownership ban. Iowa Code §§ 717B.2, 717B.3, 717B.3A, 717B.3B |
| Kansas | Knowingly and maliciously killing, injuring, maiming, torturing, burning or mutilating an animal, or maliciously poisoning a domestic animal, is a nonperson felony with a mandatory 30 days to one year in custody, a $500-$5,000 fine, a psychological evaluation and an anger-management program. Abandoning an animal, failing to provide needed food, water, shelter and care, tripping horses for sport, or knowingly (but not maliciously) killing or injuring an animal is a class A misdemeanor the first time and a nonperson felony on a second or later conviction (mandatory five days to one year, $500-$2,500 fine). Officers may seize animals showing evidence of cruelty, and if the owner is charged, the court may transfer ownership of the animal unless the owner posts a bond for its care. K.S.A. 21-6412 |
| Kentucky | Second-degree cruelty to animals - intentionally or wantonly abandoning, beating, mutilating, tormenting or torturing an animal (other than a dog or cat), failing to provide adequate food, water, space or health care, cruel neglect, or attending an animal fight - is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 12 months). Intentionally torturing a dog or cat is a Class D felony (1-5 years), and each act may be a separate offense. Dog fighting (first-degree cruelty) is a Class D felony. For offenses involving horses, the court may order restitution and terminate or restrict the person's right to own or care for that animal. KRS 525.125, 525.130, 525.135 |
| Louisiana | Simple cruelty to animals includes intentionally or with criminal negligence tormenting, beating, overworking or abandoning an animal, or failing to give an animal in one's care proper food, water, shelter or veterinary care. A first offense carries a fine up to $1,000, up to 6 months, or both, plus mandatory community service, and the court may ban the person from owning or keeping animals for up to one year; a second or later offense carries a fine of $5,000 to $25,000, 1 to 10 years with or without hard labor, or both, and an ownership ban of up to five years. Aggravated cruelty (torturing, maiming or mutilating an animal, causing unnecessary suffering or death, or neglect that results in death) carries a fine of $5,000 to $25,000, 1 to 10 years with or without hard labor, or both, a required psychological evaluation, and a possible ban on owning animals for up to ten years. Each animal is a separate offense. La. R.S. 14:102.1(A)(2), (B) |
| Maine | Cruelty to animals - intentionally, knowingly or recklessly injuring, torturing, tormenting, abandoning or cruelly beating an animal, poisoning it, or depriving an owned animal of necessary food, medical care or shelter - is generally a Class D crime. It becomes a Class C crime (up to 5 years) with two or more prior animal-cruelty convictions or when an abandoned animal dies. Aggravated cruelty to animals - causing extreme pain, death or torture with depraved indifference to animal life - is a Class C crime with a mandatory fine of $1,000 to $10,000. Every violation carries a fine of at least $500; the court may ban a person convicted of a Class D violation from owning or possessing animals (up to permanently), and must impose at least a 5-year ban for a Class C conviction. 17 M.R.S. § 1031(1), (1-B), (3-B) |
| Maryland | Animal cruelty - overdriving or overloading an animal, depriving it of necessary sustenance, inflicting unnecessary suffering or pain, or failing to give an animal in one's care proper food, water, veterinary care, space, shelter or protection from the weather - is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days and/or a $1,000 fine. Aggravated cruelty - intentionally mutilating, torturing, cruelly beating or cruelly killing an animal, sexual contact with an animal, or intentionally harming a police animal - is a felony punishable by up to 3 years and/or $5,000. The court may order counseling and reimbursement of care costs, may bar a person convicted of misdemeanor cruelty from owning, possessing or living with an animal as a probation condition, and may bar a person convicted of aggravated cruelty from owning, possessing or living with an animal for a set period. Md. Code, Crim. Law §§ 10-604, 10-606 |
| Massachusetts | Animal cruelty covers overdriving, overworking, torturing, tormenting, cruelly beating, mutilating or killing an animal, depriving it of necessary food, failing to provide proper food, drink, shelter, sanitary environment or protection from the weather, abandoning it, or transporting it cruelly. It is a felony punishable by up to 7 years in state prison or 2.5 years in the house of correction, and/or a fine up to $5,000; a second or later offense carries up to 10 years and/or $10,000. The animal is forfeited to an animal-protection society, and anyone convicted of animal cruelty is barred from working in any job requiring contact with animals (such as shelters, pet shops, groomers and veterinary clinics). G.L. c. 272, § 77 |
