§102. Definitions; cruelty to animals

The following words, phrases, and terms as used in R.S. 14:102.1 through R.S. 14:102.4 shall be defined and construed as follows:

(1) "Cruel" means every act or failure to act whereby unjustifiable physical pain or suffering is caused or permitted.

(2) "Abandons" means to completely forsake and desert an animal previously under the custody or possession of a person without making reasonable arrangements for its proper care, sustenance, and shelter.

(3) "Proper food" means providing each animal with daily food of sufficient quality and quantity to prevent unnecessary or unjustifiable suffering by the animal.

(4) "Proper water" means providing each animal with daily water of sufficient quality and quantity to prevent unnecessary or unjustifiable suffering by the animal.

(5) "Proper shelter" means providing each animal with adequate shelter from the elements as required to prevent unnecessary or unjustifiable suffering by the animal.

(6) "Proper veterinary care" means providing each animal with veterinary care sufficient to prevent unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain or suffering by the animal.

(7) "Livestock" means cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, burros, asses, other livestock of all ages, farm-raised cervidae species, and farm-raised ratite species.

(8) "Public livestock exhibition" means any place, establishment, or facility commonly known as a "livestock market", "livestock auction market", "sales ring", "stockyard", or the like, operated for compensation or profit as a public market for livestock, consisting of pens, or other enclosures, and their appurtenances, in which livestock are received, held, sold, or kept for sale or shipment. "Public livestock exhibition" also means any public exhibition or sale of livestock or a livestock show.

(9) "Tampers" means any of the following:

(a) The injection, use, or administration of any drug or other internal or external administration of any product or material, whether gas, solid, or liquid, to livestock for the purpose of concealing, enhancing, transforming, or changing the true conformation, configuration, condition, natural color, or age of the livestock or making the livestock appear more sound than they actually are.

(b) The use or administration, for cosmetic purposes, of steroids, growth stimulants, or internal artificial filling, including paraffin, silicone injection, or any other substance.

(c) The use or administration of any drug or feed additive affecting the central nervous system of the livestock, unless administered or prescribed by a licensed veterinarian for the treatment of an illness or an injury.

(d) The use or administration of diuretics for cosmetic purposes.

(e) The surgical manipulation or removal of tissue so as to change, transform, or enhance the true conformation, configuration, or natural color of the livestock unless the procedure is considered an accepted livestock management practice.

Amended by Acts 1982, No. 431, §1; Acts 1997, No. 461, §2.