Misty’s Top Ten Not-So-Useless Facts on:Animal Rights Laws Across the U.S. Part IV

Sorry for the serious delay folks in getting the rest of this information out there. Crazy weather, even crazier people, and animal rescues have taken over the last few days. Not to mention the insanity over Obama’s birth certificate, and the celebration of Bin Laden’s death. So, read on for the next ten states and their laws regarding animal cruelty.
New Jersey – NEW JERSEY STATUTES
TITLE 4. AGRICULTURE AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS
CHAPTER 22. PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
ARTICLE 2. PREVENTION OF CRUELTY
B. MISDEMEANORS AND FINES
4:22-17. Cruelty in general; disorderly persons offense
A person who shall:
a. Overdrive, overload, drive when overloaded, overwork, torture, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance, unnecessarily or cruelly beat or otherwise abuse, or needlessly mutilate or kill, a living animal or creature;
b. Cause or procure any of such acts to be done; or
c. Inflict unnecessary cruelty upon a living animal or creature of which he has charge either as owner or otherwise, or unnecessarily fail to provide it with proper food, drink, shelter or protection from the weather–
Shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.
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4:22-18. Carrying animal in cruel manner; disorderly persons offense
A person who shall carry, or cause to be carried, a living animal or creature in or upon a vehicle or otherwise, in a cruel or inhumane manner, shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.
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C. PENALTIES; RECOVERY
4:22-26. Acts constituting cruelty in general; penalty
A person who shall:
a. Overdrive, overload, drive when overloaded, overwork, torture, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance, or cruelly beat or otherwise abuse or needlessly mutilate or kill a living animal or creature;
b. Cause or procure to be done by his agent, servant, employee or otherwise an act enumerated in subsection “a.” of this section;
c. Inflict unnecessary cruelty upon a living animal or creature of which he has charge or custody either as owner or otherwise, or unnecessarily fail to provide it with proper food, drink, shelter or protection from the weather;
d. Receive or offer for sale a horse which by reason of disability, disease or lameness, or any other cause, could not be worked without violating the provisions of this article;
e. Keep, use, be connected with or interested in the management of, or receive money or other consideration for the admission of a person to, a place kept or used for the purpose of fighting or baiting a living animal or creature;
f. Be present and witness, pay admission to, encourage, aid or assist in an activity enumerated in subsection “e.” of this section;
g. Permit or suffer a place owned or controlled by him to be used as provided in subsection “e.” of this section;
h. Carry, or cause to be carried, a living animal or creature in or upon a vehicle or otherwise, in a cruel or inhuman manner;
i. Use a dog or dogs for the purpose of drawing or helping to draw a vehicle for business purposes;
j. Impound or confine or cause to be impounded or confined in a pound or other place a living animal or creature, and shall fail to supply it during such confinement with a sufficient quantity of good and wholesome food and water;
k. Abandon a maimed, sick, infirm or disabled animal or creature to die in a public place;
l. Willfully sell, or offer to sell, use, expose, or cause or permit to be sold or offered for sale, used or exposed, a horse or other animal having the disease known as glanders or farcy, or other contagious or infectious disease dangerous to the health or life of human beings or animals, or who shall, when any such disease is beyond recovery, refuse, upon demand, to deprive the animal of life;
m. Own, operate, manage or conduct a roadside stand or market for the sale of merchandise along a public street or highway; or a shopping mall, or a part of the premises thereof; and keep a living animal or creature confined, or allowed to roam in an area whether or not the area is enclosed, on these premises as an exhibit; except that this subsection shall not be applicable to: a pet shop licensed pursuant to P.L.1941, c. 151 (C. 4:19-15.1 et seq.); a person who keeps an animal, in a humane manner, for the purpose of the protection of the premises; or a recognized breeders’ association, a 4-H club, an educational agricultural program, an equestrian team, a humane society or other similar charitable or nonprofit organization conducting an exhibition, show or performance;
n. Keep or exhibit a wild animal at a roadside stand or market located along a public street or highway of this State; a gasoline station; or a shopping mall, or a part of the premises thereof;
o. Sell, offer for sale, barter or give away or display live baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl or rabbits, turtles or chameleons which have been dyed or artificially colored or otherwise treated so as to impart to them an artificial color;
p. Use any animal, reptile, or fowl for the purpose of soliciting any alms, collections, contributions, subscriptions, donations, or payment of money except in connection with exhibitions, shows or performances conducted in a bona fide manner by recognized breeders’ associations, 4-H clubs or other similar bona fide organizations;
q. Sell or offer for sale, barter, or give away living rabbits, turtles, baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl under two months of age, for use as household or domestic pets;
r. Sell, offer for sale, barter or give away living baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl, or rabbits, turtles or chameleons under two months of age for any purpose not prohibited by subsection q. of this section and who shall fail to provide proper facilities for the care of such animals;
s. Artificially mark sheep or cattle, or cause them to be marked, by cropping or cutting off both ears, cropping or cutting either ear more than one inch from the tip end thereof, or half cropping or cutting both ears or either ear more than one inch from the tip end thereof, or who shall have or keep in his possession sheep or cattle, which he claims to own, marked contrary to this subsection unless they were bought in market or of a stranger;
t. Abandon a domesticated animal;
u. For amusement or gain, cause, allow, or permit the fighting or baiting of a living animal or creature;
v. Own, possess, keep, train, promote, purchase, or knowingly sell a living animal or creature for the purpose of fighting or baiting that animal or creature; or
w. Gamble on the outcome of a fight involving a living animal or creature–
Shall forfeit and pay a sum not to exceed $250.00, except in the case of a violation of subsection “t.” a mandatory sum of $500, and $1,000 if the violation occurs on or near a roadway, to be sued for and recovered, with costs, in a civil action by any person in the name of the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
New Mexico – NEW MEXICO STATUTES 1978
CHAPTER 30. Criminal Offenses
ARTICLE 18. Animals
30-18-1 Cruelty to animals.
