Animal protection.

2017
STATE OF WYOMING
17LSO-0567
Introduced
1.2

HOUSE BILL

NO.

HB0193

Animal protection.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Zwonitzer and Bovee and Senator(s) Burns

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to animals; amending the crimes of cruelty to animals and aggravated cruelty to animals; amending penalties; providing for forfeiture of animals as specified; authorizing conditions a court may require as part of an order of protection in a domestic abuse case related to animal protection; repealing a provision; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 6
‑
3
‑
203(c)(ii), (iv) through (vi), by creating a new paragraph
(vii), (e),
(g)
and
(
h
)
and
35
‑
21
‑
105(a) by creating new paragraphs (vi
ii) and (ix
)
are amended to read:

6
‑
3
‑
203
.

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

(c)

A person commits aggravated cruelty to animals if he:

(ii)

Owns, possesses, keeps or trains
fowls or dogs

an animal
with the intent to allow the
dog or fowl

animal
to engage in an exhibition of fighting with another
dog or fowl

animal
;

(iv)

For
gain causes or allows any
dog or fowl
animal
to fight with another
dog or fowl
animal
;

(v)

Knowingly permits any act prohibited under
paragraphs
paragraph
(ii) or (
iv
) of this subsection on any premises under his charge or control;
or

(vi)

Promotes any act prohibited under
paragraphs
paragraph
(ii) or (iv) of this subsection
;
.

o
r

(vii)

Unnecessarily or cruelly beats, tortures, torments,
poisons,
injures, mutilates or attempts to kill an animal.

(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 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.

(g)

A person commits cruelty to animals if he is knowingly present at any place where an exhibition of
fighting of fowls or dogs
animal
fighting

is occurring for amusement or gain.

(h)

If a person convicted of a violation of this section is also the owner of the animal,
the court
may
shall
require the person to forfeit ownership of the animal to the county in which the person is convicted. This subsection shall not affect the interest of any secured party or other person who has not participated in the offense.

35
‑
21
‑
105
.

Order of protection; contents; remedies; order not to affect title to property; conditions.

(a)

Upon finding that an act of domestic abuse has occurred, the court shall enter an order of protection ordering the respondent household member to refrain from abusing the petitioner or any other household member. The order shall specifically describe the behavior that the court has ordered the respondent to do or refrain from doing. As a part of any order of protection, the court may:

(vi
i
i)

Grant sole possession of
any
household pet
,
as defined in W.S. 6-3-203(o)
,

owned, possessed
or kept
by the petitioner, the respondent or a minor child
residing in the residence or household
of either the petition
er
or the respondent
to the
petitioner
during the period the order of protection is effective
;

(ix
)

O
rder
that
the responden
t shall not have contact with any

household pet
,
as defined in W.S. 6-3-203(o)
,
in the custody of the petitioner and prohibit the respondent from abducting, removing, concealing or
disposing of
the animal.

Section 2
.

W.S. 6
‑
3
‑
203(
a)(ii) is repealed.

Section
3
.

This
act is effective July 1,
201
7
.

(END)

1
HB0193