Throughout the United States, it is illegal to abuse or act cruel towards animals. There are a variety of different laws put in place to protect animals. Some deal with negligence and unintentional harm, while other laws regard intentionally harming an animal. Because these animal cruelty laws are defined by the state, they vary. In some states, there are statutes that prohibit inhumane or needlessly cruel treatment of animals. In other states, there are states that say it is illegal to abandon an animal, leave it in a car, crop its tail or ears without anesthesia, or needlessly kill an animal. Oftentimes in states that don’t have specific outlines for criminal actions, everything that could potentially harm or kill an animal is considered illegal.

To use an example of animal cruelty laws, you can look at the Texas anti-cruelty statutes. These combine the broad and specific to cover almost any kind of misconduct towards animals. As well, Texas has specific laws about dog fighting and those that participate in this crime can be prosecuted on an entirely different level. A person ho commits an offense against an animal in Texas can be charged with a misdemeanor. Some of the crimes that are considered cruel in this state and in other states as well are torturing an animal or overworking that animal to exhaustion.

It is also illegal to neglect to provide food, shelter, or care for an animal that is considered a “pet.” In some states, it is illegal to abandon an animal that has been placed in an owner’s custody, and it is illegal to transport an animal in a cruel way. As well, if an animal is confined in a cruel manner, this can constitute as abuse. Usually, a “cruel manner” is considered cramped quarters that make a pet uncomfortable or do not facilitate that animal’s basic needs. As well, if a person kills, injures, or administers poison to an animal other than a livestock animal and does not have the legal authority and the owner’s consent to do so in most states, this is considered animal abuse. It is also illegal in almost all states to allow one animal to fight with another on purpose for entertainment. Using a live animal as bait to train a dog in dog racing is also considered illegal in many states.

While these laws are expressly followed in the state of Texas, they are also honored in most other states. There is also punishment for neglecting an animal. Failing to provide an animal in your possession the basic care that it needs is always considered wrong and can be punishable by law. If you purchase an animal but fail to feed it, give it water, protect it from weather elements, or do not watch out for that animal’s health and wellbeing, then you can be fined or sent to jail for your crime. In some states, such as California, it is illegal to keep a dog tethered for more than three hours a day consecutively. California also requires that all pets have an adequate exercise area or are taken on walks or allowed outside if they do not have an exercise area within the house. Some cities say that doghouses must be clean and dry and big enough for a dog to lie comfortably inside.

There are specific punishments for men and women who are maliciously cruel with their animals. These include a prison sentence and a fine that can run up to tens of thousands of dollars. Even if an owner is not intentionally harmful, conduct is malicious if it is harmful to the animal in any way. As well, it is illegal to hoard animals. Some states have jail sentences for men and women who hoard animals and keep them in squalor conditions. In the state of Kansas for example, men and women can be fined if they own more than three cats. In some states a person can also be charged for abandoning an animal when he or she moves.

Also, a person who leaves an animal because he or she does not want to take care of it can also be charged with the crime of abandonment. In New York, this is a misdemeanor that can bring on up to a year of imprisonment and a $1,000 fine. It can also be illegal to leave a dog that was hit by a car in some states, and it can be a crime to do cosmetic surgeries on a dog without a professional there to complete the requested process. If you have been charged with animal cruelty, then you should contact a local criminal defense attorney today. With a professional on your side, you may be able to combat your charges and avoid potential sentences.