{"id":13041,"date":"2015-06-04T15:42:12","date_gmt":"2015-06-04T22:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/?page_id=13041"},"modified":"2023-02-16T11:32:39","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T18:32:39","slug":"animal-cruelty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/blog\/animal-cruelty\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Animal Cruelty Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"
Most animal abuse cases involve cats and dogs, but Arizona\u2019s animal cruelty laws extend to all domestic pets, service animals, working animals, livestock, and poultry. It\u2019s a serious crime that can carry significant fines, probation, and even jail time.<\/p>\n
Under ARS 13-2910<\/a>, the following actions are considered animal cruelty when they\u2019re committed intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:<\/p>\n Note that these actions require intent, knowledge, or recklessness to be considered animal cruelty. Therefore, an individual who unintentionally or unknowingly commits one of these actions may not be guilty of animal cruelty.<\/p>\n If you are the owner of a victimized animal, consult with our personal injury attorney<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are two notable exceptions to Arizona\u2019s animal cruelty laws.<\/p>\n First, when a dog or predatory animal kills or wounds livestock, the property owner (or controller or lessee) is permitted to place poisoned bait on the property in order to protect their livestock.<\/p>\n The owner, controller, or lessee must post adequate warning to people who enter the property from the time the poison is placed to the time it is removed. The warning must be readable at least 50 feet away and include a poison statement, the poison symbol, and the word \u201cdanger\u201d or \u201cwarning.\u201d<\/p>\n Second, property owners, lessees, and controllers may place poison in and immediately around their building in order to control wild and domestic rodents.<\/p>\n Depending on the circumstances of your crime, animal cruelty is either a class 1 misdemeanor, a class 6 felony, or a class 5 felony.<\/p>\n In Arizona, class 1 misdemeanors are punishable by up to six months in jail, three years of probation, and $2,500 in fines. A class 6 felony<\/a> carries a maximum sentence of two years in aggravated cases, while an aggravated class 5 felony carries a 2.5 year max sentence.<\/p>\n There are a number of potential defenses that you can present when you\u2019re charged with animal cruelty. It\u2019s best to work with an experienced criminal law attorney<\/a> to determine the best strategy and represent you in court.<\/p>\n The best defense against animal cruelty charges is to prove that you did not act knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly. Arizona\u2019s animal cruelty laws hinge on these three states of mind, so as long as you acted unknowingly or unintentionally harmed or killed the animal, you\u2019re innocent.<\/p>\n If you acted intentionally or knowingly, then you\u2019ll need to prove that you weren\u2019t reckless. For example, you made a logical decision to humanely put down your pet when they were terminally ill or injured.<\/p>\n Self defense is another common defense in animal cruelty cases. As long as you were defending yourself or another person, then harming or killing the animal in question may be justified.<\/p>\n Most animal abuse cases are a class 1 misdemeanor, which carries a maximum jail sentence of six months. Serious animal abuse cases may be upgraded to either a class 6 (2 years maximum sentence) or a class 5 felony (2.5 years maximum sentence).<\/p>\n Killing or injuring an animal in self defense is not animal cruelty. The animal\u2019s owner may try to press charges against you, but you\u2019re innocent as long as you acted in self defense.<\/p>\n It\u2019s technically legal to \u201cput down\u201d a terminally ill pet as long as the action doesn\u2019t involve protracted suffering (i.e. the pet must die instantly). That said, it\u2019s best to take terminally ill pets to the veterinarian to be euthanized rather than putting it down yourself.<\/p>\n Arizona\u2019s animal cruelty laws prohibit killing feral cats. However, you can trap feral cats and take them to an animal shelter to be adopted or euthanized. There are also organizations like the Foundation for Homeless Cats<\/a> who support initiatives to address the issue of feral cats with non-lethal approaches.<\/p>\n There is no time period for a pet to be considered abandoned. As soon as the owner \u201cintentionally, knowingly, or recklessly\u201d abandons the pet, they\u2019re guilty of animal cruelty.<\/p>\n Cruel negligence takes place when an individual fails to provide food, water, or shelter to an animal under their custody or control.<\/p>\n Cruel mistreatment is when an individual tortures an animal, inflicts unnecessary serious physical injury, or kills an animal in a manner that causes protracted suffering.<\/p>\n A service animal is an animal that has completed a formal training program and assists its owner in one or more daily living tasks that are associated with a productive lifestyle. The service animal must be properly trained to not pose a danger to the health and safety of the general public.<\/p>\n Working animals are dogs and horses used by law enforcement that are specially trained for law enforcement work and under the control of a handler.<\/p>\n Animal fighting is technically considered animal cruelty, but it\u2019s separately addressed under ARS 13-2910.01<\/a>. Participants in animal fights may be charged with a class 5 felony, while those in attendance of an animal fight may be charged with a class 6 felony.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re charged with animal cruelty in Arizona, you should consult with a criminal law attorney as soon as possible. Don\u2019t speak with law enforcement or negotiate for a plea deal without a lawyer present.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
Exceptions to the Law<\/h2>\n
Penalties for Animal Cruelty in Arizona<\/h2>\n
Defenses Against Animal Cruelty Charges<\/h2>\n
FAQs on Animal Cruelty Charges in Arizona<\/h2>\n
How many years can you go to jail for animal abuse?<\/h3>\n
Do you go to jail if you kill an animal in self defense?<\/h3>\n
Is it illegal to kill cats or dogs?<\/h3>\n
Is it illegal to kill feral cats in Arizona?<\/h3>\n
How long before a pet is considered abandoned?<\/h3>\n
What is cruel negligence?<\/h3>\n
What is cruel mistreatment?<\/h3>\n
What is a service animal?<\/h3>\n
What is a working animal?<\/h3>\n
Is animal fighting considered animal cruelty?<\/h3>\n
What to do if you\u2019re facing animal cruelty charges<\/h2>\n