BILL REQ. #:  S-0423.2 

Read first time 01/15/2007.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to animal abandonment; amending RCW 16.52.207 and 16.52.011; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 16.52.207 and 2005 c 481 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A person is guilty of animal cruelty in the second degree if, under circumstances not amounting to first degree animal cruelty, the person knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence inflicts unnecessary suffering or pain upon an animal.
     (2) An owner of an animal is guilty of animal cruelty in the second degree if, under circumstances not amounting to first degree animal cruelty, the owner knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence:
     (a) Fails to provide the animal with necessary shelter, rest, sanitation, space, or medical attention and the animal suffers unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain as a result of the failure; or
     (b) Abandons the animal as defined in RCW 16.52.011.
     (3)(a) Animal cruelty in the second degree under subsection (1) or (2)(a) of this section is a misdemeanor.
     (b) Animal cruelty in the second degree under subsection (2)(b) of this section is a gross misdemeanor.
     (4) In any prosecution of animal cruelty in the second degree under subsection (1) or (2)(a) of this section, it shall be an affirmative defense, if established by the defendant by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant's failure was due to economic distress beyond the defendant's control.

Sec. 2   RCW 16.52.011 and 1994 c 261 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Principles of liability as defined in chapter 9A.08 RCW apply to this chapter.
     (2) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
     (a) "Abandons" means the knowing, reckless, or with criminal negligence desertion of an animal by its owner or the causing of the animal to be deserted by its owner, in any place, without making provisions for the animal's adequate care.
     (b) "Animal" means any nonhuman mammal, bird, reptile, or amphibian.
     (((b))) (c) "Animal care and control agency" means any city or county animal control agency or authority authorized to enforce city or county municipal ordinances regulating the care, control, licensing, or treatment of animals within the city or county, and any corporation organized under RCW 16.52.020 that contracts with a city or county to enforce the city or county ordinances governing animal care and control.
     (((c))) (d) "Animal control officer" means any individual employed, contracted, or appointed pursuant to RCW 16.52.025 by an animal care and control agency or humane society to aid in the enforcement of ordinances or laws regulating the care and control of animals. For purposes of this chapter, the term "animal control officer" shall be interpreted to include "humane officer" as defined in (((e))) (f) of this subsection and RCW 16.52.025.
     (((d))) (e) "Euthanasia" means the humane destruction of an animal accomplished by a method that involves instantaneous unconsciousness and immediate death, or by a method that causes painless loss of consciousness, and death during the loss of consciousness.
     (((e))) (f) "Humane officer" means any individual employed, contracted, or appointed by an animal care and control agency or humane society as authorized under RCW 16.52.025.
     (((f))) (g) "Law enforcement agency" means a general authority Washington law enforcement agency as defined in RCW 10.93.020.
     (((g))) (h) "Necessary food" means the provision at suitable intervals of wholesome foodstuff suitable for the animal's age and species and sufficient to provide a reasonable level of nutrition for the animal.
     (((h))) (i) "Owner" means a person who has a right, claim, title, legal share, or right of possession to an animal or a person having lawful control, custody, or possession of an animal.
     (((i))) (j) "Person" means individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, or other legal entities, and agents of those entities.
     (((j))) (k) "Substantial bodily harm" means substantial bodily harm as defined in RCW 9A.04.110.