{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-525.130","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 525.130","heading":"Cruelty to animals in the second  degree -- Exemptions  -- Offense","body":"involving equines.\n(1) A person is guilty of cruelty to animals in the second degree when except as\nauthorized by law he intentionally or wantonly:\n(a) Subjects any animal to or causes cruel or injurious mistreatment through\nabandonment,  participates other than as provided in KRS  525.125 in\ncausing it to fight for pleasure or profit (including, but not limited to being a\nspectator or vendor at an event where a four (4) legged animal is caused\nto fight for pleasure or profit), mutilation, beating, torturing any animal\nother than a dog or cat, tormenting, failing to provide adequate food,\ndrink, space, or health care, or by any other means;\n(b) Subjects any animal in his custody to cruel neglect; or\n(c) Kills any animal other than a domestic animal killed by poisoning. This\nparagraph shall not apply to intentional poisoning of a dog or cat.\nIntentional poisoning of a dog or cat shall constitute a violation of this\nsection.\n(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to the killing of animals:\n(a) Pursuant to a license to hunt, fish, or trap;\n(b) Incident to the processing as food or for other commercial purposes;\n(c) For humane purposes;\n(d) For veterinary, agricultural, spaying or neutering, or cosmetic purposes;\n(e) For purposes relating to sporting activities, including but not limited to\nhorse  racing at organized races and  training for organized races,\norganized horse shows, or other animal shows;\n(f) For bona fide animal research activities of institutions of higher education;\nor a business entity registered with the United States Department of\nAgriculture under the Animal Welfare Act or subject to other federal laws\ngoverning animal research;\n(g) In defense of self or another person against an aggressive or diseased\nanimal;\n(h) In defense of a domestic animal against an aggressive or diseased\nanimal;\n(i) For animal or pest control; or\n(j) For any other purpose authorized by law.\n(3) Activities of animals engaged in hunting, field trials, dog training other than\ntraining a dog to fight for pleasure or profit, and other activities authorized\neither by a hunting license or by the Department of Fish and Wildlife shall not\nconstitute a violation of this section.\n(4) Cruelty to animals in the second degree is a Class A misdemeanor.\n(5) If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to an offense under subsection (1) of\nthis section arising from the person's treatment of an equine, the court may\nimpose one (1) or both of the following penalties against the person, in addition\nto fines and imprisonment:\n(a) An  order that the person pay restitution for damage  to the property of\nothers and for costs incurred by others, including reasonable costs, as\ndetermined by agreement or by the court after a hearing, incurred in\nfeeding, sheltering, veterinary treatment, and  incidental care of any\nequine that was the subject of the offense resulting in conviction; or\n(b) An  order terminating or imposing conditions on the person's right to\npossession, title, custody, or care of any equine that was the subject of\nthe offense resulting in conviction.\nIf a person's ownership interest in an equine is terminated by a judicial order\nunder  paragraph (b) of this subsection, the court may  order the sale,\nconveyance, or other disposition of the equine that was the subject of the\noffense resulting in conviction.","path":["KRS Chapter 525"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=46728","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T21:00:04Z","sha256":"3942453eede4e3a259588bc3f0a5537ac6441cdd10f3f533a1e87eb495509832","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-525.125","next":"us-ky/krs-525.135"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}