Greeley Cruelty to Animals Lawyer
Man Charged for Abandoning Pet Fish

A man was charged with Cruelty to Animals after abandoning his pet fish when he was evicted from his home. Read more about this story here.

Animal Cruelty is charged in Greeley and Weld County when a person harms an animal or puts an animal in harms way. A man was arrested for Cruelty to Animals after he left his pet fish behind. According to the report, the man was evicted from his home and left his 6-inch pet fish in a dirty tank in the home. Somebody must have found the fish and reported the incident, which led to the man’s arrest. The man was later released with the charges dropped because under that state’s law, a fish is not considered an animal. So, would the man have been charged if this had occurred in Colorado? Let’s find out

Weld County Pet Fish Animal Cruelty Attorney: Definition of Cruelty to Animals in Morgan and Logan County

The Weld, Morgan, and Logan County, Colorado law definition of Cruelty to Animals – C.R.S. 18-9-202 – is:

(1)  (a) A person commits cruelty to animals if he or she knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence overdrives, overloads, overworks, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, unnecessarily or cruelly beats, allows to be housed in a manner that results in chronic or repeated serious physical harm, carries or confines in or upon any vehicles in a cruel or reckless manner, engages in a sexual act with an animal, or otherwise mistreats or neglects any animal, or causes or procures it to be done, or, having the charge or custody of any animal, fails to provide it with proper food, drink, or protection from the weather consistent with the species, breed, and type of animal involved, or abandons an animal.

(b)  Any person who intentionally abandons a dog or cat commits the offense of cruelty to animals.

Colorado defines animal as “any living dumb creature.” Based on this definition, it seems that a fish would be considered an animal, and therefore the man could be facing the charges if this had occurred in Colorado.

Sentence for Animal Cruelty to a Fish in Erie and Evans

In Greeley, Erie, and Evans, Animal Cruelty is a class 1 misdemeanor, which is punishable by 6 to 18 months in the Weld County Jail and up to $5,000 in fines.

If you or someone you love has been charged with Cruelty to Animals, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009 to schedule your free consultation. Together, we can protect your future.

Photo by Ahmed zayan on Unsplash