SB-0285 Summary

• Amends animal cruelty statutes by defining adequate animal care as provision of food, water, shelter, sanitary conditions, exercise, and veterinary medical attention.

• Expands prohibited conduct to include failing to provide adequate care, cruel treatment, improper transport, abandonment, and tethering dogs with insufficient length (minimum 3 times the dog's body length).

• Increases criminal penalties for animal cruelty violations, making them felonies when involving 4 or more animals, repeat offenders, breeders, or pet shop operators with prior convictions.

• Establishes felony offense of "killing or torturing animals" with enhanced penalties for companion animals, ranging from 4 to 10 years imprisonment depending on severity and prior convictions.

• Allows courts to order animal forfeiture before trial conviction, require restitution for animal care costs, mandate psychological counseling, and prohibit animal ownership for specified periods or permanently.