Full Statute Name:  West's Kansas Statutes Annotated. Chapter 21. Crimes and Punishments. Article 64. Crimes Against the Public Morals

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Primary Citation:  K. S. A. 21-6411 - 6418; 21-5504; 60-5401 Country of Origin:  United States Last Checked:  October, 2023 Alternate Citation:  KS ST 21-6411 - 6418; 21-5504; 60-5401 Date Adopted:  1977 Historical: 
Summary: The Kansas anti-cruelty statutes define cruelty to animals as knowingly killing, injuring, maiming, torturing, burning or mutilating any animal. Also included as cruelty are abandoning any animal, failing to provide food, horse-tripping, and poisoning any domestic animal, unlawful disposition of animals, dog and cock-fighting. Cruelty to animals may be a misdemeanor or a felony. Exceptions are made for such things as veterinary practices, research experiments, rodeo and farming practices, euthanasia, and pest control. It is also illegal to allow a dangerous animal to run at large or to engage in sodomy with an animal.

Article 64. Crimes Against the Public Morals

21-6411 . Unlawful acts concerning animals; definitions

21-6412 . Cruelty to animals

21-6413 . Unlawful disposition of animals

21-6414 . Unlawful conduct of dog fighting; unlawful possession of dog fighting paraphernalia

21-6415 . Illegal ownership or keeping of an animal

21-6416 . Harming or killing certain dogs

21-6417 . Unlawful conduct of cockfighting; unlawful possession of cockfighting paraphernalia; unlawful attendance of cockfighting

21-6418 . Permitting a dangerous animal to be at large

Article 54. Immunity from Liability

60-5401. Immunity for damage to motor vehicle

Article 55. Sex Offenses.

21-5504 . Criminal sodomy; aggravated criminal sodomy

 

 

Article 64. Crimes Against the Public Morals

21-6411. Unlawful acts concerning animals; definitions

As used in K.S.A. 21-6412 through 21-6417, and amendments thereto:

(a) “Animal” means every living vertebrate except a human being;

(b) “farm animal” means an animal raised on a farm or ranch and used or intended for use as food or fiber;

(c) “retailer” means a person regularly engaged in the business of selling tangible personal property, services or entertainment for use or consumption and not for resale;

(d) “wild animal” means a living mammal or marsupial which is normally found in the wild state, but shall not include a farm animal; and

(e) “domestic pet” means any domesticated animal which is kept for pleasure rather than utility.

CREDIT(S)

Laws 2010, ch. 136, § 222, eff. July 1, 2011.


 

21-6412. Cruelty to animals

(a) Cruelty to animals is:

(1) Knowingly and maliciously killing, injuring, maiming, torturing, burning or mutilating any animal;

(2) knowingly abandoning any animal in any place without making provisions for its proper care;

(3) having physical custody of any animal and knowingly failing to provide such food, potable water, protection from the elements, opportunity for exercise and other care as is needed for the health or well-being of such kind of animal;

(4) intentionally using a wire, pole, stick, rope or any other object to cause an equine to lose its balance or fall, for the purpose of sport or entertainment;

(5) knowingly but not maliciously killing or injuring any animal; or

(6) knowingly and maliciously administering any poison to any domestic animal.

(b) Cruelty to animals as defined in:

(1) Subsection (a)(1) or (a)(6) is a nonperson felony. Upon conviction of subsection (a)(1) or (a)(6), a person shall be sentenced to not less than 30 days or more than one year's imprisonment and be fined not less than $500 nor more than $5,000. The person convicted shall not be eligible for release on probation, suspension or reduction of sentence or parole until the person has served the minimum mandatory sentence as provided herein. During the mandatory 30 days imprisonment, such offender shall have a psychological evaluation prepared for the court to assist the court in determining conditions of probation. Such conditions shall include, but not be limited to, the completion of an anger management program; and

(2) subsection (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4) or (a)(5) is a:

(A) Class A nonperson misdemeanor, except as provided in subsection (b)(2)(B); and

(B) nonperson felony upon the second or subsequent conviction of cruelty to animals as defined in subsection (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4) or (a)(5). Upon such conviction, a person shall be sentenced to not less than five days or more than one year's imprisonment and be fined not less than $500 nor more than $2,500. The person convicted shall not be eligible for release on probation, suspension or reduction of sentence or parole until the person has served the minimum mandatory sentence as provided herein.

