Washington RCW 16.52 criminalizes animal cruelty and neglect statewide, providing the legal foundation for animal hoarding prosecutions when owners fail to provide necessary food, water, shelter, and veterinary care to multiple animals.
RCW 16.52.207 defines animal cruelty in the second degree as knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence failing to provide necessary food, water, shelter, rest, sanitation, ventilation, space, or medical attention causing unnecessary suffering. Hoarding cases typically trigger this statute when conditions affect multiple animals. RCW 16.52.085 grants law enforcement authority to seize neglected animals with a warrant, and RCW 16.52.200 allows courts to impose pre-conviction costs of care on owners. The statute applies universally across all Washington jurisdictions.
Animal cruelty in the second degree is a misdemeanor; first-degree cruelty involving intentional infliction of pain is a Class C felony under RCW 16.52.205, with potential lifetime ownership bans.
Edmonds, WA
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Edmonds, WA
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Edmonds, WA
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Edmonds, WA
Edmonds noise rules are governed by ECC Ch. 5.30, which adopts the WAC 173-60 Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement (EDNA) framework. Residential mai...
Edmonds, WA
Abandoned vehicle removal is regulated under ECC Ch. 8.48 and RCW 46.55. Vehicles left on public or private property without permission for more than 24 hour...
Edmonds, WA
Under ECC §8.50.120, vehicles may not remain lawfully parked on a public street for more than 72 hours. Moving and re-parking a vehicle within the same block...
See how Edmonds's animal hoarding rules stack up against other locations.
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