Animal Cruelty Felony Threshold by State

Federal & State Law Editorial TeamLast reviewed: April 2026

Whether the state charges a first-offense aggravated animal cruelty as a felony, the typical sentencing range, and whether pet-protective orders or ownership bans pass through to convicted abusers.

50 States2 data columnsLast updated: May 2026

Click any column header to sort ascending or descending. Click again to reverse, and a third time to reset.

First Offense Felony	Sentence Range	Pet Protective Order
Yes	1-10 years	Yes
No	Misdemeanor first	Yes
Yes	1-3.75 years	Yes
No	Up to 1 year	Yes
Yes	16 mo-3 years	Yes
Yes	1-3 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes
Yes	1-5 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes
No	Misdemeanor first	No
Yes	1-3 years	Yes
Yes	6 mo-2.5 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes
No	Misdemeanor first	Yes
No	Misdemeanor first	Yes
Yes	1-10 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 3 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 7 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 4 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 2 years	Yes
No	Misdemeanor first	Yes
Yes	Up to 4 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 2 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes
Yes	1-4 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 7 years	Yes
Yes	3-5 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 18 months	Yes
Yes	Up to 2 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 8 months	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 12 months	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 7 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes
Yes	180 days-5 yr	Yes
Yes	Up to 2 years	Yes
Yes	1-6 years	Yes
Yes	180 days-2 yr	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes
Yes	1-5 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 3.5 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 2 years	Yes
Yes	Up to 5 years	Yes

The federal PACT Act (18 USC §48) criminalizes interstate animal crushing/torture but most prosecution remains state-level. All 50 states now have at least one felony animal cruelty provision (South Dakota was the last in 2014). The FBI tracks animal cruelty as a Group A offense in its National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.