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Brief Overview of Cruelty Laws, Generally

Overview of Texas Animal Cruelty Laws, by Gianna M. Ravenscroft, Animal Legal & Historical Center, 2002.  This overview of Texas animal cruelty laws summarizes the currently enacted laws, addresses the unique aspects of Texas cruelty laws, mentions current controversies, and introduces the new laws dealing with dangerous wild animals.

New! - U.S. Map of State Cruelty Laws

Table of State Anti-Cruelty Statutes (for a list of the complete statutes related to anti-cruelty, find your state and click on your state's "consolidated cruelty statutes")

State Animal Anti-Cruelty Statutes:  An Overview, by Pamela D. Frasch; Stephan K. Otto; Kristen M. Olsen; Paul A. Ernest.  5 ANIMALL 69 (1999).  A summary and legislative reference of state animal cruelty laws throughout the United States as of 1999.  Extensive exploration of the similarities and differences between these statutes, combined with detailed statutory citations, enables this article to serve as a useful resource for research and statistical purposes.

Baby Steps:  Minnesota Raises Certain Forms of Animal Cruelty to Felony Status, by Corwin R. Kruse, 28 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 1649 (2002).  This note begins by tracing the development of anti-cruelty statutes over the last two centuries.  The recent changes to Minnesota's anti-cruelty statute are analyzed with proposed future modifications. Finally, the article examines current scholarship on animal abuse, discusses why the issue has typically been ignored by society, and poses challenges for the future.

Detailed Discussion of Michigan Anti-animal Cruelty Law, by Sarah J. Williams, Animal Legal & Historical Center, 2002.  This article details Michigan's animal anti-cruelty law.  Included in the discussion is an examination of the intentional infliction of pain and suffering law, the duty to provide care law, the animal anti-fighting provision, among other topics. 

Detailed Discussion of Texas Animal Cruelty Laws, by Gianna M. Ravenscroft, Animal Legal & Historical Center, 2002, This article provides an in-depth look at the intricacies of Texas animal cruelty laws.  Both the criminal and civil statutes are discussed, as is relevant case law. Additionally, this article introduces a new Texas law governing the keeping of dangerous wild animals.

For a Historical Perspective:

The Development of the Anti-Cruelty Laws During the 1800's.  David Favre & Vivien Tsang, 1 Detroit College of Law 1 (1993).  This article explains how the laws which deal with protection of animals from inappropriate human acts developed during the 1800's. The key focus is on Henry Bergh's efforts in the adoption of the 1867 New York Act.

Topic Area on International Comparative Animal Cruelty Laws, Paige M. Tomaselli.  Animal Legal & Historical Center, 2003.  A detailed analysis of the differences and similarities between US, European Union, Swiss, Norwegian and German animal cruelty laws. The theories behind these differences are explored as well as possible future reforms. 

Cropping and Docking: A Discussion of the Controversy and the Role of Law in Preventing Unnecessary Cosmetic Surgery on Dogs, by Amy Broughton, Animal Legal & Historical Center, 2003.  This article describes the procedures of tail docking and ear cropping, the history of the procedures, their place in modern veterinary care, and discusses the positions of advocates both for, and against these procedures.  Additionally, this article explains the ways in which the law is being used in the U.S. and internationally in preventing these unnecessary procedures.