Cruelty to animals consists of:
A. torturing, tormenting, depriving of necessary sustenance, cruelly beating, mutilating, cruelly killing or overdriving any animal;
B. unnecessarily failing to provide any animal with proper food or drink; or
C. cruelly driving or working any animal when such animal is unfit for labor.
Whoever commits cruelty to animals is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
New York – CONSOLIDATED LAWS OF NEW YORK
AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW
CHAPTER 69 OF THE CONSOLIDATED LAWS
ARTICLE 26–ANIMALS
s 353. Overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide proper sustenance
A person who overdrives, overloads, tortures or cruelly beats or unjustifiably injures, maims, mutilates or kills any animal, whether wild or tame, and whether belonging to himself or to another, or deprives any animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink, or neglects or refuses to furnish it such sustenance or drink, or causes, procures or permits any animal to be overdriven, overloaded, tortured, cruelly beaten, or unjustifiably injured, maimed, mutilated or killed, or to be deprived of necessary food or drink, or who wilfully sets on foot, instigates, engages in, or in any way furthers any act of cruelty to any animal, or any act tending to produce such cruelty, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or by both.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prohibit or interfere with any properly conducted scientific tests, experiments or investigations, involving the use of living animals, performed or conducted in laboratories or institutions, which are approved for these purposes by the state commissioner of health. The state commissioner of health shall prescribe the rules under which such approvals shall be granted, including therein standards regarding the care and treatment of any such animals. Such rules shall be published and copies thereof conspicuously posted in each such laboratory or institution. The state commissioner of health or his duly authorized representative shall have the power to inspect such laboratories or institutions to insure compliance with such rules and standards. Each such approval may be revoked at any time for failure to comply with such rules and in any case the approval shall be limited to a period not exceeding one year.
North Carolina – GENERAL STATUTES OF NORTH CAROLINA
CHAPTER 14. CRIMINAL LAW.
SUBCHAPTER XI. GENERAL POLICE REGULATIONS.
ARTICLE 47. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
§ 14-360. Cruelty to animals; construction of section
(a) If any person shall intentionally overdrive, overload, wound, injure, torment, kill, or deprive of necessary sustenance, or cause or procure to be overdriven, overloaded, wounded, injured, tormented, killed, or deprived of necessary sustenance, any animal, every such offender shall for every such offense be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(b) If any person shall maliciously torture, mutilate, maim, cruelly beat, disfigure, poison, or kill, or cause or procure to be tortured, mutilated, maimed, cruelly beaten, disfigured, poisoned, or killed, any animal, every such offender shall for every such offense be guilty of a Class I felony. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to increase the penalty for cockfighting provided for in G.S. 14-362.
(c) As used in this section, the words “torture”, “torment”, and “cruelly” include or refer to any act, omission, or neglect causing or permitting unjustifiable pain, suffering, or death. As used in this section, the word “intentionally” refers to an act committed knowingly and without justifiable excuse, while the word “maliciously” means an act committed intentionally and with malice or bad motive. As used in this section, the term “animal” includes every living vertebrate in the classes Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, and Mammalia except human beings. However, this section shall not apply to the following activities:
(1) The lawful taking of animals under the jurisdiction and regulation of the Wildlife Resources Commission, except that this section shall apply to those birds exempted by the Wildlife Resources Commission from its definition of “wild birds” pursuant to G.S. 113-129(15a).
(2) Lawful activities conducted for purposes of biomedical research or training or for purposes of production of livestock, poultry, or aquatic species.
(2a) Lawful activities conducted for the primary purpose of providing food for human or animal consumption.
(3) Activities conducted for lawful veterinary purposes.
(4) The lawful destruction of any animal for the purposes of protecting the public, other animals, property, or the public health
North Dakota – NORTH DAKOTA CENTURY CODE
TITLE 36. LIVESTOCK
CHAPTER 36-21.1. HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS
36-21.1-02 Overworking or mistreating animals.
1. No person may overdrive, overload, torture, cruelly beat, neglect, or unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill any animal, or cruelly work any animal when unfit for labor.
2. No person may deprive any animal over which he has charge or control of necessary food, water, or shelter.
3. No person may keep any animal in any enclosure without exercise and wholesome change of air.
4. No person may abandon any animal.
5. No person may allow any maimed, sick, infirm, or disabled animal of which he is the owner, or of which he has custody, to lie in any street, road, or other public place for more than three hours after notice.
6. No person may willfully instigate, or in any way further, any act of cruelty to any animal or animals, or any act tending to produce such cruelty.
7. No person may cage any animal for public display purposes unless the display cage is constructed of solid material on three sides to protect the caged animal from the elements, and unless the horizontal dimension of each side of the cage is at least four times the length of the caged animal. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to the North Dakota state fair association, to agricultural fair associations, to any agricultural display of caged animals by any political subdivision, or to district, regional, or national educational livestock or poultry exhibitions. Zoos which have been approved by the health district or the governing body of the political subdivision which has jurisdiction over the zoos are exempt from the provisions of this subsection.
8. Repealed by S.L. 1975, ch. 106, s 397.
Ohio – OHIO REVISED CODE
TITLE IX AGRICULTURE–ANIMALS–FENCES
CHAPTER 959 OFFENSES RELATING TO DOMESTIC ANIMALS
SPECIFIC OFFENSES
§ 959.13 Cruelty to animals.
