See also link to Cruelty to Livestock Laws (W. S. 1977 § 11-29-101 - 115)
West's Wyoming Statutes Annotated. Title 6. Crimes and Offenses. Chapter 3. Offenses Against Property. Article 10. Animal Abuse
§ 6–3–1001. Definitions
§ 6–3–1002. Cruelty to animals
§ 6–3–1003. Other misdemeanors involving animal abuse; prohibition on manner of destruction of animals; attending fowl or dog fights; keeping household pets in unsanitary conditions
§ 6–3–1004. Penalties, misdemeanor offenses
§ 6–3–1005. Felony cruelty to animals; penalty
§ 6–3–1006. Additional remedies, generally
§ 6–3–1007. Separate counts
§ 6–3–1008. Use of agricultural and livestock management practices, wildlife management and humane destruction not prohibited
§ 6–3–1009. Household pet protection account continued; authorized uses of the account
§ 6–3–1010. Impounding and forfeiture hearing
West's Wyoming Statutes Annotated. Title 6. Crimes and Offenses. Chapter 4. Offenses Against Morals, Decency and Family. Article 6. Bestiality
§ 6-4-601. Bestiality; penalty
Title 6. Crimes and Offenses. Chapter 3. Offenses Against Property. Article 10. Animal Abuse
(a) As used in this article:
(i) “Costs of the animal's impoundment” means all costs incurred by the impounding entity in providing necessary food and water, veterinary attention and treatment for any animal which is the subject of a violation of this article;
(ii) “Household pet” means any privately owned dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, mouse, gerbil, ferret, bird, fish, reptile, amphibian, invertebrate or any other species of domesticated animal sold, transferred or retained for the purpose of being kept as a pet in or near a house. “Household pet” shall not include any livestock;
(iii) “Livestock” means horses, mules and asses, rabbits, llamas, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, or other animal generally used for food or in the production of food or fiber, working animals and guard animals actively engaged in the protection or management of livestock. Bison are considered livestock unless otherwise designated by the Wyoming livestock board and the Wyoming game and fish commission.
Credits
Laws 2021, ch. 30, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021.
§ 6-3-1002. Cruelty to animals
(a) A person commits cruelty to animals if the person:
(i) Knowingly overrides an animal or drives an animal when overloaded;
(ii) Intentionally or knowingly, unnecessarily injures or beats an animal;
(iii) Knowingly carries an animal in a manner that poses undue risk of injury or death;
(iv) Has the charge and custody of any animal and under circumstances which manifest extreme indifference to the animal's safety, health or life:
(A) Fails to provide it with proper food, drink or protection from the weather adequate for the species;
(B) Abandons the animal. Relinquishment of an animal to a public or private animal shelter or like facility is not a violation of this subparagraph;
(C) In the case of immediate, obvious, serious illness or injury to the animal, fails to provide the animal with appropriate care; or
(D) Keeps any household pet in a manner that results in chronic or repeated serious physical harm to the household pet.
(v) Owns, possesses, keeps or trains fowls or dogs with the intent to allow the dog or fowl to engage in an exhibition of fighting with another dog or fowl;
(vi) For gain causes or allows any dog to fight with another dog or any fowl to fight with another fowl;
(vii) Promotes any dog or fowl fighting;
(viii) Knowingly permits any act prohibited under paragraphs (v) through (vii) of this subsection on any premises under the person's charge or control; or
(ix) Shoots, poisons or otherwise intentionally acts to seriously injure or destroy any livestock or domesticated animal owned by another person while the animal is on property where the animal is authorized to be present.
Credits
Laws 2021, ch. 30, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021.
§ 6-3-1003. Other misdemeanors involving animal abuse; prohibition on manner of destruction of animals; attending fowl or dog fights; keeping household pets in unsanitary conditions
(a) A person shall not destroy an animal by the use of a high-altitude decompression chamber or a carbon monoxide gas chamber utilizing a gasoline engine. This subsection is uniformly applicable to all cities and towns.
(b) A person is guilty of a misdemeanor if he knowingly is present at any place where an exhibition of fighting of fowls or dogs is occurring for amusement or gain.
(c) A person is guilty of a misdemeanor if he keeps a household pet confined in conditions which constitute a public health hazard.
Credits
Laws 2021, ch. 30, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021.
§ 6-3-1004. Penalties, misdemeanor offenses
(a) A first offense of cruelty to animals or of a violation of W.S. 6-3-1003 is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both.
