California Cruelty to Animals Attorney
Have you been cited with Cruelty to Animals? Let us help you today!
In California, if you are being prosecuted for cruelty to animals, you could be facing a variety of penalties including jail time, a permanent record, loss of ownership of your animals, and hefty fines. It can be stressful and scary to have criminal charges pending. You need someone on your side to help you navigate the system, do not let one mistake or blemish on your record effect you for the rest of your life. It can affect potential jobs, your current job, or even renting an apartment. Let Weber Law help you keep your record clean.
California Cruelty to Animals Charges and Penalties
What is Cruelty to Animals?
Every person who maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, or wounds a living animal, or maliciously and intentionally kills an animal, is guilty of animal cruelty.
Every person who overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, drink, or shelter, cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly kills any animal, or causes or procures any animal to be so overdriven, overloaded, driven when overloaded, overworked, tortured, tormented, deprived of necessary sustenance, drink, shelter, or to be cruelly beaten, mutilated, or cruelly killed; and whoever, having the charge or custody of any animal, either as owner or otherwise, subjects any animal to needless suffering, or inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon the animal, or in any manner abuses any animal, or in any manner abuses any animal, or fails to provide the animal with proper food, drink, or shelter or protection from the weather, or who drives, rides, or otherwise uses the animal when unfit for labor, is guilty of animal cruelty.
Every person who maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, or tortures any mammal, bird, reptile, or amphibian, or fish is guilty of animal cruelty.
Whoever carries or causes to be carried in or upon any vehicle or otherwise any domestic animal in cruel or inhuman manner, or knowingly and willfully authorizes or permits it to be subjected to unnecessary torture, suffering, or cruelty of any kind is guilty of animal cruelty.
Examples of animal cruelty include but are not limited to:
• Keeping an animal outside on a hot day without any shelter, or water;
• Making a horse carry a load that is incredibly too heavy for them;
• Dragging a dog by their leash from behind your car;
• Leaving an animal in your car;
• Deliberately causing injury to an animal, like breaking its leg, or cutting its skin;
• Painting an animal’s fur;
• Running cattle to the point of exhaustion;
• Failing to feed your animal for days; or
• Hitting an animal.
What is the Punishment?
A person who is found guilty of animal cruelty can be punished by a fine of not more than $20,000.00, or by imprisonment, of up to one year, or both. Animal cruelty can be charged with either a felony or a misdemeanor.
Additionally, if you have been charged with animal cruelty all animals under your care can be lawfully seized and impounded by a peace officer, officer of a humane society, or officer of an animal shelter or animal regulation department.
As the sentence can range so widely it is important to have knowledgeable legal counsel who can advocate for the lowest sentence possible.
Even as a Defendant, you still have Rights! Make sure yours were not violated!
Even as an individual facing criminal charges, you have rights, and it is important to know those rights and make sure that they were not violated in any way when you were arrested or charged. Without extensive knowledge of your rights when it comes to police searches, Miranda rights, and your rights when it comes to arrest, it is extremely difficult to get a dismissal or reduction. Do not try to fight these charges on your own—Weber Law is ready to help you today.
Contact Weber Law immediately if you’ve been arrested on a cruelty to animals charge. We offer a free confidential case evaluation – serving Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.
"He did everything he could to solve my case. There was no moment where I felt like I was alone. He went to his full extent to help me lower my charges. Great lawyer.”
What should you do if you have been charged with Animal Cruelty and how can Weber Law help you?
If you have been cited for cruelty to animals in California, there are a few ways Weber Law can fight for you. Whether it is negotiating to lower the charge to a lesser crime, reducing your fine amount, making sure you do not lose your pet, reducing your jail time, or defending you at trial, Weber Law will work for you every step of the way. By looking at potential evidence, such as your prior criminal record, veterinary records and eyewitness testimony, Weber Law will make sure scrutinize all aspects your case. At Weber Law we are experienced in defending these charges, winning these cases, and getting you and your pet back together safely. If you or anyone you know has been cited for cruelty to animals in the state of California, call Weber Law today for a consultation.
CA Penal Code 597, Cruelty to animals
Ca Penal Code 597a, Cruelty to animals; transportation; care of animals by arresting officer; expense
A Los Angeles, California Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help You
Weber Law will aggressively fight for your rights. Contact us today!
We believe that justice is an idea that can triumph only when living people make it so. We are dedicated to justice. We wish to run a business that is at once profitable while allowing us to promote the rights of our fellow community members. We will stand for the poor when they are in need and their cause is just. We will work for any responsible business. We will represent all races, creeds, religions, sexes, sexual orientations, and backgrounds.
Office Address:
80 South Lake Ave. Ste. 590, Pasadena, California 91101