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So what is Animal Cruelty in the District of Columbia. Animal Cruelty in the District of Columbia is defined as a any person that tortures, torments, deprives of food and water, cruelly chains, cruelly beats or mutilates, any animal, while that person has custody of the animal. The DC Code explicitly defines the Cruelly chaining an animal as that anything that attaches to an animal to a stationary object. This includes devices such as chain, rope, tether, leash, cable, or similar restraint under circumstances that may endanger its health, safety, or well-being of the animal. The rope, chain, leash, cable etc can not:
Animal Cruelty is a misdemeanor unless there is a “serious bodily injury” of the animal. Serious bodily injury is defined for purposes of animal cruelty as injury that involves a substantial risk of death, unconsciousness, extreme physical pain, protracted and obvious disfigurement, mutilation, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a body part or organ. It includes but not limited to broken bones, burns, internal injuries, severe malnutrition, severe lacerations or abrasions, and injuries resulting from untreated medical conditions.
You are still responsible even if you are just watching your friend’s animal because the law in DC states “having the charge or custody of any animal.” It does not require that you are the owner of the animal; and therefore even if just animal sitting you can still be charged if there is a violation.
The Court may
If you are charged with Animal Cruelty you need to hire an experienced Criminal Lawyer in Washington, DC Animal Cruelty is a serious charge in Washington, DC because the citizens of Washington, DC love their pets and so you need an effective advocate that resolve your matter with best possible resolution.