HB 1565 Summary

• Revises the definition of aggravated cruelty to dogs and cats to include actions such as crush, burn, drown, suffocate, impale or otherwise subject to serious bodily injury (replacing previous language regarding torture, mutilate, maim, burn, starve or disfigure).

• Elevates first offense of aggravated cruelty from a misdemeanor to a felony with fines up to $5,000 and commitment to Mississippi Department of Corrections for up to five years.

• Requires mandatory prohibition from owning, possessing or residing with a dog or cat for 5-15 years for aggravated cruelty convictions, and up to 5 years for simple cruelty convictions (or up to 15 years if conviction involved four or more counts).

• Establishes that each act of simple or aggravated cruelty constitutes a separate offense, allowing for multiple charges from a single incident.

• Adds enforcement provisions including fines up to $1,000 per animal for violations of ownership prohibitions and mandatory forfeiture of animals involved in such violations.