Kansas Cruelty to Animals Statute Covers Hoarding

K.S.A. 21-6412 defines cruelty to animals broadly to include knowingly killing, injuring, maiming, torturing, or mutilating an animal, abandoning an animal, and failing to provide food, water, protection from the elements, opportunity for exercise, or other care needed for the animal's health. These provisions reach hoarding cases where owners possess more animals than they can adequately care for. Any law enforcement officer, public health officer, licensed veterinarian, or animal shelter agent may seize animals showing clear evidence of cruelty. A first conviction is a class A nonperson misdemeanor (up to one year jail, $2,500 fine); subsequent convictions are nonperson felonies. Convicted offenders are barred from possessing animals for five years.

First offense: class A nonperson misdemeanor, up to one year jail and $2,500 fine. Subsequent: nonperson felony with mandatory minimum five days, up to $2,500 fine, plus five-year possession ban.