(b) A second or subsequent conviction, resulting from charges separately brought and arising out of separate occurrences within a five (5) year period:
(i) Of animal cruelty under W.S. 6-3-1002 is punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both;
(ii) Under W.S. 6-3-1003 is a misdemeanor offense punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both.
Credits
Laws 2021, ch. 30, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021.
§ 6-3-1005. Felony cruelty to animals; penalty
(a) A person commits felony cruelty to animals if the person:
(i) Commits cruelty to animals as defined in W.S. 6-3-1002(a)(v) through (ix), that results in the death or required euthanasia of the animal; or
(ii) Knowingly, and with intent to cause death or undue suffering, beats with cruelty, tortures, torments or mutilates an animal.
(b) Felony cruelty to animals is a felony punishable by:
(i) Permanent forfeiture of the animal or livestock animal; and
(ii) Imprisonment for not more than two (2) years, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both.
Credits
Laws 2021, ch. 30, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021; Laws 2021, ch. 119, § 3, eff. July 1, 2021.
§ 6-3-1006. Additional remedies, generally
(a) In addition to the penalties for misdemeanor and felony offenses in W.S. 6-3-1004 and 6-3-1005, the court may order any or all of the following:
(i) If the defendant is the owner of the animal, require the defendant to forfeit ownership of the animal. This paragraph shall not affect the interest of any secured party or other person who has not participated in the offense;
(ii) Require the defendant to pay all reasonable costs of the animal's impoundment, if the animal has been impounded;
(iii) Impose continuing prohibitions or limitations on the defendant's ownership, possession or custody of any animal.
Credits
Laws 2021, ch. 30, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021.
Each animal affected by the defendant's conduct may constitute a separate count for the purposes of prosecution, conviction, sentencing and penalties under this article.
Credits
Laws 2021, ch. 30, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021.
§ 6-3-1008. Use of agricultural and livestock management practices, wildlife management and humane destruction not prohibited
(a) Nothing in this article may be construed to prohibit:
(i) A person humanely destroying an animal, including livestock;
(ii) The use of industry accepted agricultural and livestock practices on livestock or another animal used in the practice of agriculture;
(iii) Rodeo events, training for rodeo events or participating in rodeo events, whether the event is performed in a rodeo, fair, jackpot, agricultural exhibition or other similar event;
(iv) The use of dogs in the management of livestock by the owner of the livestock, his employees or agents or other persons in lawful custody of the livestock;
(v) The use of dogs or raptors in hunting;
(vi) The training of dogs or raptors or the use of equipment in the training of dogs or raptors for any purpose not prohibited by law;
(vii) The hunting, capture, killing or destruction of any predatory animal, pest or other wildlife in any manner not otherwise prohibited by law.
Credits
Laws 2021, ch. 30, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021.
§ 6-3-1009. Household pet protection account continued; authorized uses of the account
The cruelty to household pet animals protection account as originally created by W.S 6-3-203(o) is continued. Funds shall be credited to the account as provided by law. Funds in the account are continuously appropriated to the attorney general to reimburse county law enforcement agencies for eligible expenses regarding animal cruelty cases involving household pets under W.S. 6-3-1002(a)(iv)(D) or 6-3-1003(c). The attorney general shall develop rules and regulations to establish eligible expenses and to determine how county law enforcement agencies will be reimbursed for the costs of an animal cruelty case under W.S. 6-3-1002(a)(iv)(D) or 6-3-1003(c), in an amount not to exceed ninety percent (90%) in any particular case. Any reimbursement under this subsection shall be contingent upon available funding and upon a showing that the agency has made reasonable efforts to seek reimbursement from the offender of expenses incurred by the agency, as permitted by law. All funds in the account may be used for and are continuously appropriated for eligible expenses authorized to be made under this section. Notwithstanding W.S. 9-2-1008 and 9-4-207 funds in the account shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal period.
Credits
Laws 2021, ch. 30, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021.
§ 6-3-1010. Impounding and forfeiture hearing
(a) Any person with authority to enforce this article or W.S. 11-29-101 through 11-29-115 and who has probable cause to believe there has been a violation of this article may impound any animal treated cruelly. The following shall apply to impounding an animal under this subsection:
(i) If any animal is impounded under this subsection the following shall apply:
(A) Within the earlier of seventy-two (72) hours of impoundment or charges being filed, the circuit court shall hold a hearing to set a bond in an amount the circuit court determines is sufficient to provide for the animal's reasonable costs of impoundment for at least ninety (90) days including the day on which the animal was impounded. At the request of the owner of the animal, the court may make a determination on the disposition of the animal at a hearing pursuant to this subparagraph;
(B) The bond shall be posted by the owner of the animal with the circuit court in the county where the animal was impounded within ten (10) days after the hearing required by this subparagraph.
