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NE - Cruelty - Article 10. Offenses Against Animals | Animal Legal & Historical Center
Full Statute Name: West's Revised Statutes of Nebraska Annotated. Chapter 28. Crimes and Punishments. Article 10. Offenses Against Animals
Primary Citation: Neb. Rev. St. § 28-1001 - 1020
Alternate Citation: NE ST § 28-1001 to 1020
Statute Text: Livestock Animal Welfare Act § 28-1001 . Repealed. Laws 1990, LB 50, § 13.
§ 28-1002 . Repealed. Laws 1990, LB 50, § 13.
§ 28-1003 . Transferred to section 28-1010.
§ 28-1004 . Terms, defined.
§ 28-1005 . Dogfighting, cockfighting, bearbaiting, or pitting an animal against another; prohibited acts; penalty.
§ 28-1005.01 . Ownership or possession of animal fighting paraphernalia; penalty
§ 28-1006 . Investigation; arrest; seizure of property; reimbursement of expenses
§ 28-1007 . Sections, how construed
§ 28-1008 . Terms, defined. § 28-1009 . Abandonment; cruel neglect; harassment of a police animal; penalty
§ 28-1009.01 . Violence on a service dog; interference with a service dog; penalty.
§ 28-1009.02 Repealed by Laws 2010, LB 865, § 17, eff. July 15, 2010
§ 28-1009.03 Repealed by Laws 2010, LB 865, § 17, eff. July 15, 2010
§ 28-1010 . Indecency with an animal; penalty.
§ 28-1011 . Violations; liability for expenses.
§ 28-1012 . Law enforcement officer; powers; immunity; seizure; court powers.
§ 28-1013 . Sections; exemptions
§ 28-1013.02 28-1013.01, 28-1013.02 Repealed by Laws 2010, LB 865, § 17, eff. July 15, 2010
§ 28-1014 . Local regulation; authorized.
§ 28-1015 . Ownership by child; applicability of penalties.
§ 28-1016 . Game and Parks Commission; Game Law; sections, how construed.
§ 28-1017 . Animal abandonment, cruel neglect, or cruel mistreatment; report required by certain employees; violation; penalty.
§ 28-1018 . Sale of puppy or kitten; prohibited acts; penalty.
§ 28-1019 Conviction; order prohibiting ownership, possession, or residing with animal; duration; violation; penalty; seizure of animal.
28-1020 . Animal abandonment, cruel neglect, or cruel mistreatment; report required by animal health care professional; immunity from liability
§ 28-1001. Repealed. Laws 1990, LB 50, § 13. § 28-1002. Repealed. Laws 1990, LB 50, § 13. § 28-1003. Transferred to section 28-1010. § 28-1004. Terms, defined. As used in this section and section 28-1005, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) Bearbaiting shall mean the pitting of any animal against a bear;
(2) Cockfighting shall mean the pitting of a fowl against another fowl;
(3) Dogfighting shall mean the pitting of a dog against another dog; and
(4) Pitting shall mean bringing animals together in combat.
Source: Laws 1988, LB 170, § 2.
§ 28-1005. Dogfighting, cockfighting, bearbaiting, or pitting an animal against another; prohibited acts; penalty. (1) No person shall knowingly:
(a) Promote, engage in, or be employed at dogfighting, cockfighting, bearbaiting, or pitting an animal against another;
(b) Receive money for the admission of another person to a place kept for such purpose;
(c) Own, use, train, sell, or possess an animal for such purpose; or
(d) Permit any act as described in this subsection to occur on any premises owned or controlled by him or her.
(2) Any person violating subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of a Class IV felony and shall also be subject to section 28-1019.
(3) No person shall knowingly and willingly be present at and witness as a spectator dogfighting, cockfighting, bearbaiting, or the pitting of an animal against another as prohibited in subsection (1) of this section. Any person who violates any provision of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class IV felony and shall also be subject to section 28-1019.
CreditsLaws 1988, LB 170, § 3; Laws 2003, LB 273, § 3; Laws 2013, LB 329, § 1, eff. Sept. 6, 2013.
28-1005.01. Ownership or possession of animal fighting paraphernalia; penalty (1) No person shall knowingly or intentionally own or possess animal fighting paraphernalia with the intent to commit a violation of section 28-1005.
