Title: 5 - Criminal Offenses
Subtitle: 6 - Offenses Against Public Health, Safety, Or Welfare
Chapter: 62 - Animals
Subchapter: 2 - Farm Animal and Research Facilities
5-62-201
(A) The General Assembly finds that:
(1) The caring, rearing, feeding, breeding, and sale of animals and animal products and the use of animals in research, testing, and education represent vital segments of the economy of the state;
(2) Producers and others involved in the production and sale of animals and animal products and the use of animals in research and education have a vested interest in protecting the health and welfare of animals and the physical and intellectual property rights which they have in animals; and
(3) There has been an increasing number of illegal acts committed against farm animal and research facilities.
(B) The General Assembly further finds that these illegal acts threaten the production of agricultural products and jeopardize crucial scientific, biomedical, or agricultural research.
(C) Finally, the General Assembly finds that these illegal acts threaten the public safety, by exposing communities to contagious diseases and damage research.
Title: 5 - Criminal Offenses
Subtitle: 6 - Offenses Against Public Health, Safety, Or Welfare
Chapter: 62 - Animals
Subchapter: 1 - General Provisions
5-62-116
(A) Any person who sells or offers for sale, or uses, or exposes, or causes or procures to be sold or offered for sale, or used, or to be exposed, any horse or other animal having the disease known as “glanders” or “farcy” or any other contagious or infectious disease known to the person to be dangerous to human life, or that is diseased past recovery, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(B)
(1) Upon discovery or knowledge of the animal’s condition, any animal having glanders or farcy shall immediately be deprived of life by the owner or person having charge of the animal.
(2) Any owner or person having charge of the animal omitting or refusing to comply with a provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(C) Any agent or officer of a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals may lawfully destroy or cause to be destroyed any animal found abandoned or otherwise and not properly cared for, appearing, in the judgment of two (2) reputable citizens called by him or her to view the animal in his or her presence, to be glandered, injured, or diseased past recovery for any useful purpose.
Title: 5 - Criminal Offenses
Subtitle: 6 - Offenses Against Public Health, Safety, Or Welfare
Chapter: 62 - Animals
Subchapter: 1 - General Provisions
5-62-101
(A) A person commits the offense of cruelty to animals if, except as authorized by law, he or she knowingly:
(1) Abandons any animal;
(2) Subjects any animal to cruel mistreatment;
(3) Subjects any animal in his or her custody to cruel neglect; or
(4) Kills or injures any animal belonging to another without legal privilege or consent of the owner.
(B) Cruelty to animals is a Class A misdemeanor.
(C) (1) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, the court may order any person found guilty of cruelty to animals to receive a psychiatric or psychological evaluation, and if determined appropriate, psychiatric or psychological counseling or treatment.
(2) The cost of any evaluation, counseling, or treatment may be ordered paid by the defendant up to the jurisdictional limit of the court.
(D) If a person pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of cruelty to animals, the court may assign custody of the abused animal to a society which is incorporated for the prevention of cruelty to animals.
