Texas Animal Cruelty Laws
Texas Animal Cruelty Laws
In Texas, two types of laws protect animals from cruelty: civil laws and criminal laws. The laws are similar but differ in the penalties they impose.
In a civil case, if a judge rules that a person or people have been cruel to animals, the judge may take away their animals and/or order them to pay restitution.
If prosecuted in a criminal case, a person may face penalties including fines, jail or both. Those under the age of 18 are also required to undergo counseling if convicted of animal cruelty.
Texas criminal laws only apply to domesticated animals, such as house pets and livestock defined as “domesticated living creature(s)or any wild living creature previously captured” and subject to a person’s care and control. The scope of civil laws are broader and do not differentiate between domestic and wild animals; however, civil statutes adopt a much narrower definition of what constitutes cruelty. Therefore, people could engage in actions that are not prosecutable under Texas criminal laws, but they would be held liable for their actions under civil laws.
Section 42.09 "Cruelty to Livestock Animals" and 42.09(2) "Cruelty of Non-Livestock Animals" of the Texas Health and Safety Code prohibits a person from intentionally, knowingly or recklessly cruelly treating an animal. The following actions define cruel punishment:
Torturing an animal
Failing to provide food, care or shelter
Abandoning an animal
Transporting or confining an animal in a cruel manner
Killing, seriously injuring or poisoning an animal
Causing an animal to fight with another
Using a live animal as a lure in a dog race
Tripping a horse
Injuring an animal belonging to another person
Seriously overworking an animal.
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Tim Cole
www.austinherpsociety.org
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
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Conservation through Education