(2)(a) For purposes of this section, except as provided in subdivision (b) of this subsection, animal fighting paraphernalia means equipment, products, and materials of any kind that are used, intended for use, or designed for use in the training, preparation, conditioning, or furtherance of the pitting of an animal against another as defined in section 28-1004. Animal fighting paraphernalia includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(i) A breaking stick, which means a device designed for insertion behind the molars of a dog for the purpose of breaking the dog's grip on another animal or object;
(ii) A cat mill, which means a device that rotates around a central support with one arm designed to secure a dog and one arm designed to secure a cat, rabbit, or other small animal beyond the grasp of the dog;
(iii) A treadmill, which means an exercise device consisting of an endless belt on which the animal walks or runs without changing place;
(iv) A fighting pit, which means a walled area designed to contain an animal fight;
(v) A springpole, which means a biting surface attached to a stretchable device, suspended at a height sufficient to prevent a dog from reaching the biting surface while touching the ground;
(vi) A heel, which means any edged or pointed instrument designed to be attached to the leg of a fowl;
(vii) A boxing glove or muff, which means a fitted protective covering for the spurs of a fowl; and
(viii) Any other instrument commonly used in the furtherance of pitting an animal against another.
(b) Animal fighting paraphernalia does not include equipment, products, or materials of any kind used by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine and surgery in this state.
(3) Any person violating subsection (1) of this section is guilty of a Class I misdemeanor and may also be subject to section 28-1019.
Laws 2010, LB 252, § 2, eff. July 15, 2010; Laws 2013, LB 329, § 2, eff. Sept. 6, 2013.
§ 28-1006. Investigation; arrest; seizure of property; reimbursement of expenses. (1) It shall be the duty of the sheriff, a police officer, or the Nebraska State Patrol to make prompt investigation of and arrest for any violation of section 28-1005 or 28-1005.01.
(2) Any animal, equipment, device, or other property or things involved in any violation of section 28-1005 or 28-1005.01 shall be subject to seizure, and disposition may be made in accordance with the method of disposition directed for contraband in sections 29-818 and 29-820.
(3) Any animal involved in any violation of section 28-1005 or 28-1005.01 shall be subject to seizure. Distribution or disposition shall be made as provided in section 29-818 and in such manner as the court may direct. The court may give preference to adoption alternatives through humane societies or comparable institutions and to the protection of such animal's welfare. For a humane society or comparable institution to be considered as an adoption alternative under this subsection, it must first be licensed by the Department of Agriculture as having passed the inspection requirements in the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act and paid the fee for inspection under the act. The court may prohibit an adopting or purchasing party from selling such animal for a period not to exceed one year.
Laws 1988, LB 170, § 4; Laws 1997, LB 551, § 1; Laws 2002, LB 82, § 5; Laws 2010, LB 252, § 3, eff. July 15, 2010; Laws 2010, LB 712, § 11, eff. July 15, 2010.
§ 28-1007. Sections, how construed. Sections 28-1004 to 28-1006 shall not be construed to amend or in any manner change the authority of the Game and Parks Commission under the Game Law, to prohibit any conduct authorized or permitted in the Game Law, or to prohibit the training of animals for any purpose not prohibited by law.
Laws 1988, LB 170, § 5; Laws 1998, LB 922, § 393; Laws 2010, LB 252, § 4, eff. July 15, 2010.
§ 28-1008. Terms, defined. For purposes of sections 28-1008 to 28-1017, 28-1019, and 28-1020:
(6) Law enforcement officer means any member of the Nebraska State Patrol, any county or deputy sheriff, any member of the police force of any city or village, or any other public official authorized by a city or village to enforce state or local animal control laws, rules, regulations, or ordinances. Law enforcement officer also includes any inspector under the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act to the extent that such inspector may exercise the authority of a law enforcement officer under section 28-1012 while in the course of performing inspection activities under the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act;
(8) Police animal means a horse or dog owned or controlled by the State of Nebraska or any county, city, or village for the purpose of assisting a law enforcement officer in the performance of his or her official enforcement duties;
(9) Repeated beating means intentional successive strikes to an animal by a person resulting in serious bodily injury or death to the animal;
(10) Serious injury or illness includes any injury or illness to any animal which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes broken bones, prolonged impairment of health, or prolonged loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ; and
(11) Torture means intentionally subjecting an animal to extreme pain, suffering, or agony. Torture does not include conduct performed by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine and surgery in this state or conduct that conforms to accepted veterinary practices.