(A) No person shall:
(1) Torture an animal, deprive one of necessary sustenance, unnecessarily or cruelly beat, needlessly mutilate or kill, or impound or confine an animal without supplying it during such confinement with a sufficient quantity of good wholesome food and water;
(2) Impound or confine an animal without affording it, during such confinement, access to shelter from wind, rain, snow, or excessive direct sunlight if it can reasonably be expected that the animals would otherwise become sick or in some other way suffer. Division (A)(2) of this section does not apply to animals impounded or confined prior to slaughter. For the purpose of this section, shelter means a man-made enclosure, windbreak, sunshade, or natural windbreak or sunshade that is developed from the earth’s contour, tree development, or vegetation.[;]
(3) Carry or convey an animal in a cruel or inhuman[e] manner;
(4) Keep animals other than cattle, poultry or fowl, swine, sheep, or goats in an enclosure without wholesome exercise and change of air, [n1] nor or feed cows on food that produces impure or unwholesome milk;
(5) Detain livestock in railroad cars or compartments longer than twenty-eight hours after they are so placed without supplying them with necessary food, water, and attention, nor permit such stock to be so crowded as to overlie, crush, wound, or kill each other.
(B) Upon the written request of the owner or person in custody of any particular shipment of livestock, which written request shall be separate and apart from any printed bill of lading or other railroad form, the length of time in which such livestock may be detained in any cars or compartment without food, water, and attention, may be extended to thirty-six hours without penalty therefor. This section does not prevent the dehorning of cattle.
(C) All fines collected for violations of this section shall be paid to the society or association for the prevention of cruelty to animals, if there be such in the county, township, or municipal corporation where such violation occurred.
Oklahoma – OKLAHOMA STATUTES
TITLE 21. CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
PART VII. CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY
CHAPTER 67. INJURIES TO ANIMALS
§ 1685. Cruelty to animals
Any person who shall willfully or maliciously overdrive, overload, torture, destroy or kill, or cruelly beat or injure, maim or mutilate, any animal in subjugation or captivity, whether wild or tame, and whether belonging to himself or to another, or deprive any such animal of necessary food, drink or shelter; or who shall cause, procure or permit any such animal to be so overdriven, overloaded, tortured, destroyed or killed, or cruelly beaten or injured, maimed or mutilated, or deprived of necessary food, drink or shelter; or who shall willfully set on foot, instigate, engage in, or in any way further any act of cruelty to any animal, or any act tending to produce such cruelty, shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary not exceeding five (5) years, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one (1) year, or by a fine not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($ 500.00). Any officer finding an animal so maltreated or abused shall cause the same to be taken care of, and the charges therefor shall be a lien upon such animal, to be collected thereon as upon a pledge or a lien.
Oregon – 1995 OREGON REVISED STATUTES
TITLE 16. CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
CHAPTER 167. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH, DECENCY AND ANIMALS
OFFENSES AGAINST ANIMALS
167.310. Definitions for ORS 167.310 to 167.350.
As used in ORS 167.310 to 167.350:
(1) “Animal” means any nonhuman mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian or fish.
(2) “Domestic animal” means an animal, other than livestock, that is owned or possessed by a person.
(3) “Good animal husbandry” includes, but is not limited to, the dehorning of cattle, the docking of horses, sheep or swine, and the castration or neutering of livestock, according to accepted practices of veterinary medicine or animal husbandry.
(4) “Livestock” has the meaning provided in ORS 609.125.
(5) “Minimum care” means care sufficient to preserve the health and well-being of an animal and, except for emergencies or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the owner, includes, but is not limited to, the following requirements:
(a) Food of sufficient quantity and quality to allow for normal growth or maintenance of body weight.
(b) Open or adequate access to potable water in sufficient quantity to satisfy the animal’s needs. Access to snow or ice is not adequate access to potable water.
(c) For a domestic animal other than a dog engaged in herding or protecting livestock, access to a barn, dog house or other enclosed structure sufficient to protect the animal from wind, rain, snow or sun and that has adequate bedding to protect against cold and dampness.
(d) Veterinary care deemed necessary by a reasonably prudent person to relieve distress from injury, neglect or disease.
(e) For a domestic animal, continuous access to an area: (A) With adequate space for exercise necessary for the health of the animal; (B) With air temperature suitable for the animal; and (C) Kept reasonably clean and free from excess waste or other contaminants that could affect the animal’s health.
(6) “Physical injury” means physical trauma, impairment of physical condition or substantial pain.
(7) “Physical trauma” means fractures, cuts, punctures, bruises, burns or other wounds.
(8) “Possess” has the meaning provided in ORS 161.015.
(9) “Serious physical injury” means physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes protracted disfigurement, protracted impairment of health or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a limb or bodily organ.
167.312. Research and animal interference.
(1) A person commits the crime of research and animal interference if the person:
(a) With the intent to interfere with research, releases, steals or otherwise causes the death, injury or loss of any animal at or from an animal research facility.
(b) With the intent to interfere with research, damages, vandalizes or steals any property in or on an animal research facility.
(c) With the intent to interfere with research, obtains access to an animal research facility to perform acts not authorized by that facility.
(d) Obtains or exerts unauthorized control over records, data, materials, equipment or animals of any animal research facility with the intent to interfere with research by concealing, abandoning or destroying such records, data, materials, equipment or animals.
(e) With the intent to interfere with research, possesses or uses equipment or animals that the person reasonably believes have been obtained by theft or deception from an animal research facility or without the authorization of an animal research facility.
(2) For the purposes of this section, “animal research facility” means any facility engaging in legal scientific research or teaching involving the use of animals.
