SDCL § 40-1-2.3: Neglect, abandonment, or mistreatment of animal--Exception--Penalty.

No person owning or responsible for the care of an animal may neglect, abandon, or mistreat the animal, except that any person may abandon a feral cat for which the person assumed responsibility with the sole purpose of spaying or neutering the cat. A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor.