Update: Both of these bills have died. 

Original report: Like a number of states, for purposes of the animal cruelty laws, Iowa classifies equines as livestock.

In Iowa it is illegal for someone to injure or destroy someone else's livestock intentionally such as by poisoning, shooting or trapping. Iowa Code § 717.1A

When it comes to livestock an owner can only be guilty of neglect, not abuse or cruelty. Neglect is the failure to provide livestock with care consistent with customary animal husbandry practices, failure to provide necessary sustenance or "injur[ing] or destroy[ing] livestock by any means which causes pain or suffering in a manner inconsistent with customary animal husbandry practices. Iowa Code § 717.2

Livestock are not otherwise protected under the state's animal cruelty laws. A bill pending in the Iowa legislature may change this for horses.

Under bill S.F. 2258 a horse would no longer be defined as livestock excepted from the animal cruelty laws. A person could be liable for animal abuse if he or she intentionally injures, maims, disfigures, or destroys an animal owned by another person". Iowa Code §717B.2

Also under this bill, the owner could be held liable for neglect specifically of a horse for fail[ure] to provide sufficient sanitation space, an opportunity for exercise, protection from weather, necessary veterinary care, a sufficient quantity of potable water, and a sufficient nutritional formulation customary for the care for equine of that species." Iowa Code §717B.3

The bill, S.F. 2258, is pending in the Senate Agriculture Committee. Click here to find Committee members and write or call each one and urge them to support this bill.

A bill to increase penalties for cruelty to livestock and other animals

There is another bill, H.F. 2286, that is pending that would increase the penalties for livestock abuse and neglect and animal abuse and neglect.

Under this bill livestock abuse would remain an aggravated misdemeanor on the first offense but a second or subsequent offense within 10 years would be a Class D felony. Also, if the abuse involved 10 or more livestock at once or over an uninterrupted period of time, it would be a Class D felony even on the first offense. An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than two years and a fine of at least $625 but not more than $6,250. A class "D" felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $750 but not more than $7,500.

Under this bill, H.F. 2286, the crime of livestock or other animal neglect that does not result in serious injury or death would still be a simple misdemeanor on the first offense but a serious misdemeanor on a second or subsequent offense within 10 years. Also, if 10 or more animals are involved in the same instances of neglect, then it is a serious misdemeanor even on the first offense. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no 25 more than 30 days or a fine of at least $65 but not more than $625 or by both. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $315 but not more than $1,875.

For livestock and other animal neglect that does result in serious injury or death, the penalties are increased in the same way for second and subsequent offenses or acts involving 10 or more animals from serious misdemeanor to aggravated misdemeanor.

For crimes of animal abuse and torture not involving livestock, the penalties are increased in the same way for second and subsequent offenses or acts involving 10 or more animals from aggravated misdemeanor to Class D felony.

This bill, H.F. 2286, is pending in the House Committee on Agriculture. Click here to find committee members and write or call and urge them to support these increases in penalties for violations of the livestock and animal cruelty and neglect laws.

Click here to find Iowa legislators and write or call and urge them to support both S.F. 2258 and H.F. 2286.