Wyoming Statutes
Wyo. Stat. § 6-3-1005 (2026)
Felony cruelty to animals; penalty.
✓ current as of May 2026
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(a) Except as provided in W.S. 6-3-1004(c) and paragraph (a)(iii) of this section a person commits felony cruelty to animals if the person: (i) Commits cruelty to animals as defined in W.S. 6- 3-1002(a)(v) through (ix), that results in the death or required euthanasia of the animal; (ii) Knowingly, and with intent to cause death or undue suffering, beats with cruelty, tortures, torments or mutilates an animal; or (iii) Knowingly, and with intent to cause undue suffering, tortures, torments or mutilates living wildlife, including predatory animals and predacious birds, after reducing the living wildlife to possession. For purposes of this paragraph: (A) The immediate killing of living wildlife reduced to possession shall not be a violation of this paragraph; (B) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require an owner of a trap or snare to check the trap or snare before the time required in title 23 of the Wyoming statutes and rules promulgated by the game and fish commission. Wildlife discovered in a snare or trap shall be considered within the possession of the owner of the snare or trap upon discovery by the owner; (C) A first offense of cruelty to animals under this paragraph and W.S. 23-3-103(d) is a misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 6-3-1004(c). A second or subsequent offense under this paragraph or W.S. 23-3-103(d) is punishable as provided by subsections (b) and (c) of this section. (b) Felony cruelty to animals is a felony punishable by: (i) Permanent forfeiture of the animal or livestock animal; and (ii) Imprisonment for not more than two (2) years, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both. (c) Upon a conviction of a first or subsequent violation of paragraph (a)(iii) of this section and W.S. 23-3-103(d) and in addition to any penalty specified in subsection (b) of this section, the court may revoke any license issued under title 23 of the Wyoming statutes and suspend a person's privilege to purchase or receive any other license as specified in title 23 of the Wyoming statutes or to take any wildlife under W.S. 23-6- 206(a)(iii).