§102.1. Cruelty to animals; simple and aggravated
A.(1) Simple cruelty to animals is when a person intentionally or with criminal negligence does any of the following:
(a) Overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, or overworks a living animal.
(b) Torments, cruelly beats, or unjustifiably injures any living animal.
(c) Having charge, custody, or possession of any animal, either as owner or otherwise, unjustifiably fails to provide it with proper food, proper drink, proper shelter, or proper veterinary care.
(d) Abandons any animal. A person shall not be considered to have abandoned an animal if he delivers an animal which he found running at large in the care of an animal control center, shelter, or rescue location.
(e) Impounds or confines or causes the impoundment or confinement of a living animal in a pound or other place and fails to supply it with proper food, proper water, or proper shelter during such confinement.
(f) Carries, or causes to be carried, a living animal in or upon a vehicle or otherwise, in a cruel or inhumane manner.
(g) Unjustifiably administers any poisonous or noxious drug or substance to any domestic animal or unjustifiably exposes any such drug or substance, with intent that the same shall be taken or swallowed by any domestic animal.
(h) Causes or procures to be done by any person any act enumerated in this Paragraph.
(i), (j) Repealed by Acts 2025, No. 200, §2.
(2)(a) Whoever commits the crime of simple cruelty to animals shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. The court may also order the offender to pay for any expenses incurred for the housing of the animal and for medical treatment of the animal, pursuant to Code of Criminal Procedure Article 883.2. In addition, the court may issue an order prohibiting the offender from owning or keeping animals for a period of not more than one year.
(b) Whoever commits a second or subsequent offense of simple cruelty to animals shall be fined not less than five thousand dollars nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than one year nor more than ten years, or both. In addition, the court may issue an order prohibiting the offender from owning or keeping animals for a period of not more than five years.
(c) In addition to any other penalty imposed, a person who commits the crime of simple cruelty to animals shall be ordered to perform five eight-hour days of court-approved community service. The community service requirement shall not be suspended.
(d) In addition to any other penalty imposed, the court may order a psychological evaluation or anger management treatment for a first conviction of the crime of simple cruelty to animals. For a second or subsequent offense of the crime of simple cruelty to animals, the court shall order a psychological evaluation or anger management treatment. Any costs associated with any evaluation or treatment ordered by the court shall be borne by the offender.
(3) For purposes of this Subsection, if more than one animal is subject to an act of cruel treatment by an offender, each act shall constitute a separate offense.
B.(1) Aggravated cruelty to animals is when a person intentionally or with criminal negligence does any of the following:
(a) Tortures, maims, or mutilates any living animal.
(b) Tampers with livestock at a public livestock exhibition or at a private sale.
(c) Causes or procures to be done by another person any act designated in this Paragraph.
(d) Mistreats any living animal by any act or omission which causes or permits unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain, suffering, or death to the animal.
(e) Having charge, custody, or possession of any animal as either an owner or otherwise, unjustifiably fails to provide it with proper food, proper water, proper shelter, or proper veterinary care, which results in the animal's death.
(2) In addition to any other penalty imposed for a violation of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the offender shall be ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation and subsequently recommended psychological treatment and may be banned by court order from owning or keeping animals for a period of not more than ten years. Any costs associated with any evaluation or treatment ordered by the court shall be borne by the offender.
(3) Whoever commits the crime of aggravated cruelty to animals shall be fined not less than five thousand dollars nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than one year nor more than ten years, or both.
(4) For purposes of this Subsection, where more than one animal is tortured, maimed, mutilated, or maliciously killed or where more than one head of livestock is tampered with, each act comprises a separate offense.
C. This Section shall not apply to any of the following:
(1) The lawful hunting or trapping of wildlife as provided by law.
(2) Herding of domestic animals.
(3) Accepted veterinary practices.
(4) Activities carried on for scientific or medical research governed by accepted standards.
(5) Traditional rural Mardi Gras parades, processions, or runs involving chickens.
(6) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the standard transportation and agricultural processing of agriculture products as defined in R.S. 3:3602.
D. Repealed by Acts 2007, No. 425, §2, eff. August 15, 2008.
Added by Acts 1982, No. 431, §1. Acts 1983, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 6, §1; Acts 1987, No. 336, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1165, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1246, §1, eff. June 29, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 461, §2; Acts 1997, No. 1212, §1; Acts 2006, No. 228, §1; Acts 2007, No. 425, §§1 and 2, eff. Aug. 15, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 106, §1; Acts 2009, No. 179, §1; Acts 2022, No. 629, §1; Acts 2024, No. 551, §1; Acts 2025, No. 200, §§1, 2.