Being charged with animal cruelty in the state of California is a big deal, resulting in time behind bars and big fines in most cases. Fighting such charges will go much better for you with the help of an experienced and determined criminal defense lawyer.
Specific Crimes and Penalties
In general, it is against the law to harm or torture animals, to neglect their food and water requirements, to abandon an animal, or to kill an animal with malice. Specific related offenses and their penalties include:
| Crime | Maximum Penalty |
| Maliciously maiming/mutilating/wounding/torturing or
Killing an animal |
3 years in prison and $20,000 in fines |
| Dog fighting | 3 years in prison and $50,000 in fines |
| Sexual abuse of an animal | 6 months in jail and $1,000 in fines, plus costs associated with rehabilitation |
| Unlawful tethering of a dog | 6 months in prison and $51000 in fines |
| Confining animals improperly | 6 months in jail, $500 in fines, |
| Leaving animals in vehicles in bad weather | 6 months in jail and $1,000 in fines |
| Poisoning a pet | 6 months in jail and $1,000 in fines, plus costs associated with rehabilitation |
| Cockfighting | 1 year in jail and $10,000 in fines |
| Transporting animals in a cruel way | 6 months in jail and $1,000 in fines |
Defending Charges
One of the key factors in these charges is the state of mind of a defendant. If one intentionally causes an animal distress, it could be a legal problem. A person’s maliciousness is factored into the penalty phase of any trial. If a defendant was not responsible for an animal, or the animal was harmed with no ill intent, things will go better in court. Another issue that plays a big role in determining penalties is the number of times the person has faced similar charges.
Your Legal Advocate
Animal abuse charges are not pretty, and juries tend to judge abusers harshly. That is why it is critical that when facing such charges, you have an aggressive criminal defense attorney fighting for the best possible outcomes for you. At Boertje & Associates, our defense attorneys fight relentlessly for our clients. Schedule a confidential consultation in our San Diego office today.