Iowa Code Chapter 717B universally criminalizes animal neglect and cruelty, providing the legal framework prosecutors use in animal hoarding cases. The statute applies statewide and supersedes any conflicting local lenience.
Iowa Code Chapter 717B defines animal neglect, abuse, and torture as criminal offenses applicable in every county and municipality. While Iowa does not have a hoarding-specific statute, prosecutors use 717B.3 (animal neglect) to charge individuals keeping more animals than they can adequately care for. The 2020 amendments significantly increased penalties, making aggravated animal neglect an aggravated misdemeanor and animal torture a class D felony. Local jurisdictions may set numerical pet limits and require kennel licenses, but the underlying neglect prohibitions apply uniformly. Iowa law also authorizes courts to ban convicted offenders from owning animals.
Animal neglect ranges from simple to aggravated misdemeanor. Animal torture is a class D felony with up to five years imprisonment and $7,500 fines.
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in this county.
See how West Des Moines's animal hoarding rules stack up against other locations.
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