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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
cruelty to working animals; classification
Purpose
Increases, from a class 6 to a class 5 felony, the penalty for intentionally or knowingly interfering with, killing or harming a working or service animal.
Background
Statute
classifies animal cruelty as a class 6 felony if the person: 1)
intentionally or knowingly subjects any animal under the person's custody or
control to cruel neglect or abandonment that results in serious physical injury
to the animal; 2) intentionally or knowingly subjects any animal to cruel
mistreatment; 3) intentionally or knowingly interferes with, kills or harms a
working or service animal without either legal privilege or consent of the
owner;
4) intentionally or knowingly allows any dog that is under the person's custody
or control to interfere with, kill or cause physical injury to a service
animal; and 5) intentionally or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized
control over a service animal with the intent to deprive the service animal
handler of the service animal.
A person is guilty of a class 5 felony if the person: 1) intentionally or knowingly subjects a domestic animal to cruel mistreatment; or 2) intentionally or knowingly kills a domestic animal without either legal privilege or consent of the domestic animal's owner or handler.
Service animal means an animal that has completed a formal training program, assists its owner in one or more daily living tasks that are associated with a productive lifestyle and that is trained to not pose a danger to the health and safety of the general public. Working animal means a horse or dog that is used by a law enforcement agency that is specially trained for law enforcement work and that is under the control of a handler (A.R.S. ยง 13-2910).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Increases, from a class 6 to a class 5 felony, the penalty for intentionally or knowingly interfering with, killing or harming a working or service animal without either legal privilege or consent of the owner.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 24, 2025
ZD/AW/ci