(3) Research and animal interference is a:
(a) Class C felony if damage to the animal research facility is $ 2,500 or more; or
(b) Class A misdemeanor if there is no damage to the facility or if damage to the animal research facility is less than $ 2,500.
(4) Determination of damages to an animal research facility shall be made by the court. In making its determination, the court shall consider the reasonable costs of:
(a) Replacing lost, injured or destroyed animals;
(b) Restoring the animal research facility to the approximate condition of the facility before the damage occurred; and(c) Replacing damaged or missing records, data, material or equipment.
(5) In addition to any other penalty imposed for violation of this section, a person convicted of such violation is liable:
(a) To the owner of the animal for damages, including the costs of restoring the animal to confinement and to its health condition prior to commission of the acts constituting the violation;
(b) For damages to real and personal property caused by acts constituting the violation; and
(c) For the costs of repeating an experiment, including the replacement of the animals, labor and materials, if acts constituting the violation cause the failure of an experiment.
167.315. Animal abuse in the second degree.
(1) A person commits the crime of animal abuse in the second degree if, except as otherwise authorized by law, the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes physical injury to an animal.
(2) Any practice of good animal husbandry is not a violation of this section.
(3) Animal abuse in the second degree is a Class B misdemeanor.
167.320. Animal abuse in the first degree.
(1) A person commits the crime of animal abuse in the first degree if, except as otherwise authorized by law, the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly:
(a) Causes serious physical injury to an animal; or
(b) Cruelly causes the death of an animal.
(2) Any practice of good animal husbandry is not a violation of this section.
(3) Animal abuse in the first degree is a Class A misdemeanor.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3) of this section, animal abuse in the first degree is a Class C felony if:
(a) The person committing the animal abuse has previously been convicted of two or more of the following offenses: (A) Any offense under ORS 163.160, 163.165, 163.175 or 163.185 or the equivalent laws of another jurisdiction, if the offense involved domestic violence as defined in ORS 135.230 or the offense was committed against a minor child; or
(B) Any offense under this section or ORS 167.322, or the equivalent laws of another jurisdiction; or
(b) The person knowingly commits the animal abuse in the immediate presence of a minor child. For purposes of this paragraph, a minor child is in the immediate presence of animal abuse if the abuse is seen or directly perceived in any other manner by the minor child.
167.322. Aggravated animal abuse in the first degree.
(1) A person commits the crime of aggravated animal abuse in the first degree if the person:
(a) Maliciously kills an animal; or
(b) Intentionally or knowingly tortures an animal.
(2) Aggravated animal abuse in the first degree is a Class C felony.
(3) As used in this section:
(a) “Maliciously” means intentionally acting with a depravity of mind and reckless and wanton disregard of life.
(b) “Torture” means an action taken for the primary purpose of inflicting pain.
167.325. Animal neglect in the second degree.
(1) A person commits the crime of animal neglect in the second degree if, except as otherwise authorized by law, the person intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence fails to provide minimum care for an animal in such person’s custody or control.
(2) Animal neglect in the second degree is a Class B misdemeanor.
167.330. Animal neglect in the first degree.
(1) A person commits the crime of animal neglect in the first degree if, except as otherwise authorized by law, the person intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence fails to provide minimum care for an animal in the person’s custody or control and the failure to provide care results in serious physical injury or death to the animal.
(2) Animal neglect in the first degree is a Class A misdemeanor.
167.340. Animal abandonment.
(1) A person commits the crime of animal abandonment if the person intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence leaves a domestic animal at a location without providing for the animal’s continued care.
(2) It is no defense to the crime defined in subsection (1) of this section that the defendant abandoned the animal at or near an animal shelter, veterinary clinic or other place of shelter if the defendant did not make reasonable arrangements for the care of the animal.
(3) Animal abandonment is a Class B misdemeanor.
Pennsylvania – PENNSYLVANIA STATUTES AND CONSOLIDATED STATUTES
PURDON’S PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES
TITLE 18. CRIMES AND OFFENSES
PART II. DEFINITION OF SPECIFIC OFFENSES
ARTICLE F. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCY
CHAPTER 55. RIOT, DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND RELATED OFFENSES
§ 5511. Cruelty to animals
(a) KILLING, MAIMING OR POISONING DOMESTIC ANIMALS OR ZOO ANIMALS, ETC.–
(1) A person commits a misdemeanor of the second degree if he willfully
and maliciously:
(i) Kills, maims or disfigures any domestic animal of another person
or any domestic fowl of another person.
(ii) Administers poison to or exposes any poisonous substance with
the intent to administer such poison to any domestic animal of
another person or domestic fowl of another person.
(iii) Harasses, annoys, injures, attempts to injure, molests or
interferes with a dog guide for an individual who is blind, a hearing
dog for an individual who is deaf or audibly impaired or a service
dog for an individual who is physically limited.
Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this paragraph
shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $ 500.
(2) A person commits a felony of the third degree if he willfully and
maliciously:
(i) Kills, maims or disfigures any zoo animal in captivity.
(ii) Administers poison to or exposes any poisonous substance with
the intent to administer such poison to any zoo animal in captivity.
(2.1) (i) A person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree if he
willfully and maliciously:
(A) Kills, maims, mutilates, tortures or disfigures any dog or cat,
whether belonging to himself or otherwise. If a person kills,
maims, mutilates, tortures or disfigures a dog guide for an
individual who is blind, a hearing dog for an individual who is
deaf or audibly impaired or a service dog for an individual who is
physically limited, whether belonging to the individual or
otherwise, that person, in addition to any other applicable
penalty, shall be required to make reparations for veterinary costs
in treating the dog and, if necessary, the cost of obtaining and
training a replacement dog.
