(a) Offense defined.--A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly illtreats, overloads, beats, abandons or abuses an animal.
(b) Grading.--
(1) Except as set forth in paragraph (2), a violation of this section is a summary offense.
(2) If the violation causes bodily injury to the animal or places the animal at imminent risk of serious bodily injury, a violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree.
Cross References. Section 5533 is referred to in sections 5534, 5542, 5560, 9122.3 of this title; section 6138 of Title 61 (Prisons and Parole).