Title 5, Criminal Offenses

(a) (1) Unless otherwise ordered by a court, for purposes of this subchapter, an animal that has been seized by a law enforcement officer or animal control officer under this subchapter shall remain at the appropriate place of custody for a period of at least fifteen (15) consecu…

Except as provided in § 5-54-122, a person who in good faith reports a suspected incident of cruelty to animals, § 5-62-103, or aggravated cruelty to a dog, cat, or equine, § 5-62-104, to a local law enforcement agency or to the Division of Arkansas State Police is immune from ci…

(a) If a law enforcement officer arrests a person in charge of any vehicle drawn by or containing an animal, the law enforcement officer may seize the animal and impound in any lawful manner the vehicle and the contents of the vehicle. (b) (1) A law enforcement officer that seize…

(a) A licensed veterinarian or a person acting at the direction of a licensed veterinarian in Arkansas is:(1) Held harmless from either criminal or civil liability for any decision made or service rendered in conjunction with this subchapter; and(2) Immune from suit for his or he…

(a) A person may lawfully interfere to prevent the imminent or ongoing perpetration of any offense of cruelty to animals, § 5-62-103, or aggravated cruelty to a dog, cat, or equine, § 5-62-104, upon any animal in his or her presence. (b) Upon a conviction, a person who knowingly …

(a) Upon conviction, a person who knowingly sells or offers for sale, or uses, or exposes, or causes or procures to be sold or offered for sale, or used, or to be exposed, any equine or other animal having the disease known as “glanders” or “farcy” or any other contagious or infe…

(a) It is unlawful to use a decompression chamber for the destruction of an animal. (b) Use of a decompression chamber for the destruction of an animal is a Class C misdemeanor.

(a) (1) A person commits the offense of unlawful animal fighting in the first degree if he or she knowingly:(A) Promotes, engages in, or is employed at animal fighting;(B) Receives money for the admission of another person to a place kept for animal fighting; or(C) Sells, purchas…

(a) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to sell or offer for sale, barter, or give away living baby chicks, rabbits, or ducklings under two (2) months of age in any quantity less than six (6). (b) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to sell, offer …

(a) A person commits the offense of permitting livestock to run at large if being the owner or person charged with the custody and care of livestock he or she knowingly permits the livestock to run at large. (b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(2) of this section, permit…

(a) A person commits the offense of unlawful bear exploitation if he or she knowingly:(1) Promotes, engages in, or is employed at a bear wrestling match;(2) Receives money for the admission of another person to a place kept for bear wrestling;(3) Sells, purchases, possesses, or t…

(a) A person commits the offense of unlawful dog attack if:(1) The person owns a dog that the person knows or has reason to know has a propensity to attack, cause injury, or endanger the safety of other persons without provocation;(2) The person negligently allows the dog to atta…

An owner of an animal or person in control of an animal is not guilty of either the offense of cruelty to animals, § 5-62-103, or the offense of aggravated cruelty to a dog, cat, or equine, § 5-62-104, if the owner of the animal or the person in control of the animal was reasonab…

(a) A person commits removal of an animal's transmittal device if he or she knowingly:(1) Removes a transmittal device from a dog used in hunting or a raptor used in falconry without permission of the owner; and(2) Removes the transmittal device with the purpose to prevent or hin…

(a) In addition to the disposition of a dog or cat provided under § 5-62-106, following a complaint of cruelty to dogs or cats under this subchapter, a law enforcement officer may temporarily secure a dog or cat and transfer temporary possession of the dog or cat to an appropriat…

(a) The General Assembly finds that:(1) The caring, rearing, feeding, breeding, and sale of animals and animal products and the use of animals in research, testing, and education represent vital segments of the economy of the state;(2) Producers and others involved in the product…

(1) As used in this subchapter:(1) “Animal” means any warm or cold-blooded animal used in food or fiber production, agriculture, research, testing, or education, including poultry, fish, and insects;(2) “Animal facility” means any vehicle, building, structure, or premises, where …

(a) (1) A person commits an offense if, without the effective consent of the owner, the person acquires or otherwise exercises control over an animal facility, an animal from an animal facility, or other property from an animal facility, with the purpose to:(A) Deprive the owner …