What Happens If Charged With Animal Cruelty. However, it is a misdemeanor of the first degree, meaning it is punishable by up to six months in jail or a fine of no more than $5,000. Wiederkehr said she was pleased that iroquois county state’s attorney jim devine found the animal cruelty case serious enough to charge dilorenzo with a felony.
Criminal penalties are often increased for repeat offenders. Oddly, the criminal code penalty for uttering a threat to kill, poison or injure an animal or bird that is the property of any person, is greater than actually being cruel to the animal, as it can be proceeded with as a indictable offence with attendant liability to imprisonment for a term of 24 months. If an animal is confined without enough food, water, or attention for more than 15 hours, a concerned citizen may enter the property to remove the animal or give it food and water.
This doesn't necessarily mean that the person who committed the act will go to jail, as there are sometimes extenuated circumstances.
(a) the person knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence inflicts unnecessary suffering or pain upon an animal; What are the penalties for animal cruelty offences? (1) a person is guilty of animal cruelty in the second degree if, under circumstances not amounting to first degree animal cruelty: Most mental health experts agree that animal hoarding is a psychological disorder.