(ii) When the bond required by paragraph (i) of this subsection expires, if the owner of the animal desires to prevent disposition of the animal by the person with authority to enforce this article or W.S. 11-29-101 through 11-29-115, the owner shall post a new bond with the court as described in paragraph (i) of this subsection. The court may correct, alter or otherwise adjust the new bond before the expiration date of the previous bond;
(iii) If a bond is not posted under paragraphs (i) or (ii) of this subsection, the person with authority to enforce this article or W.S. 11-29-101 through 11-29-115 shall dispose of the animal. As used in this section, “dispose” means to place for adoption, sell, destroy or return to the owner. The owner of the animal shall be liable for all costs associated with the final disposition of the animal under this subsection. Posting of a bond shall not prevent the person with authority to enforce this article or W.S. 11-29-101 through 11-29-115 from disposing of the impounded animal before the expiration of the period covered by the bond if during a disposition hearing pursuant to paragraph (vi) of this subsection the court orders the forfeiture of the animal to a person with authority to enforce this article or W.S. 11-29-101 through 11-29-115 or the owner voluntarily forfeits the animal. No animal shall be forfeited pursuant to paragraph (vi) of this subsection without a hearing pursuant to paragraphs (vi) through (viii) of this subsection, regardless of whether a bond is posted, if the animal is connected to the livelihood or ability to make a living of the owner;
(iv) If a bond has been posted in accordance with paragraph (i) or (ii) of this subsection, the person with authority to enforce this article or W.S. 11-29-101 through 11-29-115 may draw from the bond the actual costs of the activities described in paragraph (i) of this subsection, from the date of initial impoundment to the date of final disposition of the animal;
(v) Upon the final disposition of the animal, any bond amount remaining that has not been expended in the impoundment and disposition of the animal shall be remitted to the owner of the animal;
(vi) A person with authority to enforce this article or W.S. 11-29-101 through 11-29-115 or other participant in the criminal action may file a petition in the criminal action requesting the court issue an order providing for the final disposition of the animal if:
(A) The animal is in the possession of and being held by a person with authority to enforce this article or W.S. 11-29-101 through 11-29-115;
(B) The outcome of the criminal action charging a violation of this article is pending; and
(C) The final disposition of the animal has not occurred.
(vii) Upon receipt of a petition pursuant to paragraph (vi) of this subsection, the court shall set a hearing on the petition for disposition of the animal. The hearing shall be conducted within seven (7) days after the filing of the petition or as soon as practicable thereafter. The hearing shall be limited to the question of the disposition of the animal;
(viii) At a hearing conducted pursuant to paragraph (vii) of this subsection, the prosecutor shall have the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the animal was subjected to a violation of this article. After the hearing, if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the animal was subjected to a violation of this article, the court may order immediate forfeiture of the animal to the person with authority to enforce this article or W.S. 11-29-101 through 11-29-115. If, after the hearing, the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the animal was not subjected to a violation of this article, the animal shall be returned to the owner of the animal and the owner shall not be responsible for any costs of the impoundment incurred after a finding that the animal was not subjected to a violation of this article unless the person later pleads guilty to or is found guilty of a violation of this article.
Credits
Laws 2021, ch. 119, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021.
West's Wyoming Statutes Annotated. Title 6. Crimes and Offenses. Chapter 4. Offenses Against Morals, Decency and Family. Article 6. Bestiality
§ 6-4-601. Bestiality; penalty
(a) As used in this section:
(i) “Actor” means the person accused of bestiality;
(ii) “Sexual act with an animal” means any act, between a person and an animal involving direct physical contact between the genitals of one and the mouth, anus or genitals of the other. A sexual act with an animal may be proved without evidence of penetration.
(b) An actor commits the crime of bestiality if the actor knowingly:
(i) Engages in a sexual act with an animal;
(ii) Causes, aids or abets another in engaging in a sexual act with an animal;
(iii) Uses any part of the actor's body or an object to sexually stimulate an animal; or
(iv) For the purpose of sexual gratification, the actor visually records a person engaging in a sexual act with an animal.
(c) Bestiality is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or both.
(d) This section shall not apply to or prohibit normal, ordinary or accepted practices involved in animal husbandry, artificial insemination or veterinary medicine.
Credits
Laws 2021, ch. 39, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021.