(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

(1) Normal or accepted veterinary practices;

(2) bona fide experiments carried on by commonly recognized research facilities;

(3) killing, attempting to kill, trapping, catching or taking of any animal in accordance with the provisions of chapter 32 or chapter 47 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto;

(4) rodeo practices accepted by the rodeo cowboys' association;

(5) the humane killing of an animal that is diseased or disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose, or the humane killing of animals for population control, by the owner thereof or the agent of such owner residing outside of a city or the owner thereof within a city if no animal shelter or licensed veterinarian is within the city, or by a licensed veterinarian at the request of the owner thereof, or by any officer or agent of an animal shelter, a local or state health officer or a licensed veterinarian three business days following the receipt of any such animal at such shelter;

(6) with respect to farm animals, normal or accepted practices of animal husbandry, including the normal and accepted practices for the slaughter of such animals for food or by-products and the careful or thrifty management of one's herd or animals, including animal care practices common in the industry or region;

(7) the killing of any animal by any person at any time that may be found outside of the owned or rented property of the owner or custodian of such animal and that is found injuring or posing a threat to any person, farm animal or property;

(8) an animal control officer trained by a licensed veterinarian in the use of a tranquilizer gun, using such gun with the appropriate dosage for the size of the animal, when such animal is vicious or could not be captured after reasonable attempts using other methods;

(9) laying an equine down for medical or identification purposes;

(10) normal or accepted practices of pest control, as defined in K.S.A. 2-2438a(x), and amendments thereto; or

(11) accepted practices of animal husbandry pursuant to regulations promulgated by the United States department of agriculture for domestic pet animals under the animal welfare act, public law 89-544, as amended and in effect on July 1, 2006.

(d) The provisions of subsection (a)(6) shall not apply to any person exposing poison upon their premises for the purpose of destroying wolves, coyotes or other predatory animals.

(e) Any public health officer, law enforcement officer, licensed veterinarian or officer or agent of any animal shelter or other appropriate facility may take into custody any animal, upon either private or public property, that clearly shows evidence of cruelty to animals. Such officer, agent or veterinarian may inspect, care for or treat such animal or place such animal in the care of an animal shelter or licensed veterinarian for treatment, boarding or other care or, if an officer of such animal shelter or such veterinarian determines that the animal appears to be diseased or disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose, for humane killing. The owner or custodian, if known or reasonably ascertainable, shall be notified in writing. If the owner or custodian is charged with a violation of this section, the law enforcement agency, district attorney's office, county prosecutor, veterinarian or animal shelter may petition the district court in the county in which the animal was taken into custody to transfer ownership of the animal at any time after 21 days after the owner or custodian is notified, unless the owner or custodian of the animal files and maintains a renewable cash or performance bond with the county clerk of the county in which the animal was taken into custody in an amount equal to not less than the cost of care and treatment of the animal for 30 days. Such cash or performance bond shall be maintained and renewed every 30 days as necessary to cover the cost of care and treatment of such animal until disposition of the animal by the court. If the owner or custodian is not known or reasonably ascertainable after 21 days after the animal is taken into custody, the law enforcement agency, district attorney's office, county prosecutor, veterinarian or animal shelter may petition the district court in the county in which the animal was taken into custody to transfer ownership of the animal. Upon receiving such petition, the court shall determine whether the animal may be transferred.

(f) The owner or custodian of an animal transferred pursuant to subsection (e) shall not be entitled to recover damages for the transfer of such animal unless the owner proves that such transfer was unwarranted.

(g) Expenses incurred for the care, treatment or boarding of any animal, taken into custody pursuant to subsection (e), pending prosecution of the owner or custodian of such animal for the crime of cruelty to animals, shall be assessed to the owner or custodian as a cost of the case if the owner or custodian is adjudicated guilty of such crime. Any costs collected by the court or through the cash or performance bond described in subsection (e) shall be transferred to the entity responsible for paying the cost of the care, treatment or boarding of the animal.

(h) If a person is adjudicated guilty of the crime of cruelty to animals, such animal shall not be returned to or remain with such person. Such animal may be turned over to an animal shelter or licensed veterinarian for sale or other disposition.

(i) As used in this section:

(1) “Animal shelter” means the same as such term is defined in K.S.A. 47-1701, and amendments thereto;

(2) “equine” means a horse, pony, mule, jenny, donkey or hinny; and

(3) “maliciously” means a state of mind characterized by actual evil-mindedness or specific intent to do a harmful act without a reasonable justification or excuse.

