Offense of cruelty to animals

  1. Law
  2. Arkansas Code
  3. Criminal Offenses
  4. Offenses Against Public Health, Safety, or Welfare
  5. Animals
  6. General Provisions
  7. Offense of cruelty to animals

Checkout our iOS App for a better way to browser and research.

  1. (a) A person commits the offense of cruelty to animals if he or she knowingly:

    1. (1) Subjects any animal to cruel mistreatment;

    2. (2) Kills or injures any animal owned by another person without legal privilege or consent of the owner;

    3. (3) Abandons an animal at a location without providing for the animal's continued care;

    4. (4) Fails to supply an animal in his or her custody with a sufficient quantity of wholesome food and water;

    5. (5) Fails to provide an animal in his or her custody with adequate shelter that is consistent with the breed, species, and type of animal; or

    6. (6) Carries or causes to be carried in or upon any motorized vehicle or boat an animal in a cruel or inhumane manner.

  2. (b) For purposes of this section, each alleged act of the offense of cruelty to animals committed against more than one (1) animal may constitute a separate offense.

  3. (c) Any person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of cruelty to animals is guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor and shall be:

    1. (1) Fined no less than one hundred fifty dollars ($150) and no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000);

    2. (2) Either:

      1. (A) Imprisoned for no less than one (1) day and no more than one (1) year in jail; or

      2. (B) Ordered to complete community service; and

    3. (3)

      1. (A) Both:

        1. (i) Ordered to complete a psychiatric or psychological evaluation; and

        2. (ii) If determined appropriate, psychiatric or psychological counseling or treatment for a length of time prescribed by the court.

      2. (B) The cost of any psychiatric or psychological evaluation, counseling, or treatment may be ordered paid by the person up to the jurisdictional limit of the court.

  4. (d) Any person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of the offense of cruelty to animals for a second offense occurring within five (5) years of a previous offense of cruelty to animals or of any other equivalent penal offense of another state or foreign jurisdiction is guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor and shall be:

    1. (1) Fined no less than four hundred dollars ($400) and no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000);

    2. (2) Either:

      1. (A) Imprisoned for no fewer than seven (7) days and no more than one (1) year; or

      2. (B) Ordered to complete no fewer than thirty (30) days of community service; and

    3. (3)

      1. (A) Both:

        1. (i) Ordered to receive a psychiatric or psychological evaluation; and

        2. (ii) If determined appropriate, ordered to receive psychiatric or psychological counseling or treatment for a length of time prescribed by the court.

      2. (B) The cost of any psychiatric or psychological evaluation, counseling, or treatment may be ordered paid by the person up to the jurisdictional limit of the court.

  5. (e) Any person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of the offense of cruelty to animals for a third offense occurring within five (5) years of a previous offense of cruelty to animals or of any other equivalent penal offense of another state or foreign jurisdiction is guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor and shall be:

    1. (1) Fined no less than nine hundred dollars ($900) and no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000);

    2. (2) Either:

      1. (A) Imprisoned for no fewer than ninety (90) days and no more than one (1) year; or

      2. (B) Ordered to complete no fewer than ninety (90) days of community service; and

    3. (3)

      1. (A) Both:

        1. (i) Ordered to receive a psychiatric or psychological evaluation; and

        2. (ii) If determined appropriate, ordered to receive psychiatric or psychological counseling or treatment for a length of time prescribed by the court.

      2. (B) The cost of any psychiatric or psychological evaluation, counseling, or treatment may be ordered paid by the person up to the jurisdictional limit of the court.

  6. (f)

    1. (1) Any person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of cruelty to animals for a fourth or subsequent offense occurring within (5) five years of a previous offense of cruelty to animals or of any other equivalent penal offense of another state or foreign jurisdiction is guilty of a Class D felony and shall be:

      1. (A) Ordered to receive a psychiatric or psychological evaluation; and

      2. (B) If determined appropriate, ordered to receive psychiatric or psychological counseling or treatment for a length of time prescribed by the court.

    2. (2) The cost of any psychiatric or psychological evaluation, counseling, or treatment may be ordered paid by the person.

  7. (g)

    1. (1) For the sole purpose of calculating the number of previous offenses under subsections (d), (e), and (f) of this section, all offenses that are committed against one (1) or more animals and as part of the same criminal episode are a single offense.

    2. (2) As used in this section, “criminal episode” means an act that constitutes the offense of cruelty to animals that is committed by a person against one (1) or more animals within a period of twenty-four (24) hours.


Download our app to see the most-to-date content.