Animal Care Services

Animal Cruelty

Animal cruelty is not only wrong. It is a crime and against the law in the state of California! Animal abuse can also be part of a pattern of other violent acts within families and society. Abuse of any kind should be reported to Animal Care Services. If you witness or suspect animal cruelty, contact Animal Care Services immediately at 562-570-7387.

What constitutes animal cruelty? 

Animal cruelty occurs when someone intentionally injures or harms an animal or when a person willfully deprives an animal of food, water, or necessary medical care.

Depending on the severity of the violation, every person who maliciously, intentionally, or through neglect inflicts pain, injury, or suffering on an animal, is guilty of an offense. These offenses can range from an infraction punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250), nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the state prison, or by a fine of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment, or by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment; or felony, and is punishable by imprisonment in state prison for 16 months, or two or three years, or by a fine not to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

The following is a list of California Penal Code sections regulating animal cruelty.