What is Animal Cruelty?
Cruelty to Animals:
Laws are created by each state to protect animals from mistreatment, abuse and neglect. Generally, the owner of an animal is responsible for proper feeding, care, shelter and treatment. Mistreatment can result in fines, incarceration and other consequences.
What is an “Animal?”
For purposes of clarification, many state statutes make a distinction between “animals,” “livestock,” “pet” and “wild creature.” In Texas, for example, an animal is defined as “a domesticated living creature and wild living creature previously captured.”
Cruelty to Animals – State Laws Define Permissible Conduct:
There are generally two categories of conduct that are penalized by state law:
- Intentional acts to animals that result in mistreatment
- Failure to act properly in regard to animal treatment
What Types of Animal Conduct are Considered Cruel?
In Texas, a person commits an offense if they knowingly or intentionally:
- Torture a livestock animal
- Fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, water or care
- Abandons a livestock animal that is in their care
- Transports or confines livestock in a cruel and unusual manner
- Causes fighting between animals
- Uses a live livestock animal as a lure in animal training or on a racetrack
- Seriously overworks a livestock animal
- Many other categories are covered
What Does “Cruel Manner” and Torture Mean in Regard to Animal Mistreatment?
- A manner that causes or permits unjustified or unwarranted pain or suffering
- Any act that causes unjustifiable pain or suffering - torture
Cruelty to Non-Livestock Animals:
As per the Texas laws, the following definitions are useful:
- Abandon – leaving an animal without making reasonable arrangements for custody
- Animal – domesticated living creature, including any stray or feral cat or dog, as well as a “wild living creature previously captured.”
- Custody – responsibility for the health and welfare of the animal
Committing an Act of Animal Abuse:
A person commits an act of animal abuse if they knowingly, intentionally or recklessly:
- Torture the animal – causing unjustifiable pain and suffering
- Without the owner’s consent, administers poison to the animal or causes serious bodily injury
- Fails to unreasonably provide food, water, care or shelter
- Abandons the animal
- Transports the animal in a cruel manner
- Causes one animal to fight with another
- Seriously overworks an animal
