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A. A person commits cruelty to animals if he intentionally or knowingly:

1. Tortures or seriously overworks an animal; or

2. Fails to provide necessary food, care, or shelter for an animal in his custody; or

3. Abandons an animal in his custody; or

4. Transports or confines an animal in a cruel manner; or

5. Kills, injures or administers poison to an animal without legal privilege; or

6. Causes one animal to fight with another.

B. It is a defense to the prosecution under this section that the conduct of the actor towards the animal was by a licensed veterinarian using accepted veterinary practice or directly related to a bona fide experimentation for scientific research not be unnecessarily cruel unless directly necessary to the veterinary purpose or scientific research involved.

C. Cruelty to animals is a class B misdemeanor. (Code 1975 § 13-931)