Bill > SB5376

This bill amends several sections of Washington state law related to animal cruelty and animal welfare, with several key provisions. It expands and clarifies definitions of terms like "necessary food", "necessary shelter", and "necessary water" to provide more specific standards for animal care, including requirements for food quantity, water accessibility, shelter quality, and space for exercise. The bill introduces new provisions that make it illegal to willfully instigate or further acts of animal cruelty, and strengthens penalties for animal fighting offenses. It modifies the legal consequences for people convicted of animal cruelty, including expanding prohibited ownership of animals and increasing criminal penalties for repeat offenses. For example, animal fighting with intentional mutilation is now classified as a more serious felony offense, and violating a prohibition on owning animals after an animal cruelty conviction can now result in increasingly severe criminal charges - from a misdemeanor for a first violation to a class C felony for a third or subsequent violation. The bill also provides more detailed guidelines for law enforcement and animal control agencies when seizing animals in cases of potential neglect or abuse, including specific procedures for notification, care, and potential return of seized animals. These changes aim to enhance animal welfare protections and create more robust legal mechanisms for preventing and prosecuting animal cruelty.

Justice

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5376&Year=2025&Initiative=false