Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 578 - Miscellaneous Offenses
Section 578.012 - Animal abuse — penalties.

Effective - 01 Jan 2017, 2 histories
578.012. Animal abuse — penalties. — 1. A person commits the offense of animal abuse if he or she:
(1) Intentionally or purposely kills an animal in any manner not allowed by or expressly exempted from the provisions of sections 578.005 to 578.023 and 273.030;
(2) Purposely or intentionally causes injury or suffering to an animal; or
(3) Having ownership or custody of an animal knowingly fails to provide adequate care which results in substantial harm to the animal.
2. Animal abuse is a class A misdemeanor, unless the defendant has previously been found guilty of animal abuse or the suffering involved in subdivision (2) of subsection 1 of this section is the result of torture or mutilation consciously inflicted while the animal was alive, in which case it is a class E felony.
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(L. 1983 S.B. 211 § 4, A.L. 1994 S.B. 545, A.L. 1996 S.B. 491, A.L. 2001 S.B. 462, A.L. 2013 S.B. 9, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491)
Effective 1-01-17
(1989) "Willfully" is an essential element of the offense of animal abuse and distinguishes it from the offense of animal neglect. State v. Price, 772 S.W.2d 9. (Mo.App.E.D.)

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Structure Missouri Revised Statutes

Missouri Revised Statutes

Title XXXVIII - Crimes and Punishment; Peace Officers and Public Defenders

Chapter 578 - Miscellaneous Offenses

Section 578.005 - Definitions.

Section 578.007 - Acts and facilities to which section 574.130 and sections 578.005 to 578.023 do not apply.

Section 578.009 - Animal neglect — penalties.

Section 578.011 - Animal trespass, penalty.

Section 578.012 - Animal abuse — penalties.

Section 578.013 - Recordings of farm animals alleged to be abused or neglected, submission to law enforcement required — violation, penalty.

Section 578.014 - Responsibility of parent or guardian of minor owning.

Section 578.016 - Impoundment of animal found off property of owner or custodian, disposition, procedure — liability of owner or custodian for costs — lien — rights of owner or custodian.

Section 578.018 - Warrant for entry on private property to inspect — impoundment of animals, disposition.

Section 578.021 - Neglected or abused animal not to be returned to owner or custodian, when.

Section 578.022 - Law enforcement dogs, exempt from certain laws, when.

Section 578.023 - Keeping a dangerous wild animal — penalty.

Section 578.024 - Keeping a dangerous dog — penalties.

Section 578.025 - Dogfighting — penalty.

Section 578.026 - Spectating dog fighting — penalty.

Section 578.027 - Causing a dog to pursue a live animal propelled by a device — penalty.

Section 578.028 - Unlawful removal of an electronic dog collar or radio transmitting device — penalty — restitution.

Section 578.029 - Knowingly releasing an animal — penalty.

Section 578.030 - State highway patrol and other law enforcement officers, powers and duties to enforce animal protection.

Section 578.050 - Bullbaiting and cockfighting — penalty.

Section 578.095 - Desecration of flags — penalty.

Section 578.100 - Selling goods on Sunday, penalty — certain counties may be exempted from prohibition — procedure — duty of revisor of statutes.

Section 578.105 - Additional counties may be exempted from provisions of section 578.100, procedure.

Section 578.106 - City of St. Louis, certain areas, may be exempt from Sunday sales law, procedure — exception — limitation.

Section 578.110 - Counties may be exempted from provisions of section 578.100, procedure.

Section 578.115 - No penalty, when.

Section 578.120 - Sale of motor vehicles on Sunday prohibited, exceptions — encouragement by certain associations to remain closed on Sundays not a violation of antitrust laws — violations, penalty.

Section 578.151 - Interference with lawful hunting, fishing or trapping in the first degree — penalty.

Section 578.152 - Interference with lawful hunting, fishing or trapping in the second degree — penalty.

Section 578.153 - Peace officer's and conservation agent's powers to enforce — failure to obey peace officer or conservation agent, penalty.

Section 578.170 - Definitions.

Section 578.173 - Baiting or fighting animals — penalty.

Section 578.176 - Bear wrestling — penalty.

Section 578.179 - Seizure and disposition of animals.

Section 578.182 - Exemptions.

Section 578.185 - Injunction.

Section 578.188 - Severability.

Section 578.350 - Medical deception — penalty — immunity, when.

Section 578.365 - Hazing — consent not a defense — penalties.

Section 578.398 - Sports bribery, first degree, penalty.

Section 578.399 - Sports bribery, second degree, penalty.

Section 578.405 - Prohibited acts against animal research and production facilities — definitions — penalties.

Section 578.421 - Citation of law — definitions.

Section 578.423 - Participating knowingly in criminal street gang activities, penalty.

Section 578.425 - Felony committed to promote or assist criminal conduct by gang members, punishment in addition to regular sentences.

Section 578.427 - Labor union activities and other employee activities, exempt — local governments may adopt laws consistent with and alternative to.

Section 578.430 - Buildings, rooms and structures used for criminal street gangs' activities deemed public nuisances — owner knowing of gang use, court may order no occupancy up to one year — penalty.

Section 578.435 - Weapon defined — weapons owned or in possession of gang members may be confiscated — weapon deemed a nuisance and destroyed by court order, when.

Section 578.437 - Weapon not to be declared a nuisance unless notice given to lawful owner, procedure — burden of proof on state that return of weapon would endanger lives.

Section 578.475 - International marriage brokers, notice to recruits — criminal history record and marital history record to be disseminated — client requirements — violations, penalty.

Section 578.520 - Unlawful fishing, hunting, or trapping on private land — affirmative defense — penalty.

Section 578.525 - Unlawful retrieval of large or small game — affirmative defense — penalty.

Section 578.600 - Citation of law — definitions.

Section 578.602 - Prohibited acts — purpose of act — permit required, procedure.

Section 578.604 - Identification number on animal required.

Section 578.606 - USDA regulations and standards, compliance with required — death of animal, notification of department required.

Section 578.608 - Animal may be killed, when, by whom — immunity from liability, when — trespass by animal, when.

Section 578.610 - Death or injury of a human by animal, liability of owner — liability insurance required — escape or release of animal, notification required.

Section 578.612 - Permit for transport of animal required.

Section 578.614 - Violations, penalty — exceptions.

Section 578.616 - Civil forfeiture, when.

Section 578.618 - Local laws, more restrictive permitted.

Section 578.620 - Inapplicability of act.

Section 578.622 - Additional exemptions

Section 578.624 - Large carnivore fund created, use of moneys.

Section 578.625 - Unavailability of use of certain moneys

Section 578.700 - Notaries and notarial acts — prohibited acts — violations, penalties.