Credits

Laws 2010, ch. 136, § 223, eff. July 1, 2011; Laws 2011, ch. 30, § 58, eff. July 1, 2011; Laws 2012, ch. 150, § 27, eff. July 1, 2012; Laws 2017, ch. 62, § 5, eff. July 1, 2017; Laws 2019, ch. 58, § 5, eff. July 1, 2019.

 

21-6413. Unlawful disposition of animals

(a) Unlawful disposition of animals is knowingly raffling or giving as a prize or premium living rabbits or chickens, ducklings or goslings.

(b) Unlawful disposition of animals is a class C misdemeanor.

(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a person giving such animals to minors for use in agricultural projects under the supervision of commonly recognized youth farm organizations.

Credits

Laws 2010, ch. 136, § 224, eff. July 1, 2011; Laws 2012, ch. 150, § 28, eff. July 1, 2012.

 

21-6414. Unlawful conduct of dog fighting; unlawful possession of dog fighting paraphernalia

(a) Unlawful conduct of dog fighting is:

(1) Causing, for amusement or gain, any dog to fight with or injure another dog, with no requirement of culpable mental state;

(2) knowingly permitting such fighting or injuring on premises under one's ownership, charge or control; or

(3) training, owning, keeping, transporting or selling any dog with the intent of having it fight with or injure another dog.

(b) Unlawful possession of dog fighting paraphernalia is possession, with the intent to use in the unlawful conduct of dog fighting, any breaking stick, treadmill, wheel, hot walker, cat mill, cat walker, jenni, or other paraphernalia.

(c) Unlawful attendance of dog fighting is, entering or remaining on the premises where the unlawful conduct of dog fighting is occurring, whether the person knows or has reason to know that dog fighting is occurring on the premises.

(d)(1) Unlawful conduct of dog fighting is a severity level 10, nonperson felony.

(2) Unlawful possession of dog fighting paraphernalia is a class A nonperson misdemeanor.

(3) Unlawful attendance of dog fighting is a class B nonperson misdemeanor.

(e) When a person is arrested under this section, a law enforcement agency may take into custody any dog on the premises where the dog fight is alleged to have occurred and any dog owned or kept on the premises of any person arrested for unlawful conduct of dog fighting, unlawful attendance of dog fighting or unlawful possession of dog fighting paraphernalia.

(f) When a law enforcement agency takes custody of a dog under this section, such agency may place the dog in the care of an animal shelter or licensed veterinarian for boarding, treatment or other care. If it appears to a licensed veterinarian that the dog is diseased or disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose, such dog may be humanely killed. The dog may be sedated, isolated or restrained if such officer, agent or veterinarian determines it to be in the best interest of the dog, other animals at the animal shelter or personnel of the animal shelter. The law enforcement agency, district attorney's office, county prosecutor, veterinarian or animal shelter may petition the district court in the county in which the animal was taken into custody to be allowed to transfer ownership of the dog at any time after 21 days after the dog is taken into custody, unless the owner or custodian of the dog files a renewable cash or performance bond with the county clerk of the county where the dog is being held, in an amount equal to not less than the cost of care and treatment of the dog for 30 days. Upon receiving such petition, the court shall determine whether the dog may be transferred. Except as provided in subsection (g), if it appears to the licensed veterinarian by physical examination that the dog has not been trained for aggressive conduct or is a type of dog that is not commonly bred or trained for aggressive conduct, the district or county attorney shall order that the dog be returned to its owner when the dog is not needed as evidence in a case filed under this section or K.S.A. 21-6412, and amendments thereto. The owner or keeper of a dog transferred under this subsection shall not be entitled to damages unless the owner or keeper proves that such transfer was unwarranted.

(g) If a person is convicted of unlawful conduct of dog fighting, unlawful attendance of dog fighting or unlawful possession of dog fighting paraphernalia, a dog taken into custody pursuant to subsection (e) shall not be returned to such person and the court shall order the owner or keeper to pay to the animal shelter or licensed veterinarian all expenses incurred for the care, treatment and boarding of such dog, including any damages caused by such dog, prior to conviction of the owner or keeper. Disposition of such dog shall be in accordance with K.S.A. 21-6412, and amendments thereto. If no such conviction results, the dog shall be returned to the owner or keeper and the court shall order the county where the dog was taken into custody to pay to the law enforcement agency, veterinarian or animal shelter all expenses incurred for the care, treatment and boarding of such dog, including any damages caused by such dog, prior to its return.

