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 Montana, animal cruelty is addressed under Title 45, Chapter 8, Part 2 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). The state defines animal cruelty to include acts of knowingly or negligently subjecting an animal to mistreatment or neglect by failing to provide food, water, shelter, or veterinary care, as well as inflicting unnecessary suffering or pain, or killing, torturing, maiming, or mutilating an animal. Montana law distinguishes between cruelty to animals and aggravated animal cruelty. Cruelty to animals is generally considered a misdemeanor, which can result in fines and imprisonment. Aggravated animal cruelty, which involves knowingly and purposely inflicting cruelty that results in the death or serious bodily harm of an animal, is a more serious offense and can be charged as a felony, leading to harsher penalties including larger fines and longer imprisonment.