Montana Animal Cruelty Statute Covers Hoarding Statewide

45-8-211 . Cruelty to animals -- exceptions. (1) A person commits the offense of cruelty to animals if, without justification, the person knowingly or negligently subjects an animal to mistreatment or neglect by: (a) overworking, beating, tormenting, torturing, injuring, or killing the animal; (b) carrying or confining the animal in a cruel manner; (c) failing to provide an animal in the person's custody with: (i) food and water of sufficient quantity and quality to sustain the animal's normal health; (ii) minimum protection for the animal from adverse weather conditions, with consideration given to the species; (iii) in cases of immediate, obvious, serious illness or injury, licensed veterinary or other appropriate medical care; (d) abandoning any helpless animal or abandoning any animal on any highway, railroad, or in any other place where it may suffer injury, hunger, or exposure or become a public charge; or (e) promoting, sponsoring, conducting, or participating in an animal race of more than 2 miles, except a sanctioned endurance race. (2) (a) A person convicted of the offense of cruelty to animals shall be fined an amount not to exceed $1,000 or be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 1 year, or both.