8-9-202 Cruelty to animals—neglect of animals—offenses

(1) A person commits cruelty to animals if he knowingly or with criminal negligence overdrives, overloads, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, unnecessarily or cruelly beats, needlessly mutilates, needlessly kills, carries or confines in or upon any vehicles in a cruel or reckless manner, or otherwise mistreats or neglects any animal, or causes or procures it to be done, or, having the charge or custody of an animal, fails to provide it with proper food, drink, or protection from the weather, or abandons it.

(b) Any person who intentionally abandons a dog or cat commits the offense of cruelty to animals.

(1.5) A person commits aggravated cruelty to animals if he or she knowingly torments, tortures, or kills an animal.

(2) (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (2), cruelty to animals is a class 1 misdemeanor.

(a.5) (I) (A) In addition to the sentence imposed pursuant to this subsection (2), any person convicted of committing cruelty to animals pursuant to subsection (1) of this section or aggravated cruelty

b) (I) A second or subsequent conviction under the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) is a class 6 felony. A plea of nolo contendere accepted by the court shall be considered a conviction for the purposes of this section.