Bill > HB2997

This bill amends Arizona law to redefine and reclassify animal abuse and neglect, introducing new categories like "animal abuse in the second degree" and "animal neglect in the first degree," and establishing specific penalties for various offenses, including aggravated animal abuse which is a felony. It also introduces new provisions that criminalize specific forms of animal mistreatment, such as tethering a dog in dangerous weather conditions or for excessive periods, and placing a dog in an inadequately sized or hazardous crate. Furthermore, the bill clarifies what constitutes "animal" to include fish and expands the definition of "cruel neglect" to encompass failure to provide adequate shelter for dogs, especially those primarily living outdoors. It also modifies existing laws regarding individuals convicted of animal cruelty, adjusting the duration of prohibitions on owning or possessing animals and outlining procedures for the restoration of these rights, while also repealing a previous version of the law concerning unlawful animal ownership.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/85510