| Michigan | Animal neglect or cruelty (failing to provide adequate care, or cruelly treating or abandoning an animal) is graded by the number of animals and prior convictions: one animal - misdemeanor, up to 93 days, $1,000 and 200 hours of community service; 2-3 animals or the animal dies - misdemeanor, up to 1 year and $2,000; 4-9 animals or one prior conviction - felony, up to 2 years; 10-24 animals or two priors - felony, up to 4 years and $5,000; 25 or more animals or three or more priors - felony, up to 7 years and $10,000. Knowingly killing, torturing, mutilating, maiming or poisoning an animal without just cause is a felony in three degrees, with up to 10, 7 or 4 years, a fine up to $5,000 and up to 500 hours of community service. Courts may bar a convicted person from owning or possessing animals, permanently for repeat neglect offenders or as part of a killing/torture sentence. MCL 750.50(4), (9); MCL 750.50b |
| Minnesota | Overdriving, torturing, cruelly beating, neglecting, or unjustifiably injuring, maiming or killing an animal, depriving an animal of necessary food, water or shelter, or abandoning an animal is a misdemeanor; a second violation of the torture or cruelty provisions within five years is a gross misdemeanor. Intentional cruelty causing substantial bodily harm to a pet or companion animal is punishable by up to 364 days and/or $3,000 (up to 2 years and/or $5,000 with a prior conviction within five years), and causing death or great bodily harm to a pet or companion animal carries up to 2 years and/or $5,000 (up to 4 years and/or $10,000 if done to threaten, intimidate or terrorize a person). After a conviction, the court must order the person's pets turned over unless the person proves fitness to care for them, and may limit future ownership. Minn. Stat. § 343.21, subds. 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10 |
| Mississippi | Cruelty to a dog or cat through wounding, denying food, water or shelter, or cruel confinement is simple cruelty, a misdemeanor with up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail. Maliciously torturing, mutilating, maiming, burning, starving to death, drowning or otherwise cruelly killing a dog or cat is aggravated cruelty, a felony: up to $5,000 and/or three years for a first offense, and up to $10,000 and 1 to 10 years for a second within five years. After aggravated cruelty the court must ban owning, possessing or living with a dog or cat for 5 to 15 years; after simple cruelty it may ban it for up to 5 years (up to 15 with four or more counts). Cruelty to other living creatures (overworking, torturing, unjustified injury, withholding food or water) is a misdemeanor under § 97-41-1. Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-41-16, 97-41-1 |
| Missouri | Animal abuse (intentionally killing an animal in a way not allowed by law, purposely causing it injury or suffering, or an owner knowingly failing to provide adequate care resulting in substantial harm) is a class A misdemeanor (up to one year and $2,000). It is a class E felony (up to 4 years) for a repeat offender or when the suffering comes from torture or mutilation inflicted while the animal was alive. Animal neglect (failing to provide adequate care, or abandoning an animal) is a class C misdemeanor, or class B for a repeat; the court may order the owner to pay care costs. No ownership ban was found in these sections. RSMo §§ 578.012, 578.009; §§ 558.011, 558.002 |
| Montana | Cruelty to animals is knowingly or negligently mistreating or neglecting an animal without justification, including beating, torturing or killing it, cruel confinement, failing to provide food, water, shelter from weather or urgent veterinary care, or abandoning it. A first offense carries up to $1,000 and/or one year in county jail. A second offense, or aggravated animal cruelty (killing or harming an animal to terrify, torture or mutilate it, or cruelty to 10 or more animals), carries up to $2,500 and/or two years with the Department of Corrections. The court must order the defendant to pay veterinary costs and must prohibit or limit the defendant's ownership, possession or custody of animals during the sentence, and an owner may be required to forfeit the animals. MCA 45-8-211, 45-8-217 |