(h) A person who violates the provisions of this section may also be prosecuted for, convicted of and punished for cruelty to animals.

(i) As used in this section, “animal shelter” means the same as such term is defined in K.S.A. 47-1701, and amendments thereto.

Credits

Laws 2010, ch. 136, § 225, eff. July 1, 2011; Laws 2011, ch. 30, § 59, eff. July 1, 2011; Laws 2017, ch. 62, § 6, eff. July 1, 2017.


 

21-6415. Illegal ownership or keeping of an animal

(a) Illegal ownership or keeping of an animal is, with no requirement of a culpable mental state, owning, or keeping on one's premises, an animal by a person convicted of unlawful conduct of dog fighting as defined in K.S.A. 21-6414, and amendments thereto, or cruelty to animals as defined in subsection (a)(1) of K.S.A. 21-6412, and amendments thereto, within five years of the date of such conviction.

(b) Illegal ownership or keeping of an animal is a class B nonperson misdemeanor.

CREDIT(S)

Laws 2010, ch. 136, § 226, eff. July 1, 2011.

 

21-6416. Harming or killing certain dogs

(a) Inflicting harm, disability or death to a police dog, arson dog, assistance dog, game warden dog or search and rescue dog is knowingly, and without lawful cause or justification poisoning, inflicting great bodily harm, permanent disability or death, upon a police dog, arson dog, assistance dog, game warden dog or search and rescue dog.

(b) Inflicting harm, disability or death to a police dog, arson dog, assistance dog, game warden dog or search and rescue dog is a nonperson felony. Upon conviction of this subsection, a person shall be sentenced to not less than 30 days or more than one year's imprisonment and be fined not less than $500 nor more than $5,000. The person convicted shall not be eligible for release on probation, suspension or reduction of sentence or parole until the person has served the minimum mandatory sentence as provided herein. During the mandatory 30 days imprisonment, such offender shall have a psychological evaluation prepared for the court to assist the court in determining conditions of probation. Such conditions shall include, but not be limited to, the completion of an anger management program.

(c) As used in this section:

(1) “Arson dog” means any dog that is owned, or the service of which is employed, by the state fire marshal or a fire department for the principal purpose of aiding in the detection of liquid accelerants in the investigation of fires;

(2) “assistance dog” means the same as defined in K.S.A. 39-1113, and amendments thereto;

(3) “fire department” means a public fire department under the control of the governing body of a city, township, county, fire district or benefit district or a private fire department operated by a nonprofit corporation providing fire protection services for a city, township, county, fire district or benefit district under contract with the governing body of the city, township, county or district;

(4) “game warden dog” means any dog that is owned, or the service of which is employed, by the Kansas department of wildlife and parks for the purpose of aiding in detection of criminal activity, enforcement of laws, apprehension of offenders or location of persons or wildlife;

(5) “police dog” means any dog that is owned, or the service of which is employed, by a law enforcement agency for the principal purpose of aiding in the detection of criminal activity, enforcement of laws or apprehension of offenders; and

(6) “search and rescue dog” means any dog that is owned or the service of which is employed, by a law enforcement or emergency response agency for the purpose of aiding in the location of persons missing in disasters or other times of need.

Credits
Laws 2010, ch. 136, § 227, eff. July 1, 2011; Laws 2012, ch. 47, § 19, eff. July 1, 2012; Laws 2023, ch. 7, § 21, eff. July 1, 2023.

 

21-6417. Unlawful conduct of cockfighting; unlawful possession of cockfighting paraphernalia; unlawful attendance of cockfighting

(a) Unlawful conduct of cockfighting is:

(1) Causing, for amusement or gain, any gamecock to fight with or injure or kill another gamecock;

(2) knowingly permitting such fighting or injuring on premises under one's ownership, charge or control; or

(3) training, grooming, preparing or medicating any gamecock with the intent of having it fight with or injure or kill another gamecock.

(b) Unlawful possession of cockfighting paraphernalia is possession of spurs, gaffs, swords, leather training spur covers or anything worn by a gamecock during a fight to further the killing power of such gamecock.

(c) Unlawful attendance of cockfighting is entering or remaining on the premises where the unlawful conduct of cockfighting is occurring, whether or not the person knows or has reason to know that cockfighting is occurring on the premises.

