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Kansas Statewide Rule

Kansas Cruelty to Animals Statute Covers Hoarding

Heavy RestrictionsApplies statewide across Kansas (2026)

Key Facts

Statute
K.S.A. 21-6412
First offense
Class A misdemeanor
Maximum fine
$2,500
Possession ban
5 years post-conviction
Seizure authority
Law enforcement, vets, shelters
Last verified: August 20, 2026Source: Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes

Summary

Kansas K.S.A. 21-6412 criminalizes animal cruelty statewide, including failure to provide adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care, which captures hoarding scenarios. The law applies uniformly and authorizes seizure of neglected animals by law enforcement and licensed officers.

Cruelty to animals. (a) Cruelty to animals is: (1) Knowingly and maliciously killing, injuring, maiming, torturing, burning or mutilating any animal; (2) knowingly abandoning any animal in any place without making provisions for its proper care; (3) having physical custody of any animal and knowingly failing to provide such food, potable water, protection from the elements, opportunity for exercise and other care as is needed for the health or well-being of such kind of animal; (4) intentionally using a wire, pole, stick, rope or any other object to cause an equine to lose its balance or fall, for the purpose of sport or entertainment; (5) knowingly but not maliciously killing or injuring any animal; or (6) knowingly and maliciously administering any poison to any domestic animal. (b) Cruelty to animals as defined in: (1) Subsection (a)(1) or (a)(6) is a nonperson felony. Upon conviction of subsection (a)(1) or (a)(6), a person shall be sentenced to not less than 30 days or more than one year's imprisonment and be fined not less than $500 nor more than $5,000. The person convicted shall not be eligible for release on probation, suspension or reduction of sentence or parole until the person has served the minimum mandatory sentence as provided herein. During the mandatory 30 days imprisonment, such offender shall have a psychological evaluation prepared for the court to assist the court in determining conditions of probation.

Source: Kansas Office of Revisor of StatutesView official code

Full Breakdown

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.

Violations & Penalties

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Kansas have a specific animal hoarding statute?
No standalone hoarding statute exists. Hoarding is prosecuted under K.S.A. 21-6412's neglect provisions when owners fail to provide adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care to multiple animals.
Can authorities seize animals from a hoarder before conviction?
Yes. K.S.A. 21-6412 authorizes immediate seizure by law enforcement, public health officers, licensed veterinarians, or shelter agents when clear evidence of cruelty or neglect exists.
Who pays for animal care after seizure?
The owner is generally responsible for reasonable care costs. Courts may order security deposits or forfeiture if costs are not posted, allowing animals to be permanently rehomed.

Sources

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