Abuse of animals.

WORKING DRAFT
2007
STATE OF WYOMING
07LSO-0288.E1

HOUSE BILL
NO.
HB0049

Abuse of animals.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Berger, Craft, Edwards, Gentile, Illoway, Jones, Martin, Warren and Zwonitzer, Dn., and Senator(s) Burns, Aullman, Fecht, Hastert, Job, Mockler, Ross and Von Flatern

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to abuse of animals; increasing penalties relating to cruelty to animal offenses; providing for enforcement of animal abuse statutes by municipal animal control officers; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.
W.S. 6
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3
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203(e), 11
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29
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106, 11
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29
‑
109 and 11
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29
‑
114(a) are amended to read:

6
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3
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203.

Cruelty to animals; penalties; limitation on manner of destruction.

(e)

Unless punishable under subsection (n) of this section, a violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both except that a subsequent offense or aggravated cruelty to animals as defined by subsection (c) of this section is a
high misdemeanor
felony
punishable by not more than
one (1) year
two (2) years
imprisonment, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both.

11
‑
29
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106.

Livestock board; authority to prevent cruelty; penalty for interference with officer.

Any
peace
officer
,
municipal animal control officer or
agent
or officer
of the board may lawfully interfere to prevent the perpetration of any act of cruelty upon any animal in his presence. Any person who interferes with, obstructs or resists any
peace officer
, municipal animal control officer
or
officer or agent
of the board
in the discharge of his duty shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) nor more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00),
or
imprisoned not more than one (1) year, or both.

11
‑
29
‑
109.

Livestock board; care of abandoned animals; civil action for expenses; lien.

Any peace officer,
municipal animal control officer or
agent or officer of the board may take charge of any animal found abandoned, neglected or cruelly treated. He shall give notice to the owner, if known, and may care and provide for the animal until the owner takes charge of the animal. The expenses of care and provision is a charge against the owner of the animal and collectible from the owner by the board or by the local government employing the peace officer
or municipal animal control officer
taking charge of the animal in a civil action. The board or local government may detain the animals until the expense for food, shelter and care is paid and shall have a lien upon the animals therefor.

11
‑
29
‑
114.

Impoundment of animals; cost of care for animals; providing for bond.

(a)

Any peace officer,
municipal animal control officer or
agent or officer of the board may take possession of any animal treated cruelly as determined by a licensed veterinarian or veterinarian employed by the board.

Section 2.

This act is effective July 1, 2007.

(END)

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HB0049