Senate Bill 2820

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-41-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PENALTY FOR CRUEL TREATMENT AND MALICIOUS INJURY OF ANIMALS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 97-41-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

97-41-15. (1) Any person who shall maliciously, either out of a spirit of revenge or wanton cruelty, or who shall mischievously kill, maim or wound, or injure any animal, or cause any person to do the same, shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction, shall be committed to the custody of the State Department of Corrections for not less than twelve (12) months nor more than five (5) years, and fined an amount not less than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00), nor more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00).

(2) In addition to any such fine or imprisonment which may be imposed, the court shall order that restitution be made to the owner of any animal injured by a violation of subsection (1) of this section. The measure for restitution in money shall be the current replacement value of such loss and/or the actual veterinarian fees, special supplies, loss of income and other costs incurred as a result of actions in violation of subsection (1) of this section.

(3) For purposes of this section, the term "animal" means exotic animals, horses, mules, cattle, swine, sheep, felines, canines and other domestic animals * * *.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.