Credits Laws 1990, LB 50, § 1; Laws 1995, LB 283, § 2; Laws 2003, LB 273, § 4; Laws 2006, LB 856, § 11; Laws 2007, LB 227, § 1; Laws 2008, LB 764, § 2, eff. July 18, 2008; Laws 2008, LB 1055, § 2, eff. April 22, 2008; Laws 2009, LB 494, § 1, eff. Aug. 30, 2009; Laws 2010, LB 865, § 13, eff. July 15, 2010; Laws 2012, LB 721, § 2, eff. July 19, 2012.
§ 28-1009. Abandonment; cruel neglect; harassment of a police animal; penalty. (1) A person who intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly abandons or cruelly neglects an animal is guilty of a Class I misdemeanor unless the abandonment or cruel neglect results in serious injury or illness or death of the animal, in which case it is a Class IV felony.
(2)(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b) of this subsection, a person who cruelly mistreats an animal is guilty of a Class I misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class IV felony for any subsequent offense.
(b) A person who cruelly mistreats an animal is guilty of a Class IV felony if such cruel mistreatment involves the knowing and intentional torture, repeated beating, or mutilation of the animal.
(4) A person convicted of a Class I misdemeanor under this section may also be subject to section 28-1019. A person convicted of a Class IV felony under this section shall also be subject to section 28-1019.
Laws 1990, LB 50, § 2; Laws 1995, LB 283, § 3; Laws 2002, LB 82, § 6; Laws 2003, LB 273, § 5; Laws 2007, LB 227, § 2; Laws 2013, LB 329, § 3, eff. Sept. 6, 2013; Laws 2014, LB 674, § 1, eff. July 18, 2014.
§ 28-1009.01. Violence on a service dog; interference with a service dog; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of violence on a service animal when he or she (a) intentionally injures, harasses, or threatens to injure or harass or (b) attempts to intentionally injure, harass, or threaten an animal that he or she knows or has reason to believe is a service animal for a blind or visually impaired person, a deaf or hearing-impaired person, or a physically limited person. (2) A person commits the offense of interference with a service animal when he or she (a) intentionally impedes, interferes, or threatens to impede or interfere or (b) attempts to intentionallyimpede, interfere, or threaten to impede or interfere with an animal that he or she knows or has reason to believe is a service animal for a blind or visually impaired person, a deaf or hearing-impaired person, or a physically limited person. (3) Evidence that the defendant initiated or continued conduct toward an animal as described in subsection (1) or (2) of this section after being requested to avoid or discontinue such conduct by the blind, visually impaired, deaf, hearing-impaired, or physically limited person being served or assisted by the animal shall create a rebuttable presumption that the conduct of the defendant was initiated or continued intentionally. (4) For purposes of this section: (a) Blind person means a person with totally impaired vision or with vision, with or without correction, which is so severely impaired that the primary means of receiving information is through other sensory input, including, but not limited to, braille, mechanical reproduction, synthesized speech, or readers; (b) Deaf person means a person with totally impaired hearing or with hearing, with or without amplification, which is so severely impaired that the primary means of receiving spoken language is through other sensory input, including, but not limited to, lip reading, sign language, finger spelling, or reading; (c) Hearing-impaired person means a person who is unable to hear air conduction thresholds at an average of forty decibels or greater in the person's better ear; (d) Physically limited person means a person having limited ambulatory abilities, including, but not limited to, having a permanent impairment or condition that requires the person to use a wheelchair or to walk with difficulty or insecurity to the extent that the person is insecure or exposed to danger; and (e) Visually impaired person means a person having a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the person's better eye with correction or having a limitation to the person's field of vision so that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angular distance not greater than twenty degrees. (5) Violence on a service animal or interference with a service animal is a Class III misdemeanor. Source: Laws 1997, LB 814, § 1; Laws 2008, LB806, § 11. Effective date July 18, 2008.
§ 28-1009.02, 28-1009.03. Repealed by Laws 2010, LB 865, § 17, eff. July 15, 2010 HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
The repealed sections, which related to prohibited acts against equine and bovine, respectively, were derived from Laws 2008, LB 764, §§ 3, 4.