(B) Administers poison to or exposes any poisonous substance with
the intent to administer such poison to any dog or cat, whether
belonging to himself or otherwise.
(ii) Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this
paragraph shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $ 1,000
or to imprisonment for not more than two years, or both. The court
may also order a presentence mental evaluation. A subsequent
conviction under this paragraph shall be a felony of the third
degree. This paragraph shall apply to dogs and cats only.
(iii) The killing of a dog or cat by the owner of that animal is not
malicious if it is accomplished in accordance with the act of
December 22, 1983 (P.L. 303, No. 83), referred to as the Animal
Destruction Method Authorization Law.
(3) This subsection shall not apply to:
(i) the killing of any animal taken or found in the act of actually
destroying any domestic animal or domestic fowl;
(ii) the killing of any animal or fowl pursuant to the act of June 3,
1937 (P.L. 1225, No. 316), known as The Game Law, or 34 Pa.C.S. §§
2384 (relating to declaring dogs public nuisances) and 2385 (relating
to destruction of dogs declared public nuisances), or the regulations
promulgated thereunder; or
(iii) such reasonable activity as may be undertaken in connection
with vermin control or pest control.
(b) REGULATING CERTAIN ACTIONS CONCERNING FOWL OR RABBITS.–A PERSON COMMITS A SUMMARY OFFENSE IF HE SELLS, OFFERS FOR SALE, BARTERS, OR GIVES AWAY BABY CHICKENS, DUCKLINGS, OR OTHER FOWL, UNDER ONE MONTH OF AGE, OR RABBITS UNDER TWO MONTHS OF AGE, AS PETS, TOYS, PREMIUMS OR NOVELTIES OR IF HE COLORS, DYES, STAINS OR OTHERWISE CHANGES THE NATURAL COLOR OF BABY CHICKENS, DUCKLINGS OR OTHER FOWL, OR RABBITS OR IF HE BRINGS OR TRANSPORTS THE SAME INTO THIS COMMONWEALTH. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT THE SALE OR DISPLAY OF SUCH BABY CHICKENS, DUCKLINGS, OR OTHER FOWL, OR SUCH RABBITS, IN PROPER FACILITIES BY PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF SELLING THEM FOR PURPOSES OF COMMERCIAL BREEDING AND RAISING.
(c) CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.–A PERSON COMMITS A SUMMARY OFFENSE IF HE WANTONLY OR CRUELLY ILLTREATS, OVERLOADS, BEATS, OTHERWISE ABUSES ANY ANIMAL, OR NEGLECTS ANY ANIMAL AS TO WHICH HE HAS A DUTY OF CARE, WHETHER BELONGING TO HIMSELF OR OTHERWISE, OR ABANDONS ANY ANIMAL, OR DEPRIVES ANY ANIMAL OF NECESSARY SUSTENANCE, DRINK, SHELTER OR VETERINARY CARE, OR ACCESS TO CLEAN AND SANITARY SHELTER WHICH WILL PROTECT THE ANIMAL AGAINST INCLEMENT WEATHER AND PRESERVE THE ANIMAL’S BODY HEAT AND KEEP IT DRY. THIS SUBSECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ACTIVITY UNDERTAKEN IN NORMAL AGRICULTURAL OPERATION.
(d) SELLING OR USING DISABLED HORSE.–A PERSON COMMITS A SUMMARY OFFENSE IF HE OFFERS FOR SALE OR SELLS ANY HORSE, WHICH BY REASON OF DEBILITY, DISEASE OR LAMENESS, OR FOR OTHER CAUSE, COULD NOT BE WORKED OR USED WITHOUT VIOLATING THE LAWS AGAINST CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, OR LEADS, RIDES, DRIVES OR TRANSPORTS ANY SUCH HORSE FOR ANY PURPOSE, EXCEPT THAT OF CONVEYING THE HORSE TO THE NEAREST AVAILABLE APPROPRIATE FACILITY FOR ITS HUMANE KEEPING OR DESTRUCTION OR FOR MEDICAL OR SURGICAL TREATMENT.
(e) TRANSPORTING ANIMALS IN CRUEL MANNER.–A PERSON COMMITS A SUMMARY OFFENSE IF HE CARRIES, OR CAUSES, OR ALLOWS TO BE CARRIED IN OR UPON ANY CART, OR OTHER VEHICLE WHATSOEVER, ANY ANIMAL IN A CRUEL OR INHUMANE MANNER. THE PERSON TAKING HIM INTO CUSTODY MAY TAKE CHARGE OF THE ANIMAL AND OF ANY SUCH VEHICLE AND ITS CONTENTS, AND DEPOSIT THE SAME IN SOME SAFE PLACE OF CUSTODY, AND ANY NECESSARY EXPENSES WHICH MAY BE INCURRED FOR TAKING CHARGE OF AND KEEPING THE SAME, AND SUSTAINING ANY SUCH ANIMAL, SHALL BE A LIEN THEREON, TO BE PAID BEFORE THE SAME CAN LAWFULLY BE RECOVERED, OR THE SAID EXPENSES OR ANY PART THEREOF REMAINING UNPAID MAY BE RECOVERED BY THE PERSON INCURRING THE SAME FROM THE OWNER OF SAID CREATURE IN ANY ACTION THEREFOR.
For the purposes of this section, it shall not be deemed cruel or inhumane to transport live poultry in crates so long as not more than 15 pounds of live poultry are allocated to each cubic foot of space in the crate.
(E.1) TRANSPORTING EQUINE ANIMALS IN CRUEL MANNER.–NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, A PERSON COMMITS A SUMMARY OFFENSE FOR EACH EQUINE ANIMAL IF THE PERSON CARRIES, OR CAUSES OR ALLOWS TO BE CARRIED, ANY EQUINE ANIMAL IN OR UPON ANY CONVEYANCE OR OTHER VEHICLE WHATSOEVER WITH TWO OR MORE LEVELS STACKED ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER. A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SUBSECTION ON A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OCCASION COMMITS A MISDEMEANOR OF THE THIRD DEGREE FOR EACH EQUINE ANIMAL TRANSPORTED.
(f) HOURS OF LABOR OF ANIMALS.–A PERSON COMMITS A SUMMARY OFFENSE IF HE LEADS, DRIVES, RIDES OR WORKS OR CAUSES OR PERMITS ANY OTHER PERSON TO LEAD, DRIVE, RIDE OR WORK ANY HORSE, MARE, MULE, OX, OR ANY OTHER ANIMAL, WHETHER BELONGING TO HIMSELF OR IN HIS POSSESSION OR CONTROL, FOR MORE THAN 15 HOURS IN ANY 24 HOUR PERIOD, OR MORE THAN 90 HOURS IN ANY ONE WEEK.
Nothing in this subsection contained shall be construed to warrant any persons leading, driving, riding or walking any animal a less period than 15 hours, when so doing shall in any way violate the laws against cruelty to animals.
(g) CRUELTY TO COW TO ENHANCE APPEARANCE OF UDDER.–A PERSON COMMITS A SUMMARY OFFENSE IF HE KNEADS OR BEATS OR PADS THE UDDER OF ANY COW, OR WILLFULLY ALLOWS IT TO GO UNMILKED FOR A PERIOD OF 24 HOURS OR MORE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENHANCING THE APPEARANCE OR SIZE OF THE UDDER OF SAID COW, OR BY A MUZZLE OR ANY OTHER DEVICE PREVENTS ITS CALF, IF LESS THAN SIX WEEKS OLD, FROM OBTAINING NOURISHMENT, AND THEREBY RELIEVING THE UDDER OF SAID COW, FOR A PERIOD OF 24 HOURS.
(h) CROPPING EARS OF DOG; PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF VIOLATION.–A PERSON COMMITS A SUMMARY OFFENSE IF HE CROPS OR CUTS OFF, OR CAUSES OR PROCURES TO BE CROPPED OR CUT OFF, THE WHOLE, OR PART OF THE EAR OR EARS OF A DOG OR SHOWS OR EXHIBITS OR PROCURES THE SHOWING OR EXHIBITION OF ANY DOG WHOSE EAR IS OR EARS ARE CROPPED OR CUT OFF, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UNLESS THE PERSON SHOWING SUCH DOG HAS IN HIS POSSESSION EITHER A CERTIFICATE OF VETERINARIAN STATING THAT SUCH CROPPING WAS DONE BY THE VETERINARIAN OR A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION FROM A COUNTY TREASURER, SHOWING THAT SUCH DOG WAS CUT OR CROPPED BEFORE THIS SECTION BECAME EFFECTIVE.
The provisions of this section shall not prevent a veterinarian from cutting or cropping the whole or part of the ear or ears of a dog when such dog is anesthetized, and shall not prevent any person from causing or procuring such cutting or cropping of a dog’s ear or ears by a veterinarian.
The possession by any person of a dog with an ear or ears cut off or cropped and with the wound resulting therefrom unhealed, or any such dog being found in the charge or custody of any person or confined upon the premises owned by or under the control of any person, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this subsection by such person except as provided for in this subsection.
The owner of any dog whose ear or ears have been cut off or cropped before this section became effective may, if a resident of this Commonwealth, register such dog with the treasurer of the county where he resides, and if a nonresident of this Commonwealth, with the treasurer of any county of this Commonwealth, by certifying, under oath, that the ear or ears of such dog were cut or cropped before this section became effective, and the payment of a fee of $ 1 into the county treasury. The said treasurer shall thereupon issue to such person a certificate showing such dog to be a lawfully cropped dog.
(H.1) ANIMAL FIGHTING.–A PERSON COMMITS A FELONY OF THE THIRD DEGREE IF HE:
(1) for amusement or gain, causes, allows or permits any animal to
engage in animal fighting;
(2) receives compensation for the admission of another person to any
place kept or used for animal fighting;
(3) owns, possesses, keeps, trains, promotes, purchases or knowingly
sells any animal for animal fighting;
(4) in any way knowingly encourages, aids or assists therein;
(5) wagers on the outcome of an animal fight;
(6) pays for admission to an animal fight or attends an animal fight as
a spectator; or
(7) knowingly permits any place under his control or possession to be
kept or used for animal fighting.
This subsection shall not apply to activity undertaken in a normal agricultural operation.
(i) POWER TO INITIATE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS.–AN AGENT OF ANY SOCIETY OR ASSOCIATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH, SHALL HAVE THE SAME POWERS TO INITIATE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS PROVIDED FOR POLICE OFFICERS BY THE PENNSYLVANIA RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. AN AGENT OF ANY SOCIETY OR ASSOCIATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH, SHALL HAVE STANDING TO REQUEST ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO ENJOIN ANY VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION.
