Mo. Rev. Stat. § 578.614: Violations, penalty — exceptions.

1. Subject to subsection 2 of this section, any person who violates sections 578.600 to 578.624 is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. Any person who fails to obtain a permit as required by sections 578.600 to 578.624 is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. Any person who intentionally releases a large carnivore except to the care, custody, and control of another person is guilty of a class E felony. In addition, a person who violates sections 578.600 to 578.624 may be punished by one or more of the following:

(1) Community service work for not more than five hundred hours;

(2) The loss of privileges to own or possess any animal.

2. Subsection 1 of this section does not apply to a law enforcement officer, animal control officer, qualified veterinarian, or department of agriculture employee with respect to the performance of the duties of a law enforcement officer, animal control officer, qualified veterinarian, or department of agriculture employee under sections 578.600 to 578.624.