| Nebraska | Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly abandoning or cruelly neglecting an animal is a Class I misdemeanor (up to one year and $1,000), or a Class IV felony (up to 2 years) if the animal suffers serious injury, illness or death. Cruelly mistreating an animal is a Class I misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class IIIA felony (up to 3 years) for a later offense, and a Class IIIA felony from the start if it involves knowing and intentional torture, repeated beating or mutilation. After a felony conviction the court must ban the person from owning, possessing or living with any animal for 5 to 15 years; after a Class I misdemeanor it may impose a ban of up to 5 years. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 28-1009, 28-1019; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-105, § 28-106 |
| Nevada | Animal cruelty (torturing, overdriving, injuring, depriving an animal of sustenance, and similar acts) is a misdemeanor for a first offense within seven years (2 days to 6 months in jail, 48 to 120 hours of community service and a $200 to $1,000 fine) and for a second (10 days to 6 months, 100 to 200 hours and $500 to $1,000); a third or later offense is a category C felony (1 to 5 years). Willfully and maliciously torturing, maiming, mutilating or killing a dog, cat or other companion animal is a category D felony, or a category B felony (1 to 6 years and up to $10,000) if the animal dies or the act was meant to threaten or terrorize a person. The court must order restitution and may order the animal surrendered; under NRS 574.2035 a court may also bar a person found unfit from owning or possessing animals. NRS 574.100, 574.2035; NRS 193.130, 193.140, 193.150 |
| New Hampshire | Negligently depriving an animal of necessary care, food or shelter, negligently beating, torturing or mistreating it, overworking it, transporting it harmfully, or abandoning it is a misdemeanor for a first offense and a class B felony (up to 7 years) for a second or later offense. Purposely beating, cruelly whipping, torturing or mutilating any animal is a class B felony from the first offense. After a felony cruelty conviction the court must prohibit or limit the person's ownership or custody of animals for at least five years; after a misdemeanor conviction it may impose a ban for any reasonable period. Animals may be confiscated, and the convicted person pays the costs of their care. RSA 644:8; RSA 651:2, 625:9 |
| New Jersey | Overworking, abusing or needlessly killing an animal, inflicting unnecessary cruelty, leaving it in a vehicle in inhumane conditions, or failing to give necessary care is a disorderly persons offense (up to six months and a $250-$1,000 or $500-$2,000 fine depending on the act); a repeat offense is a crime of the fourth degree. Purposely, knowingly or recklessly torturing, tormenting, maiming, poisoning or cruelly beating an animal, injuring it through neglect, or sexual contact with an animal is a crime of the fourth degree (up to 18 months), and a crime of the third degree (three to five years) if the animal dies or suffers serious bodily injury or the person has a prior conviction. Courts must also order up to 30 days of community service and restitution, and juveniles must receive mental health counseling. N.J.S. 4:22-17; N.J.S. 2C:43-3, 2C:43-6, 2C:43-8 |
| New Mexico | Cruelty to animals (negligently mistreating, injuring, killing without lawful justification or tormenting an animal, or abandoning or failing to provide necessary sustenance to an animal in one's care) is a misdemeanor; a fourth or later conviction is a fourth degree felony. Extreme cruelty to animals (intentionally or maliciously torturing, mutilating, injuring or poisoning an animal, or maliciously killing one) is a fourth degree felony. The court may order an animal cruelty prevention or education program and psychological counseling at the offender's expense, and must order an assessment and any needed counseling for a child adjudicated of cruelty. Insects and reptiles are not covered, and hunting, fishing, veterinary care, pest control, accepted farming and rodeo practices and licensed research are exempt. Section 30-18-1 does not set an animal ownership ban. NMSA 1978, § 30-18-1; § 31-18-15(A); § 31-19-1 |
| New York | Overdriving, torturing, cruelly beating, unjustifiably injuring or killing an animal, or depriving it of necessary food or drink is a class A misdemeanor under the Agriculture and Markets Law (up to 364 days). Aggravated cruelty to animals (intentionally killing or seriously injuring a companion animal, with no justifiable purpose, in a way intended to cause extreme pain or in an especially depraved or sadistic manner) is a felony, with any jail term a definite sentence of up to two years. After a conviction the court may also order that the person not own, harbor or have custody of any other animals (other than farm animals) for a period it deems reasonable. N.Y. Agric. & Mkts. Law §§ 353, 353-a, 374(8)(c) |
