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Ind. Code § 35-46-3-11

Cruelty to a law enforcement animal

Applied in 1 court decision — leading case Royce Love v. State of Indiana (2016)

Most recently applied in Royce Love v. State of Indiana (September 2016)

As added by P.L.193-1987, SEC.14

Sec. 11. (a) A person who knowingly or intentionally:

(1) strikes, torments, injures, or otherwise mistreats a law enforcement animal; or

(2) interferes with the actions of a law enforcement animal while the animal is engaged in assisting a law enforcement officer in the performance of the officer's duties;

commits a Class A misdemeanor.

(b) An offense under subsection (a)(1) is a Level 6 felony if the act results in:

(1) serious permanent disfigurement;

(2) unconsciousness;

(3) permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ; or

(4) death;

of the law enforcement animal.

(c) It is a defense that the accused person:

(1) engaged in a reasonable act of training, handling, or discipline; and

(2) acted as an employee or agent of a law enforcement agency.

(d) In addition to any sentence or fine imposed for a conviction of an offense under this section, the court:

(1) may order the person convicted to make restitution to the person or law enforcement agency owning the animal for reimbursement of veterinary bills; and

(2) shall order the person convicted to make restitution to the person or law enforcement agency owning the animal for reimbursement of the cost of replacing the animal, which may include the cost of training the animal, if the animal is permanently disabled or killed.

Official source: Indiana General Assembly. Reproduced from public-domain Indiana statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.