PAW Cares Act

Summary: This compilation of laws contains Wyoming's anti-cruelty provisions that were amended in 2021. Under the new laws, a person commits cruelty to animals if the person knowingly overrides an animal or drives an animal when overloaded; intentionally or knowingly, unnecessarily injures or beats an animal; or knowingly carries an animal in a manner that poses undue risk of injury or death. Additionally, a person has the charge or custody of any animal under circumstances that manifest "extreme indifference" to the animal's safety, health or life, and fails to provide it with listed necessities, abandons the animal, fails to provide the animal with appropriate care in the case of immediate and obvious serious injury or illness also commits cruelty to animals. Other prohibitions include animal fighting, shooting or poisoning livestock or domestic animals on property where the animal is authorized to be. A first offense of cruelty to animals or of a violation of W.S. 6-3-1003 is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six months, a fine of not more than $750.00, or both, with enhanced penalties for subsequent convictions. Felony cruelty to animals occurs when a person commits cruelty to animals as defined in W.S. 6-3-1002(a)(v) through (ix), that results in the death or required euthanasia of the animal; or (ii) knowingly, and with intent to cause death or undue suffering, beats with cruelty, tortures, torments or mutilates an animal. Such acts incur permanent forfeiture of the animal at issue and imprisonment for not more than two years and/or a fine of up to $5,000. With either misdemeanor or felony convictions, the court may order forfeiture of the animals involved, payment of reasonable costs of animal impoundment, and restraints on future ownership of animals. A bestiality law was also enacted in 2021 that prohibits actors from engaging in sexual acts with animals. Violation is a misdemeanor with punishment of up to one year imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

§ 6-3-1002. Cruelty to animals

(a) A person commits cruelty to animals if the person:

(i) Knowingly overrides an animal or drives an animal when overloaded;

(ii) Intentionally or knowingly, unnecessarily injures or beats an animal;

(iii) Knowingly carries an animal in a manner that poses undue risk of injury or death;

(iv) Has the charge and custody of any animal and under circumstances which manifest extreme indifference to the animal's safety, health or life:

(A) Fails to provide it with proper food, drink or protection from the weather adequate for the species;

(B) Abandons the animal. Relinquishment of an animal to a public or private animal shelter or like facility is not a violation of this subparagraph;

(C) In the case of immediate, obvious, serious illness or injury to the animal, fails to provide the animal with appropriate care; or

(D) Keeps any household pet in a manner that results in chronic or repeated serious physical harm to the household pet.

(v) Owns, possesses, keeps or trains fowls or dogs with the intent to allow the dog or fowl to engage in an exhibition of fighting with another dog or fowl;

(vi) For gain causes or allows any dog to fight with another dog or any fowl to fight with another fowl;

(vii) Promotes any dog or fowl fighting;

(viii) Knowingly permits any act prohibited under paragraphs (v) through (vii) of this subsection on any premises under the person's charge or control; or

(ix) Shoots, poisons or otherwise intentionally acts to seriously injure or destroy any livestock or domesticated animal owned by another person while the animal is on property where the animal is authorized to be present.

Credits
Laws 2021, ch. 30, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021.

§ 6-3-1003. Other misdemeanors involving animal abuse; prohibition on manner of destruction of animals; attending fowl or dog fights; keeping household pets in unsanitary conditions

(a) A person shall not destroy an animal by the use of a high-altitude decompression chamber or a carbon monoxide gas chamber utilizing a gasoline engine. This subsection is uniformly applicable to all cities and towns.

(b) A person is guilty of a misdemeanor if he knowingly is present at any place where an exhibition of fighting of fowls or dogs is occurring for amusement or gain.

(c) A person is guilty of a misdemeanor if he keeps a household pet confined in conditions which constitute a public health hazard.

Credits
Laws 2021, ch. 30, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021.

§ 6-3-1004. Penalties, misdemeanor offenses

(a) A first offense of cruelty to animals or of a violation of W.S. 6-3-1003 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.

(b) A second or subsequent conviction, resulting from charges separately brought and arising out of separate occurrences within a five (5) year period:

(i) Of animal cruelty under W.S. 6-3-1002 is punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both;

(ii) Under W.S. 6-3-1003 is a misdemeanor offense punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both.

Credits
Laws 2021, ch. 30, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021.

§ 6-3-1005. Felony cruelty to animals; penalty

(a) A person commits felony cruelty to animals if the person:

(i) Commits cruelty to animals as defined in W.S. 6-3-1002(a)(v) through (ix), that results in the death or required euthanasia of the animal; or

(ii) Knowingly, and with intent to cause death or undue suffering, beats with cruelty, tortures, torments or mutilates an animal.

(b) Felony cruelty to animals is a felony punishable by:

(i) Permanent forfeiture of the animal or livestock animal; and

(ii) Imprisonment for not more than two (2) years, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both.

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