(d)(1) Unlawful conduct of cockfighting is a level 10, nonperson felony.

(2) Unlawful possession of cockfighting paraphernalia is a class A nonperson misdemeanor.

(3) Unlawful attendance of cockfighting is a class B nonperson misdemeanor.

(e) As used in this section, “gamecock” means a domesticated fowl that is bred, reared or trained for the purpose of fighting with other fowl.

(f) A person who violates the provisions of this section may also be prosecuted for, convicted of, and punished for cruelty to animals.

CREDIT(S)

Laws 2010, ch. 136, § 228, eff. July 1, 2011.

 

21-6418. Permitting a dangerous animal to be at large

(a) Permitting a dangerous animal to be at large is the act or omission of the owner or custodian of an animal of dangerous or vicious propensities who, knowing of such propensities, permits such animal to go at large or keeps such animal without taking ordinary care to restrain it.

(b) Permitting a dangerous animal to be at large is a class B nonperson misdemeanor.

CREDIT(S)

Laws 2010, ch. 136, § 63, eff. July 1, 2011.

 

Chapter 21. Crimes and Punishments. Article 55. Sex Offenses.

21-5504. Criminal sodomy; aggravated criminal sodomy*

K.S.A. 21–5504(a)(1) Unconstitutional or Preempted Unconstitutional as Applied by State v. Franco 49 Kan.App.2d 924 (2014)

(a) Criminal sodomy is:

(1) Sodomy between persons who are 16 or more years of age and members of the same sex;

(2) sodomy between a person and an animal;

(3) sodomy with a child who is 14 or more years of age but less than 16 years of age; or

(4) causing a child 14 or more years of age but less than 16 years of age to engage in sodomy with any person or animal.

(b) Aggravated criminal sodomy is:

(1) Sodomy with a child who is under 14 years of age;

(2) causing a child under 14 years of age to engage in sodomy with any person or an animal; or

(3) sodomy with a victim who does not consent to the sodomy or causing a victim, without the victim's consent, to engage in sodomy with any person or an animal under any of the following circumstances:

(A) When the victim is overcome by force or fear;

(B) when the victim is unconscious or physically powerless; or

(C) when the victim is incapable of giving consent because of mental deficiency or disease, or when the victim is incapable of giving consent because of the effect of any alcoholic liquor, narcotic, drug or other substance, which condition was known by, or was reasonably apparent to, the offender.

(c)(1) Criminal sodomy as defined in:

(A) Subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) is a class B nonperson misdemeanor; and

(B) subsection (a)(3) or (a)(4) is a severity level 3, person felony.

(2) Aggravated criminal sodomy as defined in:

(A) Subsection (b)(3) is a severity level 1, person felony; and

(B) subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) is a severity level 1, person felony, except as provided in subsection (c) (3).

(3) Aggravated criminal sodomy as defined in subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) or attempt, conspiracy or criminal solicitation to commit aggravated criminal sodomy as defined in subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) is an off-grid person felony, when the offender is 18 years of age or older.

(d) If the offender is 18 years of age or older, the provisions of:

(1) Subsection (c) of K.S.A. 21-5301, and amendments thereto, shall not apply to a violation of attempting to commit the crime of aggravated criminal sodomy as defined in subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2);

(2) subsection (c) of K.S.A. 21-5302, and amendments thereto, shall not apply to a violation of conspiracy to commit the crime of aggravated criminal sodomy as defined in subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2); and

(3) subsection (d) of K.S.A. 21-5303, and amendments thereto, shall not apply to a violation of criminal solicitation to commit the crime of aggravated criminal sodomy as defined in subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2).

(e) It shall be a defense to a prosecution of criminal sodomy, as defined in subsection (a)(3), and aggravated criminal sodomy, as defined in subsection (b)(1), that the child was married to the accused at the time of the offense.

(f) Except as provided in subsection (b)(3)(C), it shall not be a defense that the offender did not know or have reason to know that the victim did not consent to the sodomy, that the victim was overcome by force or fear, or that the victim was unconscious or physically powerless.

CREDIT(S)

Laws 2010, ch. 136, § 68, eff. July 1, 2011; Laws 2011, ch. 30, § 30, eff. July 1, 2011.

*(Unconstitutional as Applied by State v. Franco, 319 P.3d 551, 551+, (Kan.App. Feb. 14, 2014), (NO. 107,814))

 

 

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