Animal cruelty includes a wide range of behaviors that are mistreatment of animals—from neglect (depriving an animal of food, water, shelter, or veterinary care) to torturing, maiming, mutilating, and killing animals. Animal cruelty laws vary from state to state, and are usually included in a state’s statutes.
In Florida, animal cruelty is addressed under Florida Statute Section 828.12, which prohibits the cruel treatment, overloading, overdriving, tormenting, depriving of necessary sustenance or shelter, or unnecessarily mutilating or killing any animal. The law distinguishes between misdemeanor and felony offenses. A person who commits cruelty to animals may be charged with a misdemeanor of the first degree for a first offense, which can include a fine and imprisonment. More severe offenses, such as aggravated animal cruelty, which involves intentional and malicious acts that result in the cruel death or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, are classified as felonies of the third degree. This can result in more significant penalties, including higher fines and longer imprisonment. Florida law also requires that those convicted of animal cruelty may be required to undergo psychological counseling or complete an anger management treatment program.