§ 210.090. Animal Abuse, Neglect and Abandonment.

A. 

Animal Abuse, Neglect And Abandonment. A person is guilty of animal abuse when a person:

1. 

Intentionally or purposely kills an animal in any manner not allowed by or expressly exempted by the provisions of the Revised Statutes of Missouri; or

2. 

Purposely or intentionally causes injury or suffering to an animal; or

3. 

Having ownership or custody of an animal knowingly fails to provide adequate care or adequate control.

B. 

Animal abuse is punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), a term of incarceration or both.

C. 

A person is guilty of animal neglect when he/she has custody or ownership or both of an animal and fails to provide adequate care or adequate control, which results in substantial harm to the animal.

D. 

A person is guilty of abandonment when he/she has knowingly abandoned an animal in any place without making provisions for its adequate care.

E. 

Animal neglect and abandonment, for the first (1st) offense, is punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00). All second (2nd) and subsequent offenses may be punishable by a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500.00) or a term of incarceration, or both.

F. 

In addition to any other penalty imposed by this Section, the court may order a person found guilty of animal abuse, neglect or abandonment to pay all reasonable costs and expenses necessary for:

1. 

The care and maintenance of neglected or abandoned animals within the person's custody or ownership;

2. 

The disposal of any dead or diseased animals within the person's custody or ownership;

3. 

The reduction of resulting organic debris affecting the immediate area of the neglect or abandonment; and

4. 

The avoidance or minimization of any public health risks created by the neglect or abandonment of the animals.

G. 

At no time shall the claim of non-ownership alone be a defense to any part of this Section or its subparts thereof.

R.O. 2010 §210.015; Ord. No. 860 §1, 12-5-2005