28-1010. Indecency with an animal; penalty A person commits indecency with an animal when such person subjects an animal to sexual penetration as defined in section 28-318. Indecency with an animal is a Class III misdemeanor. A person convicted under this section may also be subject to section 28-1019.
Laws 1977, LB 38, § 216; Laws 1978, LB 748, § 16; Laws 1990, LB 50, § 3; Laws 2009, LB 97, § 16, eff. May 21, 2009; Laws 2013, LB 329, § 4, eff. Sept. 6, 2013.
28-1011. Violations; liability for expenses (1) In addition to any other sentence given for a violation of section 28-1009 or 28-1010, the sentencing court may order the defendant to reimburse a public or private agency for expenses incurred in conjunction with the care, impoundment, or disposal of an animal involved in the violation of such section. Whenever the court believes that such reimbursement may be a proper sentence or the prosecuting attorney requests, the court shall order that the presentence investigation report include documentation regarding the nature and amount of the expenses incurred. The court may order that reimbursement be made immediately, in specified installments, or within a specified period of time, not to exceed five years after the date of judgment.
(2) Even if reimbursement for expenses is not ordered under subsection (1) of this section, the defendant shall be liable for all expenses incurred by a public or private agency in conjunction with the care, impoundment, or disposal of an animal. The expenses shall be a lien upon the animal.
Laws 1990, LB 50, § 5; Laws 1997, LB 551, § 2.
28-1012. Law enforcement officer; powers; immunity; seizure; court powers (1) Any law enforcement officer who has reason to believe that an animal has been abandoned or is being cruelly neglected or cruelly mistreated may seek a warrant authorizing entry upon private property to inspect, care for, or impound the animal.
(2) Any law enforcement officer who has reason to believe that an animal has been abandoned or is being cruelly neglected or cruelly mistreated may issue a citation to the owner as prescribed in sections 29-422 to 29-429.
(3) Any animal, equipment, device, or other property or things involved in a violation of section 28-1009 or 28-1010 shall be subject to seizure and distribution or disposition shall be made under section 29-818 and in such manner as the court may direct.
(4) Any animal involved in a violation of section 28-1009 or 28-1010 shall be subject to seizure. Distribution or disposition shall be made under section 29-818 and in such manner as the court may direct. The court may consider adoption alternatives through humane societies or comparable institutions and the protection of such animal's welfare. For a humane society or comparable institution to be considered as an adoption alternative under this subsection, it must first be licensed by the Department of Agriculture as having passed the inspection requirements in the Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act and paid the fee for inspection under the act. The court may prohibit an adopting or purchasing party from selling such animal for a period not to exceed one year.
(5) Any law enforcement officer acting under this section shall not be liable for damage to property if such damage is not the result of the officer's negligence.
Laws 1990, LB 50, § 4; Laws 1997, LB 551, § 3; Laws 2002, LB 82, § 7; Laws 2010, LB 712, § 12, eff. July 15, 2010.
28-1013. Sections; exemptions Sections 28-1008 to 28-1017 and 28-1019 shall not apply to:
(1) Care or treatment of an animal or other conduct by a veterinarian or veterinary technician licensed under the Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act that occurs within the scope of his or her employment, that occurs while acting in his or her professional capacity, or that conforms to commonly accepted veterinary practices;
(5) Humane killing of an animal by the owner or by his or her agent or a veterinarian upon the owner's request;
(6) Use of reasonable force against an animal, other than a police animal, which is working, including killing, capture, or restraint, if the animal is outside the owned or rented property of its owner or custodian and is injuring or posing an immediate threat to any person or other animal;
(7) Killing of house or garden pests; and
(8) Commonly accepted animal training practices.
Laws 1990, LB 50, § 6; Laws 1995, LB 283, § 4; Laws 2003, LB 273, § 6; Laws 2007, LB 463, § 1127; Laws 2008, LB 764, § 5, eff. July 18, 2008; Laws 2008, LB 1055, § 4, eff. April 22, 2008; Laws 2009, LB 494, § 2, eff. Aug. 30, 2009; Laws 2010, LB 865, § 14, eff. July 15, 2010.
28-1013.01, 28-1013.02. Repealed by Laws 2010, LB 865, § 17, eff. July 15, 2010 HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
The repealed sections, which related to equine and bovine sanctioned entertainment activities, respectively, were derived from Laws 2008, LB 764, §§ 6, 7.
