Animal abuse
This law is about hurting animals. A person breaks this law if they kill an animal in a way that is not allowed, hurt or cause suffering to an animal on purpose, or own or take care of an animal but fail to give it proper care and the animal is seriously harmed. The first time someone breaks this law, it is a lower-level crime. But if the person has been found guilty of animal abuse before, or if the animal was tortured or mutilated while still alive, it becomes a more serious crime.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
578.012. Animal — penalties. — 1. A person commits the of animal abuse if he or she:
(1) Intentionally or purposely kills an animal in any manner not allowed by or expressly exempted from the of sections 578.005 to 578.023 and 273.030;
(2) Purposely or intentionally causes injury or suffering to an animal; or
(3) Having ownership or of an animal fails to provide which results in to the animal.
2. Animal abuse is a , unless the has previously been of animal abuse or the suffering involved in (2) of 1 of this section is the result of or consciously inflicted while the animal was alive, in which case it is a .
Tap any gold-underlined word to see what it means.
Red section numbers link to that law.
Source & history notes
(L. 1983 S.B. 211 § 4, A.L. 1994 S.B. 545, A.L. 1996 S.B. 491, A.L. 2001 S.B. 462, A.L. 2013 S.B. 9, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Effective 1-01-17 (1989) "Willfully" is an essential element of the offense of animal abuse and distinguishes it from the offense of animal neglect. State v. Price, 772 S.W.2d 9. (Mo.App.E.D.)
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.