(j) SEIZURE OF ANIMALS KEPT OR USED FOR ANIMAL FIGHTING.–ANY POLICE OFFICER OR AGENT OF A SOCIETY OR ASSOCIATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH, SHALL HAVE POWER TO SEIZE ANY ANIMAL KEPT, USED, OR INTENDED TO BE USED FOR ANIMAL FIGHTING. WHEN THE SEIZURE IS MADE, THE ANIMAL OR ANIMALS SO SEIZED SHALL NOT BE DEEMED ABSOLUTELY FORFEITED, BUT SHALL BE HELD BY THE OFFICER OR AGENT SEIZING THE SAME UNTIL A CONVICTION OF SOME PERSON IS FIRST OBTAINED FOR A VIOLATION OF SUBSECTION (H.1). THE OFFICER OR AGENT MAKING SUCH SEIZURE SHALL MAKE DUE RETURN TO THE ISSUING AUTHORITY, OF THE NUMBER AND KIND OF ANIMALS OR CREATURES SO SEIZED BY HIM. WHERE AN ANIMAL IS THUS SEIZED, THE POLICE OFFICER OR AGENT IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE SUCH CARE AS IS REASONABLY NECESSARY, AND WHERE ANY ANIMAL THUS SEIZED IS FOUND TO BE DISABLED, INJURED OR DISEASED BEYOND REASONABLE HOPE OF RECOVERY, THE POLICE OFFICER OR AGENT IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE FOR THE HUMANE DESTRUCTION OF THE ANIMAL. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER PENALTY PROVIDED BY LAW, THE AUTHORITY IMPOSING SENTENCE UPON A CONVICTION FOR ANY VIOLATION OF SUBSECTION (H.1) SHALL ORDER THE FORFEITURE OR SURRENDER OF ANY ABUSED, NEGLECTED OR DEPRIVED ANIMAL OF THE DEFENDANT TO ANY SOCIETY OR ASSOCIATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS DULY INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH AND SHALL REQUIRE THAT THE OWNER PAY THE COST OF THE KEEPING, CARE AND DESTRUCTION OF THE ANIMAL.
(k) KILLING HOMING PIGEONS.–A PERSON COMMITS A SUMMARY OFFENSE IF HE SHOOTS, MAIMS OR KILLS ANY ANTWERP OR HOMING PIGEON, EITHER WHILE ON FLIGHT OR AT REST, OR DETAINS OR ENTRAPS ANY SUCH PIGEON WHICH CARRIES THE NAME OF ITS OWNER.
(l) SEARCH WARRANTS.–WHERE A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION IS ALLEGED, ANY ISSUING AUTHORITY MAY, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, ISSUE TO ANY POLICE OFFICER OR ANY AGENT OF ANY SOCIETY OR ASSOCIATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS DULY INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH A SEARCH WARRANT AUTHORIZING THE SEARCH OF ANY BUILDING OR ANY ENCLOSURE IN WHICH ANY VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION IS OCCURRING OR HAS OCCURRED, AND AUTHORIZING THE SEIZURE OF EVIDENCE OF THE VIOLATION INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE ANIMALS WHICH WERE THE SUBJECT OF THE VIOLATION. WHERE AN ANIMAL THUS SEIZED IS FOUND TO BE NEGLECTED OR STARVING, THE POLICE OFFICER OR AGENT IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE SUCH CARE AS IS REASONABLY NECESSARY, AND WHERE ANY ANIMAL THUS SEIZED IS FOUND TO BE DISABLED, INJURED OR DISEASED BEYOND REASONABLE HOPE OF RECOVERY, THE POLICE OFFICER OR AGENT IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE FOR THE HUMANE DESTRUCTION OF THE ANIMAL. THE COST OF THE KEEPING, CARE AND DESTRUCTION OF THE ANIMAL SHALL BE PAID BY THE OWNER THEREOF AND CLAIMS FOR THE COSTS SHALL CONSTITUTE A LIEN UPON THE ANIMAL. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER PENALTY PROVIDED BY LAW, THE AUTHORITY IMPOSING SENTENCE UPON A CONVICTION FOR ANY VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION MAY REQUIRE THAT THE OWNER PAY THE COST OF THE KEEPING, CARE AND DESTRUCTION OF THE ANIMAL. NO SEARCH WARRANT SHALL BE ISSUED BASED UPON AN ALLEGED VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION WHICH AUTHORIZES ANY POLICE OFFICER OR AGENT OR OTHER PERSON TO ENTER UPON OR SEARCH PREMISES WHERE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH WORK IS BEING CONDUCTED BY, OR UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF, GRADUATES OF DULY ACCREDITED SCIENTIFIC SCHOOLS OR WHERE BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS ARE BEING PRODUCED FOR THE CARE OR PREVENTION OF DISEASE.
(m) FORFEITURE.–IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER PENALTY PROVIDED BY LAW, THE AUTHORITY IMPOSING SENTENCE UPON A CONVICTION FOR ANY VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION MAY ORDER THE FORFEITURE OR SURRENDER OF ANY ABUSED, NEGLECTED OR DEPRIVED ANIMAL OF THE DEFENDANT TO ANY SOCIETY OR ASSOCIATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS DULY INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.
(M.1) FINE FOR SUMMARY OFFENSE.–IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER PENALTY PROVIDED BY LAW, A PERSON CONVICTED OF A SUMMARY OFFENSE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL PAY A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN $ 50 NOR MORE THAN $ 750 OR TO IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT MORE THAN 90 DAYS, OR BOTH.
(n) SKINNING OF AND SELLING OR BUYING PELTS OF DOGS AND CATS.–A PERSON COMMITS A SUMMARY OFFENSE IF HE SKINS A DOG OR CAT OR OFFERS FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE OR OFFERS TO BUY OR EXCHANGE THE PELT OR PELTS OF ANY DOG OR CAT.
