(a) A person commits the crime of animal abuse if, except as otherwise authorized by law, the person intentionally, purposely, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence causes physical injury to an animal, causes physical trauma to an animal, causes serious physical injury to an animal, causes the death of the animal, tortures an animal, kills an animal under circumstances demonstrating malice aforethought, administers poison to an animal, or places any poisonous or hazardous food, drink or other substance where it may be easily found and ingested by an animal, either upon his own lands or the lands of another.
(b) Animal abuse is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(c) Each act in violation of division (a) of this section shall constitute a separate offense.
(d) No animal shall be subject to unnecessary suffering or cruelty. Unnecessary suffering or cruelty may be defined, but is not limited to, failing to provide an animal with minimum care, sexual molestation of an animal for sexual gratification, surgically debarking an animal, or coloring rabbits or poultry.
(e) No animal may be induced or encouraged to perform any behavior through the use of chemical, mechanical, electrical, or manual devices in a manner which will cause or is likely to cause physical injury or suffering.
(f) Whoever is found guilty of causing an animal unnecessary suffering or cruelty is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(g) Each act in violation of division (d) of this section shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ord. 2019-3. Passed 2-11-19; Ord. 2020-25. Passed 11-9-20.)