§ 28-1014. Local regulation; authorized. Any city, village, or county may adopt and promulgate rules, regulations, and ordinances which are not inconsistent with the provisions of sections 28- 1008 to 28-1017, 28-1019, and 28-1020 for the protection of the public, public health, and animals within its jurisdiction.
Laws 1990, LB 50, § 7; Laws 2003, LB 273, § 7; Laws 2008, LB 764, § 8, eff. July 18, 2008; Laws 2008, LB 1055, § 5, eff. April 22, 2008; Laws 2009, LB 494, § 3, eff. Aug. 30, 2009.
§ 28-1015. Ownership by child; applicability of penalties. When an animal is owned by a minor child, the parent of such minor child with whom the child resides or legal guardian with whom the child resides shall be subject to the penalties provided under sections 28-1008 to 28-1017, 28-1019, and 28-1020 if the animal is abandoned or cruelly neglected.
Laws 1990, LB 50, § 8; Laws 2003, LB 273, § 8; Laws 2008, LB 764, § 9, eff. July 18, 2008; Laws 2008, LB 1055, § 6, eff. April 22, 2008; Laws 2009, LB 494, § 4, eff. Aug. 30, 2009.
§ 28-1016. Game and Parks Commission; Game Law; sections, how construed. Nothing in sections 28-1008 to 28-1017, 28-1019, and 28-1020 shall be construed as amending or changing the authority of the Game and Parks Commission as established in the Game Law or to prohibit any conduct authorized or permitted by such law.
Laws 1990, LB 50, § 9; Laws 2003, LB 273, § 9; Laws 2008, LB 764, § 10, eff. July 18, 2008; Laws 2008, LB 1055, § 7, eff. April 22, 2008; Laws 2009, LB 494, § 5, eff. Aug. 30, 2009.
§ 28-1017. Animal abandonment, cruel neglect, or cruel mistreatment; report required by certain employees; violation; penalty. (1) For purposes of this section:
Laws 2003, LB 273, § 1; Laws 2009, LB 494, § 6, eff. Aug. 30, 2009.
§ 28-1018. Sale of puppy or kitten; prohibited acts; penalty. (1) A person, other than an animal control facility, animal rescue, or animal shelter, who sells a puppy or kitten under eight weeks of age without its mother is guilty of a Class V misdemeanor.
Laws 2003, LB 17, § 5; Laws 2006, LB 856, § 12; Laws 2010, LB 910, § 1, eff. July 15, 2010.
§ 28-1019 Conviction; order prohibiting ownership, possession, or residing with animal; duration; violation; penalty; seizure of animal. (1)(a) If a person is convicted of a Class IV felony under section 28-1005 or 28-1009, the sentencing court shall order such person not to own, possess, or reside with any animal for at least five years after the date of conviction, but such time restriction shall not exceed fifteen years. Any person violating such court order shall be guilty of a Class I misdemeanor.
(c) Any animal involved in a violation of a court order under subdivision (a) or (b) of this subsection shall be subject to seizure by law enforcement. Distribution or disposition shall be made under section 29-818.
Laws 2008, LB 1055, § 3, eff. April 22, 2008; Laws 2010, LB 252, § 5, eff. July 15, 2010; Laws 2010, LB 712, § 13, eff. July 15, 2010; Laws 2014, LB 674, § 2, eff. July 18, 2014.
28-1020. Animal abandonment, cruel neglect, or cruel mistreatment; report required by animal health care professional; immunity from liability (1) Any animal health care professional, while acting in his or her professional capacity or within the scope of his or her employment, who observes or is involved in an incident which leads the animal health care professional to reasonably suspect that an animal has been abandoned, cruelly neglected, or cruelly mistreated, shall report such treatment to an entity that investigates such reports in the appropriate jurisdiction. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose a duty to investigate observed or reasonably suspected abandonment, cruel neglect, or cruel mistreatment of an animal. Any person making a report under this section is immune from liability except for false statements of fact made with malicious intent. (3) For purposes of this section, an animal health care professional means a licensed veterinarian as defined in section 38-3310 or a licensed veterinary technician as defined in section 38-3311. Laws 2009, LB 494, § 7, eff. Aug. 30, 2009.