(o) REPRESENTATION OF HUMANE SOCIETY BY ATTORNEY.–UPON PRIOR AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE PROCEEDING IS HELD, AN ASSOCIATION OR AGENT MAY BE REPRESENTED IN ANY PROCEEDING UNDER THIS SECTION BY ANY ATTORNEY ADMITTED TO PRACTICE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA AND IN GOOD STANDING. ATTORNEY’S FEES SHALL BE BORNE BY THE HUMANE SOCIETY OR ASSOCIATION WHICH IS REPRESENTED.
(O.1) CONSTRUCTION OF SECTION.–THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT SUPERSEDE THE ACT OF DECEMBER 7, 1982 (P.L. 784, NO. 225), KNOWN AS THE DOG LAW.
(p) APPLICABILITY OF SECTION.–THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO, INTERFERE WITH OR HINDER ANY ACTIVITY WHICH IS AUTHORIZED OR PERMITTED PURSUANT TO THE ACT OF JUNE 3, 1937 (P.L.1225, NO. 316), KNOWN AS THE GAME LAW OR TITLE 34 (RELATING TO GAME).
(q) DEFINITIONS.–AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SUBSECTION:
“Animal fighting.” Fighting or baiting any bull, bear, dog, cock or other creature.
“Audibly impaired.” The inability to hear air conduction thresholds at an average of 40 decibels or greater in the better ear.
“Blind.” Having a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correction or having a limitation of the field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angular distance not greater than 20 degrees.
“Conveyance.” A truck, tractor, trailer or semitrailer, or any combination of these, propelled or drawn by mechanical power.
“Deaf.” Totally impaired hearing or hearing with or without amplification which is so seriously impaired that the primary means of receiving spoken language is through other sensory input, including, but not limited to, lip reading, sign language, finger spelling or reading.
“Domestic animal.” Any dog, cat, equine animal, bovine animal, sheep, goat or porcine animal.
“Domestic fowl.” Any avis raised for food, hobby or sport.
“Equine animal.” Any member of the Equidae family, which includes horses, asses, mules, ponies and zebras.
“Normal agricultural operation.” Normal activities, practices and procedures that farmers adopt, use or engage in year after year in the production and preparation for market of poultry, livestock and their products in the production and harvesting of agricultural, agronomic, horticultural, silvicultural and aquicultural crops and commodities.
“Physically limited.” Having limited ambulation, including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent impairment or condition that causes an individual to use a wheelchair or walk with difficulty or insecurity, affects sight or hearing to the extent that an individual is insecure or exposed to danger, causes faulty coordination or reduces mobility, flexibility, coordination or perceptiveness.
“Zoo animal.” Any member of the class of mammalia, aves, amphibia or reptilia which is kept in a confined area by a public body or private individual for purposes of observation by the general public.
Rhode Island – GENERAL LAWS OF RHODE ISLAND 1956
TITLE 4. ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
CHAPTER 1. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
§ 4-1-2. Overwork, mistreatment, or failure to feed animals — Shelter defined
(a) Whoever overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, cruelly beats, mutilates or cruelly kills, or causes or procures to be so overdriven, overloaded, driven when overloaded, overworked, tortured, tormented, deprived of necessary sustenance, cruelly beaten, mutilated or cruelly killed, any animal, and whoever, having the charge or custody of any animal, either as owner or otherwise, inflicts cruelty upon that animal, or willfully fails to provide that animal with proper food, drink, shelter or protection from the weather, shall, for each offense, be imprisoned not exceeding eleven (11) months, or be fined not less than fifty dollars ($ 50.00) nor exceeding five hundred dollars ($ 500), or both.
(b) Every owner, possessor, or person having charge of any animal may upon conviction of a violation of this section be ordered to forfeit all rights to ownership of the animal to the animal control officer of the city or town in which the offense occurred or to a humane society which owns and operates the shelter which provided the subject animal shelter subsequent to any confiscation of said animal pursuant to this section.
(c) Shelters means a structure used to house any animal which will provide sufficient protection from inclement elements for the health and well being of the animal.
§ 4-1-3. Unnecessary cruelty
(a) Every owner, possessor, or person having the charge or custody of any animal, who cruelly drives or works that animal when unfit for labor, or cruelly abandons that animal, or who carries that animal, or causes that animal to be carried, in or upon any vehicle or otherwise in a cruel or inhuman manner, or willfully authorizes or permits that animal to be subjected to unnecessary torture, suffering or cruelty of any kind, or who places or causes to have placed on any animal any substance that may produce irritation or pain, or that is declared a hazardous substance by the U.S. food and drug administration or by the state department of health, shall be punished for each offense in the manner provided in § 4-1-2.
(b) The substances proscribed by subsection (a) do not include any drug having curative and therapeutic effect for disease in animals and which is prepared and intended for veterinary use.
§ 4-1-5. Malicious injury to or killing of animals
(a) Every person who cuts out the tongue or otherwise dismembers any animal, maliciously, or maliciously kills or wounds any animal, or maliciously administers poison to or exposes any poisonous substance with intent that the poison shall be taken or swallowed by any animal, or who maliciously exposes poisoned meat with intent that the poison meat is taken or swallowed by any wild animal, shall be imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years or be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($ 1,000), and shall, in the case of any animal of another, be liable to the owner of this animal for triple damages, to be recovered by civil action. In addition, any person convicted under this section is required to serve ten (10) hours of community restitution. The community restitution penalty shall not be suspended or deferred and is mandatory.
(b) This section shall not apply to licensed hunters during hunting season or a licensed business killing animals for human consumption.

Okay, there are the next ten states and their laws regarding animal cruelty. Come back soon for the final installment of Misty’s Top Ten Not-So-Useless Facts on: Animal Rights Laws Across the U.S. Part V. Thank you for reading!!!

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