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 New Mexico, animal cruelty is addressed under the state's anti-cruelty statutes, which make it illegal to intentionally or maliciously torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison, or kill an animal. The law also prohibits extreme forms of neglect, such as depriving an animal of necessary sustenance, shelter, or veterinary care, which can lead to suffering or health impairment. New Mexico's statutes categorize severe animal cruelty, which includes intentional acts of torture or extreme cruelty that lead to the animal's death or severe injury, as a fourth-degree felony. Lesser acts of cruelty or neglect may be classified as misdemeanors. Additionally, New Mexico has laws that address dogfighting, cockfighting, and other forms of organized animal cruelty. These laws are enforced by local law enforcement agencies, and violations can lead to fines, imprisonment, and other penalties, including mandatory psychological counseling or community service in some cases.