This report summarizes Connecticut's primary animal cruelty statute (CGS § 53-247) and the outcome of offenses brought under it from 2002 to 2012. It updates the information contained in OLR Report 2011-R-0405.

SUMMARY

CGS § 53-247 punishes people convicted of specified animal cruelty acts, with maximum fines ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, imprisonment ranging from maximum sentences of one to 10 years, or both. From 2002 to 2012, 3,699 offenses were brought under this statute. Of those offenses, 594 (16%) were found guilty, 7 (0.2%) were found not guilty, 1,210 (33%) were dismissed, and 1,883 (51%) were nolled (i.e., the prosecutor decided not to prosecute).

These statistics are based on offenses disposed of by the courts. It does not represent the number of persons charged. An individual could be charged with multiple offenses or have multiple cases during a year.

ANIMAL CRUELTY STATUTE (CGS § 53-247)

Connecticut law defines “animals” as all brute creatures and birds (CGS § 29-108a). CGS § 53-247 prohibits many abusive behaviors toward animals and provides different penalties based on the severity of abuse and the abuser's intent.

Cruelty to Animals

CGS § 53-247(a), as amended by PA 12-86, prohibits people from overdriving, overloading, overworking, torturing, depriving of substance, mutilating, cruelly beating or killing, or unjustifiably injuring any animal. If impounding or confining an animal, it prohibits (1) failing to provide it proper care; (2) neglecting to cage or restrain it from injuring itself or another animal; or (3) failing to supply it with wholesome air, food, and water. The statute also bans unjustifiably administering or exposing a domestic animal to any poisonous or noxious drug or substance intending that the animal will take it. Individuals in custody of an animal may not act cruelly to it; fail to provide it with proper food, drink, or shelter; abandon it; or carry or cause it to be carried in a cruel manner. Fighting with or baiting, harassing, or worrying an animal to make it perform for amusement, diversion, or exhibition is also prohibited. A first offense is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both. Each subsequent offense is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.

Under CGS § 53-247(b), maliciously and intentionally maiming, mutilating, torturing, wounding, or killing an animal is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, up to five years imprisonment, or both. This offense does not apply to (1) licensed veterinarians following accepted practice standards; (2) persons following approved slaughter methods; (3) students, employees, or persons performing medical research and associated with a hospital, educational institution, or laboratory; and (4) persons abiding by generally accepted agricultural practices or lawfully engaged in taking wildlife.

Animals Engaged in Exhibition of Fighting

Under CGS § 53-247(c), the following actions are also punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, up to five years imprisonment, or both: knowingly

1. owning, possessing, keeping, or training an animal engaged in fighting for amusement or gain;

2. possessing, keeping, or training an animal to engage in a fighting exhibition for amusement or gain;

3. allowing such acts to occur on premises under one's control;

4. acting as a judge or spectator at such an exhibition; or

5. betting or wagering on the outcome of an exhibition.

Intentionally Injuring or Killing Police Animals or Dogs in Volunteer Canine Service and Rescue Teams

Under CGS § 53-247(d), intentionally injuring an animal performing its duties under a peace officer's supervision or intentionally injuring a dog performing its duties as a member of a volunteer canine search and rescue team, is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, up to five years imprisonment, or both.

And under CGS § 53-247(e), intentionally killing such an animal is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000, up to 10 years imprisonment, or both.

OUTCOME OF ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES

The following tables summarize Judicial Department data on animal cruelty offenses from 2002 to 2012.

Table 1 shows the procedural outcome of animal cruelty offenses, by year. As the table shows, during this period 51% of the offenses were nolled, 33% were dismissed, and 16% resulted in guilty findings.

Table 1: Procedural Outcome of Animal Cruelty Offenses, 2002 – 2012

Table 2 shows the number of animal cruelty offenses by statute and year. Ninety-eight percent of the offenses were violations of the statutory subsection prohibiting people from using or treating animals in harmful ways (CGS § 53-247(a)). (The other subsections penalize people for intentionally, knowingly, or maliciously abusing animals in specific ways.)

Table 2: Animal Cruelty Offenses by Statute, 2002 to 2012

Attachments one through 11 show the outcomes of each statutory category of animal cruelty offenses for 2002 to 2012, respectively.

Attachment 1: 2002 Procedural Outcomes of Animal Cruelty Offenses

Attachment 2: 2003 Procedural Outcomes of Animal Cruelty Offenses

Attachment 3: 2004 Procedural Outcomes of Animal Cruelty Offenses

Attachment 4: 2005 Procedural Outcomes of Animal Cruelty Offenses

Attachment 5: 2006 Procedural Outcomes of Animal Cruelty Offenses

Attachment 6: 2007 Procedural Outcomes of Animal Cruelty Offenses

Attachment 7: 2008 Procedural Outcomes of Animal Cruelty Offenses

Attachment 8: 2009 Procedural Outcomes of Animal Cruelty Offenses

Attachment 9: 2010 Procedural Outcomes of Animal Cruelty Offenses

Attachment 10: 2011 Procedural Outcomes of Animal Cruelty Offenses

Attachment 11: 2012 Procedural Outcomes of Animal Cruelty Offenses

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