North Dakota Code 36-21.2-04 – Animal abandonment – Definition – Exemptions – Penalty
1. Any person that willfully engages in the abandonment of an animal is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
Attorney's Note
Under the North Dakota Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 360 days | up to $3,000 |
Terms Used In North Dakota Code 36-21.2-04
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute means the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- Person: means an individual, organization, government, political subdivision, or government agency or instrumentality. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
2. For purposes of this chapter, “abandonment” means the relinquishment of a person’s custody or control, with no intention of reclaiming that custody or control, and without placing the animal into the custody or control of another person that is able to provide care for the animal and who knowingly and willingly accepts that responsibility. The term includes:
a. The desertion of an animal; and
b. The failure to retrieve an animal within forty-eight hours after the agreed-upon conclusion of a boarding contract or other service contract, other than that specified in section 43-29-16.1.
3. The following do not constitute violations of this section:
a. Any usual and customary practice in:
(1) The production of food, feed, fiber, or ornament, including all aspects of the livestock industry; (2) The boarding, breeding, competition, exhibition, feeding, raising, showing, and training of animals; (3) The sport of rodeo; (4) Animal racing; (5) The use of animals by exhibitors licensed under the Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C. § 2131, et seq.; (6) Fishing, hunting, and trapping; (7) Wildlife management; (8) The culinary arts; (9) Lawful research and educational activities; and
(10) Pest, vermin, predator, and animal damage control, including the disposition of wild animals that have entered structures or personal property; b. The humane or swift destruction of an animal for cause; and
c. Services provided by or under the direction of a licensed veterinarian.
4. For purposes of this section, “care” means food, water, and shelter from the elements, as appropriate for the species, the breed, and the animal’s age and physical condition, and necessary medical attention.