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Posted on September 12, 2019 in News
In Arizona, animal cruelty can be charged for a variety of actions, ranging from failing to provide medical attention, to inflicting unnecessary physical injury, to cruel mistreatment. Animal cruelty in Arizona is either a Class 1 Misdemeanor or a Class 6 Felony, depending on the facts of the case.
Recently, you may have seen the news stories on people who leave their animal in the car in 100 degree heat here in Arizona. Is this animal cruelty and therefore illegal? Under A.R.S. 13-2910, it is considered animal cruelty if a person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly leaves an animal unattended and confined in a motor vehicle and physical injury to or death of the animal is likely to result. Doing this can lead to being charged with a class 1 misdemeanor. If convicted, a person can face fines of $2,500, three years of probation and a maximum jail time of six months.
Other common instances that are considered animal cruelty are animal fighting, hoarding animals in cramped and unsanitary conditions, neglect, failing to provide medical attention to prevent suffering for the animal, tripping a horse, torturing, inflicting serious injury on an animal, killing feral cats and dogs, and abandoning a pet.
Dealing with criminal charges isn’t something anyone is prepared for. But knowing what the situation entails and what you’ll need to do just in case you get charged with animal cruelty can prove helpful to you. Just make sure you get the right lawyer. If you’re facing animal cruelty charges, contact the team of Phoenix criminal defense lawyers at AZ Defenders now for a free consultation.