What Constitutes Animal Cruelty?

HOUSTON - What is the legal definition of animal cruelty?

A person who commits an animal cruelty offense intentionally or knowingly:

(1) tortures an animal;
(2) fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, care, or shelter for an animal in the person's custody;
(3) abandons unreasonably an animal in the person's custody;
(4) transports or condones an animal in a cruel manner;
(5) kills, seriously injures, or administers poison to an animal, other than cattle, horses, sheep, swine, or goats, belonging to another without legal authority or the owner's effective consent;
(6) causes one animal to fight with another;
(7) uses a live animal as a lure in dog race training in in dog coursing on a racetrack;
(8) trips a horse;
(9) injures an animal, other than cattle, horses, sheep, swine, or goats, belonging to another without legal authority or the owner's effective consent; or
(10) seriously overworks an animal

What is not classified as animal cruelty? Barking dogs, dogs running at large, etc.

Anyone who witnesses animal cruelty is asked to visit the Houston Humane Society website and submit a complaint form or contact the HHS cruelty line at 713-341-3396.

What is unique about HHS animal cruelty program is that it is the only cruelty investigation program that employs law enforcement officers.

What is the difference between civil and criminal animal cruelty charges? A civil hearing is in a justice of the peace or municipal court where the decision is made that the animals were cruelly treated and the animals are awarded to an animal control or shelter. Criminal charges are filed by the county District Attorney's office and determine if the person(s) get jail time, fines, probation, etc.

On the Web:

Houston Humane Society -- http://www.houstonhumane.org/