Definitions
This part of the law gives the meanings of words used in Missouri's animal cruelty laws. It explains what counts as an 'animal' (any living creature with a backbone, except humans), what an 'owner' is (anyone who keeps or feeds an animal), what 'adequate care' means (proper food, water, shelter, and healthcare), and defines other important words used in the rules that follow.
578.005. Definitions. — As used in sections 578.005 to 578.023, the following terms shall mean:
(1) "", normal and attention to the needs of an animal, including wholesome food, clean water, shelter and health care as necessary to maintain good health in a specific species of animal;
(2) "", to reasonably restrain or govern an animal so that the animal does not injure itself, any person, any other animal, or property;
(3) "Animal", every living except a human being;
(4) "", a facility which is used to house or contain animals and which is owned, operated, or maintained by a , animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or other devoted to the welfare, protection, and treatment of animals;
(5) "Farm animal", an animal raised on a farm or ranch and used or intended for use in farm or ranch production, or as food or fiber;
(6) "", any individual employed at a location where farm animals are ;
(7) "", to feed or shelter an animal at the same location for three or more days;
(8) "", the destruction of an animal accomplished by a method approved by the 's Panel on (JAVMA 173: 59-72, 1978); or more recent editions, but animals killed during the feeding of pet carnivores shall be considered ;
(9) "Owner", in addition to its ordinary meaning, any person who keeps or harbors an animal or professes to be owning, keeping, or harboring an animal;
(10) "Person", any individual, , firm, , , association, trust, , or other ;
(11) "Pests", birds, rabbits, or rodents which damage property or have an adverse effect on the public health, but shall not include any listed by the United States of the Interior nor any endangered species listed in the .
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Source & history notes
(L. 1983 S.B. 211 § 1, A.L. 2012 S.B. 631)
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.