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 Kansas, animal cruelty is addressed under the Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.) 21-6411 to 21-6418. These laws define cruelty to animals as knowingly abandoning an animal in a place where it may become a public charge, suffering injury, or dying, or intentionally killing, injuring, maiming, torturing, burning, or mutilating any animal. Neglect, which includes failure to provide adequate food, water, shelter, or necessary veterinary care, is also considered a form of cruelty. Penalties for animal cruelty in Kansas range from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the severity of the offense and whether it is a first or subsequent violation. Aggravated cruelty to animals, which involves intentional killing or torturing of an animal, is a felony and can result in more severe penalties, including imprisonment and fines. Kansas law also includes provisions for seizure of mistreated animals and restitution for the cost of care provided to seized animals.