STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 54th Legislature (2014)

HOUSE BILL 2613	By:	Martin (Steve)

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to crimes and punishments; amending 21 O.S. 2011, Section 1685, which relates to cruelty to animals; providing that certain acts are not prohibited; providing that certain acts are not required; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     21 O.S. 2011, Section 1685, is amended to read as follows:
Section 1685.  A.  Any person who shall willfully or maliciously torture, destroy or kill, or cruelly beat or injure, maim or mutilate any animal in subjugation or captivity, whether wild or tame, and whether belonging to the person or to another, or deprive any such animal of necessary food, drink, shelter, or veterinary care to prevent suffering; or who shall cause, procure or permit any such animal to be so tortured, destroyed or killed, or cruelly beaten or injured, maimed or mutilated, or deprived of necessary food, drink, shelter, or veterinary care to prevent suffering; or who shall willfully set on foot, instigate, engage in, or in any way further any act of cruelty to any animal, or any act tending to produce such cruelty, shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary custody of the Department of Corrections not exceeding five (5) years, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one (1) year, or by a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00).  Any animal so maltreated or abused shall be considered an abused or neglected animal.
B.  Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as prohibiting any owner of an animal, or person who has effective consent of the owner, from humanely destroying or causing to be humanely destroyed said animal by use of a firearm.
C.  Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as requiring the owner of an animal, or a person having effective consent of the owner, to seek veterinary care prior to humanely destroying said animal pursuant to subsection B of this section.
D.  Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as requiring the owner of an animal, or a person having the effective consent of the owner, to seek a new owner, caregiver or animal shelter for the animal prior to humanely destroying said animal pursuant to subsection B of this section.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2014.

54-2-9742	AMM	01/15/14