AK HB179

Adds a new subsection (8) to animal cruelty statute making it a crime to contemporaneously fail to care for five or more animals with criminal negligence, resulting in death or severe physical pain or prolonged suffering to five or more animals.

Classifies failure to care for five or more animals under subsection (8) as a class C felony.

Maintains existing class C felony classifications for cruelty violations under subsections (1), (3), and (4), and adds subsection (8) to this category.

Allows courts to require forfeiture of affected animals, reimbursement for shelter and veterinary costs, and prohibit animal ownership for up to 10 years upon conviction.