PAW Cares Act

Summary: These Oklahoma statutes comprise the Animal Protection Act. The main thrust of the act is the prohibition of animal cruelty and animal fighting. Included in the provisions are the definitions (including the statutory definition of "animal") and the prohibited acts related to animal facilities. The statute further provides that no one shall intentionally damage the enterprise conducted at an animal facility (including releasing animals there with the intent to deprive the owner of such facility). Violation incurs a felony with a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment up to seven years or both.

§ 1685. Cruelty to animals

Any person who shall willfully or maliciously torture, destroy or kill, or cruelly beat or injure, maim or mutilate any animal in subjugation or captivity, whether wild or tame, and whether belonging to the person or to another, or deprive any such animal of necessary food, drink, shelter, or veterinary care to prevent suffering; or who shall cause, procure or permit any such animal to be so tortured, destroyed or killed, or cruelly beaten or injured, maimed or mutilated, or deprived of necessary food, drink, shelter, or veterinary care to prevent suffering; or who shall willfully set on foot, instigate, engage in, or in any way further any act of cruelty to any animal, or any act tending to produce such cruelty, shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary not exceeding five (5) years, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one (1) year, or by a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00). Any animal so maltreated or abused shall be considered an abused or neglected animal.

§ 1685.1. Greyhounds--Using live animal as lure in training--Penalties

A. No person may knowingly use any live animal as a lure or bait in training a greyhound for entry in any race.

B. Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00).

C. The provisions of subsection B of this section shall be the exclusive remedy for any violation of the provisions of subsection A of this section.

§ 1686. Abandoned animals--Destroyed how

A. Any person owning or having charge or custody of a maimed, diseased, disabled, or infirm animal who abandons the animal or who allows the animal to lie in a public street, road, or public place one (1) hour after the person receives notice by a duly constituted authority that the animal is disabled or dead, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

B. Any peace officer or animal control officer may humanely destroy or cause to be humanely destroyed any animal found abandoned and for which no proper care has been given.

C. When any person who is arrested is, at the time of the arrest, in charge of any animal or of any vehicle drawn by or containing any animal, any peace officer, or animal control officer may take custody of the animal or of the vehicle and its contents, or deliver the animal or the vehicle and its contents into the possession of the police or sheriff of the county or place where the arrest was made, who shall assume the custody thereof. All necessary expenses incurred in taking custody of the animal or of the vehicle and its contents shall be a lien on such property.

D. For the purpose of the provisions of this section and Section 1691 of this title, the term "abandon" means the voluntary relinquishment of an animal and shall include but shall not be limited to vacating a premises and leaving the animal in or at the premises, or failing to feed the animal or allowing it to stray or wander onto private or public property with the intention of surrendering ownership or custody over the animal.

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