| North Carolina | Intentionally overdriving, overloading, wounding, injuring, tormenting, killing or depriving an animal of necessary food and water is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Maliciously torturing, mutilating, maiming, cruelly beating, disfiguring, poisoning or killing an animal, or maliciously killing it by intentional deprivation of sustenance, is a Class H felony. Lawful hunting and fishing, research, livestock and poultry production, veterinary care and lawful destruction to protect people or property are excluded. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-360 |
| North Dakota | Willful animal neglect (failing to provide necessary food, water, shelter or care) and animal abandonment are class A misdemeanors (up to 360 days and a $3,000 fine). Willful animal abuse (an act or omission that injures or kills an animal) is a class A misdemeanor for a first or second offense and a class C felony for a third or later offense within ten years. Intentional animal cruelty (breaking an animal's bones, causing prolonged impairment of its health, mutilating it, or physically torturing it) is a class C felony (up to five years). Customary practices such as livestock production, rodeo, hunting and veterinary care are excluded, and an offense involving several animals counts as one offense for enhancement. N.D.C.C. §§ 36-21.2-01 to 36-21.2-04, 36-21.2-15; N.D.C.C. § 12.1-32-01 |
| Ohio | For companion animals (any animal kept in a home, and any dog or cat): knowingly torturing, tormenting, needlessly mutilating or killing, cruelly beating, poisoning or committing an act of cruelty is a first-degree misdemeanor for a first offense and a fifth-degree felony (six to 12 months) after that; knowingly causing serious physical harm to a companion animal is a fifth-degree felony. A caretaker who negligently tortures, deprives an animal of food, water or shelter is guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor, a first-degree misdemeanor on repeat. General cruelty to other animals is a second-degree misdemeanor. After a companion-animal conviction the court may order animals forfeited and may prohibit or limit the person's ability to own or care for companion animals for a specified or indefinite period, and may order counseling. R.C. 959.13, 959.131, 959.99; R.C. 2929.14, 2929.18, 2929.24, 2929.28 |
| Oklahoma | Animal cruelty is willfully or maliciously torturing, killing, cruelly beating, injuring, maiming or mutilating any animal in captivity (owned by oneself or another), depriving it of necessary food, drink, shelter or veterinary care, or causing or permitting any of those acts. Every violation is a Class B5 felony punished by up to five (5) years in prison, or up to one (1) year in county jail, or a fine up to $5,000. The statute does not set a separate misdemeanor neglect tier or a ban on owning animals. 21 O.S. § 1685 |
| Oregon | Causing physical injury to an animal is second-degree animal abuse, a Class B misdemeanor; recklessly causing serious injury or death is first-degree animal abuse, a Class A misdemeanor that becomes a Class C felony with certain prior convictions or if done knowingly in front of a minor child. Intentionally or knowingly torturing an animal or causing its serious injury or death is aggravated animal abuse, a Class C felony. Failing to provide minimum care is animal neglect (second degree Class B misdemeanor; first degree, when it causes serious injury or death, Class A misdemeanor), becoming a Class C felony with prior convictions, 10-11 or more animals, or in front of a child. A conviction bars possessing or living with the same kind of animal or any domestic animal for five years (misdemeanor) or 15 years (felony), with limited exceptions. ORS 167.315, 167.320, 167.322, 167.325, 167.330, 167.332 |
| Pennsylvania | Neglect of an animal (failing to provide food, water, shelter from weather, or necessary veterinary care) is a summary offense (fine of $50 to $750 and/or up to 90 days), or a misdemeanor of the third degree if it causes bodily injury or imminent risk of serious bodily injury. Cruelty to an animal (intentionally, knowingly or recklessly mistreating, beating, abandoning or abusing it) is a summary offense, or a misdemeanor of the second degree (up to 2 years) with bodily injury or imminent risk of serious injury. Aggravated cruelty, torturing an animal or neglect or cruelty causing serious bodily injury or death, is a felony of the third degree (up to 7 years). The court may order the animal forfeited (mandatory for a felony) and may ban or limit owning or caring for animals for up to the maximum prison term for the offense. 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 5532, 5533, 5534, 5550, 5554, 5555 |
