Utah Cruelty to Animals Attorney

In Utah, if you are charged with animal cruelty, you can face harsh penalties. Your record and your reputation could be ruined. Do not face this charge alone, let Weber Law help you today. 

What is Animal Cruelty? 

A person can be found guilty of animal cruelty if they intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence:

• Fail to provide necessary food, water, care, or shelter for an animal in the person’s custody;
• Abandon an animal in the person’s custody;
• Injures an animal;
• Causes any animal to fight with another animal for amusement; or
• Causes any animal to fight with another animal of a different species for amusement. 

Additionally, a person can be found guilty of aggravated animal cruelty if they, intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:

• Tortures an animal;
• Administers, or causes to be administered, poison or a poisonous substance to an animal; or
• Kills an animal or causes an animal to be killed without having legal privilege to do so.

A veterinarian has legal privilege when acting in the best interest of the animal, in regard to administering drugs, killing an animal, or causing an animal to be killed. 

Additionally, if you allow your animal who has vicious tendencies to willfully go at large, or keeps it without ordinary care (like proper housing and containment), and that animal causes injury to another animal or to any human being who has taken reasonable precaution can also be considered cruelty to animals. If you do not give your animal proper containment and they escape and hurt someone, you could be cited with allowing a vicious animal to go at large. 

What is the Punishment?

Penalties for animal cruelty depend on the type of cruelty and the intent. If you hurt an animal and it is not considered aggravated, it is a class B misdemeanor if committed intentionally or knowingly and a class C misdemeanor if committed reckless or with criminal negligence. 

Intentionally or knowingly torturing an animal is a third-degree felony. 

Aggravated animal cruelty is a Class A misdemeanor if committed intentionally or knowingly, a class B misdemeanor if committed recklessly, and a class C misdemeanor if committed with criminal negligence.

If your animal is at large and hurts another animal, you could be charged with a class B misdemeanor. However, if your animal causes the death of a human being, you could be found guilty of a felony in the third degree. 

A third-degree felony is punishable by up to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000.00.

A class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to one-year imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000.00.

A class B misdemeanor is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.00.

A class C misdemeanor is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of $750.00.

How Can You Fight It?

Having a charge of animal cruelty on your record does not look good. It could hinder future job aspects, especially ones involving animals. Additionally, it could hinder your ability to keep pets in the future. If your animal is found to be at large and hurts another animal or member of your community, your reputation in the community could be ruined. 

This is a serious charge, with serious penalties, do not face these charges alone. Let Weber Law’s team of experienced attorneys fight for you every step of the way. Some potential defenses against animal cruelty include protecting yourself, or others. Let Weber Law help to dismiss the charges against you, and if that is not possible, let US work to reduce your charge, keep your record clean, reduce your fine amount, or even reduce your jail time. Let Weber Law do the negotiating for you.

The court room can be an intimidating place, especially when your future is on the line. Let Weber Law take the stress and worry out of it. By looking at potential evidence like, your prior criminal record, the veterinarian records of the animal, surveillance footage, and even eye witness testimony, Weber Law will build you the best defense. If you or someone you know has been charged with animal cruelty or animal at large in the state of Utah, contact Weber Law today. 

• Utah Code § 76-9-301, Cruelty to animals
• Utah Code § 76-9-304, Allowing vicious animal to go at large
• Utah Code § 76-3-204, misdemeanor conviction – term of imprisonment
• Utah Code § 76-3-203, Felony conviction—indeterminate term of imprisonment
• Utah Code § 76-3-301, fines of individuals