{"data":{"id":"us-ia/iowa-code-717b.8","jurisdiction":"us-ia","citation":"Iowa Code § 717B.8","heading":"Abandonment of cats and dogs — penalties.","body":"1. A person commits animal abandonment if the person owns or has custody of a cat or dog and relinquishes all rights in and duties to care for the cat or dog.\n2. This section does not apply to any of the following:\na. The delivery of a cat or dog to another person who will accept ownership and custody of the cat or dog.\nb. The delivery of a cat or dog to an animal shelter or pound as defined in section 162.2 that has been issued or renewed a valid authorization by the department under chapter 162.\nc. A person who relinquishes custody of a cat at a location in which the person does not hold a legal or equitable interest, if previously the person had taken custody of the cat at the same location and provided for the cat’s sterilization by a veterinarian.\n3. a. A person who commits animal abandonment that does not cause injury or death to an animal is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.\nb. A person who commits animal abandonment that causes injury other than serious injury or death to an animal is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.\nc. A person who commits animal abandonment that causes serious injury or death to an animal is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor.","path":["Title XVI - CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE (Ch. 687 - 916)","Chapter 717B - MISTREATMENT OF ANIMALS"],"source_url":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/2026/717B.8.pdf","current_through":"Iowa Code 2026 edition","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:40:18Z","sha256":"e734941dd68286517b27449c00bee277a8f62ccbf644b92037d8ea785d058fba","source_id":"us-ia","stale":false,"prev":"us-ia/iowa-code-717b.7","next":"us-ia/iowa-code-717b.9"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}