| Rhode Island | Overworking, torturing, cruelly beating, mutilating or cruelly killing an animal, or an owner or keeper willfully failing to give an animal proper food, drink, shelter or protection from the weather, is punished by up to eleven (11) months in jail or a $50 to $500 fine, or both; the same penalties apply to cruel abandonment, inadequate living conditions, hazardous animal hoarding and permitting unnecessary suffering. A second or later conviction within ten years carries up to six (6) years or a $500 to $5,000 fine plus 100 hours of mandatory community restitution. Maliciously killing, wounding, dismembering or poisoning an animal (and cruelty that results in the animal's death) is punished by up to five (5) years or a fine up to $1,000 plus 50 hours of community restitution. On conviction the court may order the owner to forfeit the animal. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 4-1-2, 4-1-3, 4-1-5 |
| South Carolina | Knowingly or intentionally overloading, overworking or ill-treating an animal, depriving it of necessary sustenance or shelter, or inflicting unnecessary pain or suffering is a misdemeanor punished by up to 90 days and/or a $100 to $1,000 fine for a first offense, and up to two (2) years and/or up to $2,000 for a later offense. Torturing, tormenting, needlessly mutilating or cruelly killing an animal, or inflicting excessive or repeated unnecessary pain or suffering, is a felony punished by 180 days to five (5) years in prison and a $5,000 fine. A person convicted under the animal cruelty chapter forfeits ownership and custody of the animal and may be ordered to pay its care costs. Fowl and accepted farm, hunting, training and veterinary practices are exempt. S.C. Code §§ 47-1-40, 47-1-170 |
| South Dakota | A person who owns or is responsible for an animal and neglects, abandons or mistreats it commits a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to one year and/or $2,000). Subjecting an animal to cruelty, defined as intentionally, willfully and maliciously inflicting gross physical abuse that causes prolonged pain or serious physical injury or results in the animal's death, is a Class 6 felony (up to two years and/or $4,000). Neglected, mistreated or cruelly treated animals may be impounded, with the cost of care a lien. The cruelty statutes read do not set a ban on future animal ownership. SDCL 40-1-1, 40-1-2.3, 40-1-2.4, 40-1-5 |
| Tennessee | Cruelty to animals (intentionally or knowingly torturing, maiming or overworking an animal, unreasonably denying food, water, care or shelter, abandoning it, or transporting it cruelly) is a Class A misdemeanor; a second or later conviction is a Class E felony. The court must order the animals forfeited and may bar the person from having custody of animals for a reasonable time. Aggravated cruelty (intentionally or knowingly killing, torturing or seriously injuring a companion animal with no justifiable purpose, or starving it at risk of death) is a Class E felony (1 to 6 years); the court must ban custody of companion animals for at least two years (it may impose a lifetime ban), and a second conviction brings a lifetime ban. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-14-202, 39-14-212; Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111 |
| Texas | Cruelty to non-livestock animals: failing to provide necessary food, water, care or shelter, abandoning, cruelly transporting or confining, overworking, or injuring another's animal is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $4,000), a state jail felony after two prior convictions. Torturing, cruelly killing or seriously injuring an animal, or killing or poisoning another's animal, is a third-degree felony (2 to 10 years), and second degree (2 to 20 years) with a prior conviction. Causing animals (other than dogs) to fight, or using live animals as lures, is a state jail felony. Livestock cruelty is a separate offense. Tex. Penal Code § 42.092(b)-(c-2); Tex. Penal Code §§ 12.21-12.35 |
| Utah | Cruelty to an animal (failing to provide necessary food, water, care or shelter, abandoning, injuring, or causing animal fights) is a class B misdemeanor if intentional or knowing and class C if reckless or negligent. Aggravated cruelty (torturing, poisoning or killing an animal without legal privilege) is a class A misdemeanor if intentional or knowing. Torturing a companion animal is a third-degree felony (up to 5 years). A prior cruelty conviction raises a class C to class B and a class B to class A. The court may order forfeiture and bar the person from possessing any animal during probation, parole or another period it sets. Utah Code §§ 76-13-202, 76-13-203, 76-13-204, 76-13-104; Utah Code §§ 76-3-203, 76-3-204, 76-3-205, 76-3-301 |
| Vermont | Cruelty to animals (for example overworking, torturing, tormenting, abandoning, poisoning or cruelly harming an animal, inhumane tethering, or denying adequate food, water, shelter or veterinary care) carries up to 1 year and/or $2,000, and up to 2 years and/or $5,000 for a repeat; some neglect and tethering violations may be handled by a civil citation up to $500 for a first violation. Animal fighting carries up to 5 years and/or $5,000. Aggravated cruelty (intentionally killing an animal by causing undue pain, or maliciously torturing, mutilating or cruelly beating one) carries up to 5 years and/or $5,000, and up to 10 years and/or $7,500 for a repeat. On conviction the court may order the person to forfeit any future right to own, possess or care for animals. 13 V.S.A. §§ 352, 352a, 353 |
| Virginia | Cruelty to animals (overdriving, ill-treating, abandoning, torturing, cruelly beating or killing an animal, or denying it necessary food, water, shelter or emergency veterinary care) is a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 12 months and $2,500); it is a Class 6 felony (1 to 5 years) for a repeat torture-type offense or when the current or a prior violation caused an animal's death. Torturing or cruelly injuring a companion dog or cat that causes serious injury or death is a Class 6 felony. After a felony conviction the court may ban owning or possessing companion animals or horses for life (up to five years after a misdemeanor), and violating the ban is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Va. Code § 3.2-6570; Va. Code §§ 18.2-10, 18.2-11 |
| Washington | First-degree animal cruelty (intentionally inflicting substantial pain, injury or death by means causing undue suffering, starving, dehydrating or suffocating an animal or exposing it to extreme heat or cold with criminal negligence causing considerable suffering or death, or sexual conduct with an animal) is a class C felony (up to 5 years and $10,000). Second-degree cruelty (inflicting unnecessary pain or suffering, or an owner failing to provide food, water, shelter or medical care, or abandoning an animal) is a gross misdemeanor. A conviction bars owning, caring for or living with animals for two years (second degree, first conviction) or permanently (first degree, animal fighting, or any second conviction). RCW 16.52.205, 16.52.207, 16.52.200(4); RCW 9A.20.021 |
| West Virginia | Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly mistreating an animal cruelly, abandoning it, withholding food, water, shelter or necessary veterinary care, leaving it in a vehicle where injury or death is likely, or cruelly chaining it is a misdemeanor ($300-$2,000 fine and/or up to 6 months in jail); a second or later offense is a misdemeanor with 90 days to 1 year in jail (mandatory unless a psychiatric evaluation is completed) and/or a $500-$3,000 fine. Intentionally torturing, mutilating or maliciously killing an animal is a felony: 1 to 5 years and a $1,000-$5,000 fine. A convicted person forfeits the animal, and the court must bar the person from owning, possessing or living with animals for 5 years after a misdemeanor conviction or 15 years after a felony conviction. Lawful hunting, fishing, trapping and accepted livestock practices are excluded. W. Va. Code § 61-8-19 |
| Wisconsin | Treating any animal cruelly, or violating the state's animal-care rules (food, water, shelter, abandonment and similar), is a Class C forfeiture (civil, up to $500), or a Class A forfeiture within 3 years of a humane officer's abatement order. Doing so intentionally or negligently is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 9 months and/or $10,000). Intentionally mistreating an animal resulting in its mutilation, disfigurement or death is a Class I felony (up to 3.5 years and/or $10,000). The court may bar a criminal violator from owning, possessing or training any animal or a type of animal for up to 5 years, may order the animal delivered to a humane society, and must order restitution. Wis. Stat. §§ 951.02, 951.13, 951.18(1), (4); Wis. Stat. §§ 939.50, 939.51 |
| Wyoming | Cruelty to animals includes unnecessarily injuring or beating an animal, overdriving or overloading it, carrying it in a way that risks injury, and, with extreme indifference to the animal's welfare, failing to give food, water, shelter or care for obvious serious illness or injury, abandoning it, or keeping a pet so it suffers chronic serious harm; it also covers dog and cock fighting. A first offense is a misdemeanor (up to 6 months and/or $750); a repeat within 5 years carries up to 6 months and/or $5,000. Felony cruelty, knowingly beating, torturing, tormenting or mutilating an animal intending death or undue suffering, or fighting or injuring others' animals resulting in death, means up to 2 years and/or $5,000 plus permanent forfeiture of the animal. The court may also order forfeiture and impose continuing limits on owning or keeping animals. Accepted livestock practices, rodeo, hunting and humane destruction are excluded. W.S. 6-3-1002, 6-3-1003, 6-3-1004, 6-3-1005, 6-3-1006, 6-3-1008 |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.