Springdale, AR Animal Ordinances: Animal Hoarding (2026)

Springdale's local rules layer with Arkansas state criminal law. Chapter 14 (Animals) of the Springdale Municipal Code at https://library.municode.com/ar/springdale/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH14AN provides general care, sanitation, and nuisance hooks used in hoarding investigations where odor, sanitation, or filth become apparent to inspectors or neighbors. At the state level, Arkansas Code Annotated Chapter 5-62 (Animals) (https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-5/subtitle-6/chapter-62/) criminalizes animal cruelty and neglect: Section 5-62-103 (Cruelty to Animals) makes it a Class A misdemeanor to knowingly subject any animal to cruel mistreatment, fail to provide adequate food, water, shelter, or sanitation, or abandon any animal; Section 5-62-104 (Aggravated Cruelty to a Dog, Cat, or Horse) makes it a Class D felony to knowingly inflict serious physical injury or death on a dog, cat, or horse by inhumane treatment or torture. Arkansas does not have a stand-alone animal-hoarding statute the way some states do, so hoarding conduct is charged under Sections 5-62-103 and 5-62-104 depending on severity, with the misdemeanor track for general neglect and the felony track when conditions amount to torture or cause serious injury or death. Springdale Animal Services at https://www.springdalear.gov/546/Animal-Services and the Springdale Police Department investigate complaints jointly and refer criminal cases to the Washington County Prosecuting Attorney. Animals seized in hoarding cases are typically housed at the Springdale Animal Services shelter at 1549 E. Don Tyson Parkway, and courts can order forfeiture and restitution for boarding and veterinary expenses.