Delaware Animal Hoarding Law: Statewide Animal Ordinances Rules (2026)

Key Facts

Statute: 11 Del. C. Section 1325
Misdemeanor ban: 5 years no animals
Felony ban: 15 years no animals
Felony trigger: Intentional serious injury

Full Breakdown

11 Del. C. Section 1325 makes it a class A misdemeanor to subject any animal in a person's custody to cruel neglect, defined to include keeping an animal where its excrement is not removed from the living area or other living conditions injurious to health. Intentional killing or causing serious injury elevates the offense to a class F felony. Convictions trigger a five-year prohibition on owning animals for misdemeanors and fifteen years for felonies, with limited commercial agricultural exceptions. The statute is enforced by police, the Delaware Office of Animal Welfare, and the Delaware SPCA across all jurisdictions.

Violations & Penalties

Class A misdemeanor up to 1 year jail and $2,300 fine; class F felony up to 3 years prison; ownership ban 5-15 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is animal hoarding a separate crime in Delaware?

Delaware does not use a standalone hoarding statute. Hoarding is prosecuted under Section 1325 cruel neglect when conditions, sanitation, or numbers cause animal suffering or injury, supplemented by local cruelty enforcement.

Can a court bar a hoarder from owning pets?

Yes. Section 1325 imposes a mandatory five-year prohibition on owning, possessing, or living with animals after a misdemeanor cruelty conviction, extending to fifteen years for felony convictions.

Delaware Treats Animal Hoarding as Criminal Cruel Neglect