Throughout the United States, the laws can change from state to state. However, when it comes to animal cruelty, they all have one thing in common: animal cruelty is against the law in all 50 states.
Furthermore, it’s prohibited to torture animals, mistreat them, or not provide sufficient shelter and food to them. It’s a serious offense and those who engage in animal cruelty could end up in jail and pay hefty fines.
If you are accused of animal cruelty, make sure to contact an experienced attorney. And if you are arrested, make sure to call PCS Bail Bonds.
Here’s what you need to know about animal cruelty offenses in Texas.
Animal Cruelty in Texas
By definition, animal cruelty occurs when a human gratuitously inflicts harm, injures, or kills an animal. It can be either intentional or unintentional (e.g., neglect). There are various forms of animal cruelty, such as overworking an animal, abandoning an animal, engaging animals to fight each other, and neglecting an animal.
In Texas, the cruelty laws include two main types of actions: failure to act and intentional actions.
Failure to act, also known as neglect, is treated as a misdemeanor offense in Texas. However, animal neglect could soon become a felony if a person is charged with the offense three or more times.
Failure to act includes:
- Failing to provide necessary things such as food, water, shelter, veterinary care, sanitary conditions, and protection.
- Unreasonably abandoning an animal.
On the other hand, intentional cruel actions include:
- Torturing an animal
- Transporting or confining an animal in a cruel manner
- Killing, seriously injuring, or poisoning an animal
- Causing an animal to fight with another
- Using a live animal as a lure in a dog race
- Tripping a horse
- Injuring an animal belonging to another
- Seriously overworking an animal.
Keep in mind that dog fighting is a serious crime in Texas. Whether you are participating in the earnings or operations of a dog fighting facility or attending a dog fight as a spectator, you could face serious consequences.
Animal cruelty offenses in Texas are governed by a law known as “Loco’s Law.” This law makes animal cruelty a felony, and those found guilty can face a maximum fine of $10,000 and could spend anywhere from two to 10 years in prison.
Mind you, Loco’s Law excludes certain types of animals such as wild animals, animals used in experiment, and circus animals.
Even if an individual acted in self-defence, however, they could be charged with a felony.
How to React to Animal Cruelty
It’s not uncommon to hear about pet owners leaving their pets in hot cars on sunny summer days. As the temperature in the car gets hotter, it makes it harder for animals to breathe. Unfortunately, these sorts of situations happen often.
If you witness animal cruelty firsthand or suspect an individual engaging in animal cruelty in Texas, there are two actions an individual can take.
Do not take the law in your own hands. Let authorities do their work. They have experience in handling difficult situations, have jurisdiction over a lot of matters, and could take care of the animals better.
- Contact the local humane society as soon as possible. In most states, they have the authority to investigate a complaint and could even confiscate animals from the owner if they are being mistreated.
- Contact the local county sheriff’s office or the city police. They can lodge a complaint and take the necessary actions.
What to Do If You Are Accused of Animal Cruelty
Mistakes happen, and sometimes we can be negligent when it comes to our pets. If you are accused of animal cruelty in Texas, understand that these are serious charges and defending yourself in court may not be as easy as one would think. Its important to contact an attorney with experience in fighting animal cruelty offenses in Texas, first and foremost.
Why? Because a good animal cruelty defense attorney could help you with your case and advise you on the best course of action. They could also help you make your case stronger and get it dismissed in court.
How a Bail Bond Agency Can Help
In addition to contacting an attorney, if you are arrested due to animal cruelty in Texas, a bail bond agency could help.
Remember that when the court sets a bail amount, it could cost the defendant thousands of dollars. As the defendant, you might not be able to afford to pay the bail amount upfront. That’s where a bail bond agency can help.
If you or someone you know needs help getting out of jail and posting bail, PCS Bail Bonds is ready to help you. We are the leading provider of bail bonds in Fort Worth and bail bonds in Tarrant County. We are available 24/7 to start the bail process. People don’t get arrested conveniently, so having 24-hour access to our bail services is key to a quick bail. We understand that no one wants to spend a day more in jail than they need to. We work hard and we work smart to make sure that is not the case.
For more information about PCS Bail Bonds, contact us today at PCSDFW@aol.com or call us toll-free at (888) 335-1655.