Section 578.009

Title XXXVIII CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT; PEACE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS

Chapter 578

Effective - 11 Oct 2013, 2 histories, see footnote   (history) 

  *578.009.  Until December 31, 2016 — Animal neglect and abandonment — penalties. — 1.  A person is guilty of animal neglect if he has custody or ownership or both of an animal and fails to provide adequate care.

  2.  A person is guilty of abandonment if he has knowingly abandoned an animal in any place without making provisions for its adequate care.

  3.  Animal neglect and abandonment is a class C misdemeanor upon first conviction and for each offense, punishable by imprisonment or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars, or both, and a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment or a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars, or both upon the second and all subsequent convictions.  All fines and penalties for a first conviction of animal neglect or abandonment may be waived by the court provided that the person found guilty of animal neglect or abandonment shows that adequate, permanent remedies for the neglect or abandonment have been made.  Reasonable costs incurred for the care and maintenance of neglected or abandoned animals may not be waived.  This section shall not apply to the provisions of section 578.007 or sections 272.010 to 272.370.

  4.  In addition to any other penalty imposed by this section, the court may order a person found guilty of animal neglect or abandonment to pay all reasonable costs and expenses necessary for:

  (1)  The care and maintenance of neglected or abandoned animals within the person's custody or ownership;

  (2)  The disposal of any dead or diseased animals within the person's custody or ownership;

  (3)  The reduction of resulting organic debris affecting the immediate area of the neglect or abandonment; and

  (4)  The avoidance or minimization of any public health risks created by the neglect or abandonment of the animals.

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(L. 1983 S.B. 211 § 3, A.L. 1994 S.B. 545, A.L. 1998 S.B. 596, A.L. 2013 S.B. 9)

*Effective 10-11-13, see § 21.250.  S.B. 9 was vetoed July 2, 2013. The veto was overridden on September 11, 2013.

*This section was amended by S.B. 491, 2014, effective 1-01-17.  Due to the delayed effective date, both versions of this section are printed here.