2009 Kansas Code
Chapter 21 CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
Article 43 CRIMES AGAINST THE PUBLIC MORALS
21-4310. Cruelty to animals.

21-4310

Chapter 21.--CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS PART II.--PROHIBITED CONDUCT Article 43.--CRIMES AGAINST THE PUBLIC MORALS

      21-4310.   Cruelty to animals. (a) Cruelty to animals is:

      (1)   Intentionally and maliciously killing, injuring, maiming, torturing, burning or mutilating any animal;

      (2)   intentionally abandoning or leaving any animal in any place without making provisions for its proper care;

      (3)   having physical custody of any animal and intentionally failing to provide such food, potable water, protection from the elements, opportunity for exercise and other care as is needed for the health or well-being of such kind of animal;

      (4)   intentionally using a wire, pole, stick, rope or any other object to cause an equine to lose its balance or fall, for the purpose of sport or entertainment; or

      (5)   intentionally causing any physical injury other than the acts described in subsection (a)(1).

      (b)   The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

      (1)   Normal or accepted veterinary practices;

      (2)   bona fide experiments carried on by commonly recognized research facilities;

      (3)   killing, attempting to kill, trapping, catching or taking of any animal in accordance with the provisions of chapter 32 or chapter 47 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated;

      (4)   rodeo practices accepted by the rodeo cowboys' association;

      (5)   the humane killing of an animal which is diseased or disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose, or the humane killing of animals for population control, by the owner thereof or the agent of such owner residing outside of a city or the owner thereof within a city if no animal shelter, pound or licensed veterinarian is within the city, or by a licensed veterinarian at the request of the owner thereof, or by any officer or agent of an incorporated humane society, the operator of an animal shelter or pound, a local or state health officer or a licensed veterinarian three business days following the receipt of any such animal at such society, shelter or pound;

      (6)   with respect to farm animals, normal or accepted practices of animal husbandry, including the normal and accepted practices for the slaughter of such animals for food or by-products and the careful or thrifty management of one's herd or animals, including animal care practices common in the industry or region;

      (7)   the killing of any animal by any person at any time which may be found outside of the owned or rented property of the owner or custodian of such animal and which is found injuring or posing a threat to any person, farm animal or property;

      (8)   an animal control officer trained by a licensed veterinarian in the use of a tranquilizer gun, using such gun with the appropriate dosage for the size of the animal, when such animal is vicious or could not be captured after reasonable attempts using other methods;

      (9)   laying an equine down for medical or identification purposes;

      (10)   normal or accepted practices of pest control, as defined in subsection (x) of K.S.A. 2-2438a, and amendments thereto; or

      (11)   accepted practices of animal husbandry pursuant to regulations promulgated by the United States department of agriculture for domestic pet animals under the animal welfare act, public law 89-544, as amended and in effect on July 1, 2006.

      (c)   As used in this section:

      (1)   "Equine" means a horse, pony, mule, jenny, donkey or hinny.

      (2)   "Maliciously" means a state of mind characterized by actual evil-mindedness or specific intent to do a harmful act without a reasonable justification or excuse.

      (d) (1)   Cruelty to animals as described in subsection (a)(1) is a nonperson felony. Upon conviction of this subsection, a person shall be sentenced to not less than 30 days or more than one year's imprisonment and be fined not less than $500 nor more than $5,000. During the mandatory 30 days imprisonment, such offender shall have a psychological evaluation prepared for the court to assist the court in determining conditions of probation. Such conditions shall include, but not be limited to, the completion of an anger management program.

      (2) The first conviction of cruelty to animals as described in subsection (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4) and (a)(5) is a class A nonperson misdemeanor. The second or subsequent conviction of cruelty to animals as described in subsection (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4) and (a)(5) is a non-person felony. Upon such conviction, a person shall be sentenced to not less than five days or more than one year's imprisonment and be fined not less than $500 nor more than $2,500.

      (e)   For purposes of this section, "animal" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in K.S.A. 21-4313, and amendments thereto.

      History:   L. 1969, ch. 180, § 21-4310; L. 1974, ch. 148, § 1; L. 1975, ch. 198, § 1; L. 1977, ch. 116, § 2; L. 1980, ch. 182, § 4; L. 1980, ch. 157, § 1; L. 1992, ch. 239, § 220; L. 1993, ch. 291, § 168; L. 1995, ch. 244, § 3; L. 1996, ch. 119, § 1; L. 2006, ch. 126, § 1; L. 2008, ch. 175, § 2; July 1.