Missouri · statute · Mo. Rev. Stat. ch. 578 · 68 active provisions
As used in sections 578.005 to 578.023, the following terms shall mean: (1) "Adequate care", normal and prudent attention to the needs of an animal, including wholesome food, clean water, shelter and health care as necessary to maintain good health in a specific species of animal; (2) "Adequate control", to reasonably…
The provisions of section 574.130 and sections 578.005 to 578.023 shall not apply to: (1) Care or treatment performed by a licensed veterinarian within the provisions of chapter 340; (2) Bona fide scientific experiments; (3) Hunting, fishing, or trapping as allowed by chapter 252, including all practices and privileges…
1. A person commits the offense of animal neglect if he or she: (1) Has custody or ownership of an animal and fails to provide adequate care; or (2) Knowingly abandons an animal in any place without making provisions for its adequate care. 2. The offense of animal neglect is a class C misdemeanor unless the person has…
1. A person is guilty of animal trespass if a person having ownership or custody of an animal knowingly fails to provide adequate control for a period equal to or exceeding twelve hours. 2. Animal trespass is an infraction upon first conviction and for each offense punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars…
1. A person commits the offense of animal abuse if he or she: (1) Intentionally or purposely kills an animal in any manner not allowed by or expressly exempted from the provisions of sections 578.005 to 578.023 and 273.030; (2) Purposely or intentionally causes injury or suffering to an animal; or (3) Having ownership…
1. Whenever any farm animal professional videotapes or otherwise makes a digital recording of what he or she believes to depict a farm animal subjected to abuse or neglect under sections 578.009 or 578.012, such farm animal professional shall have a duty to submit such videotape or digital recording to a law enforcemen…
The parent or guardian of a minor child is responsible for the adequate care of any animal owned by, in the control of, or harbored by that minor child.
1. Any duly authorized public health official, law enforcement official, or animal control officer may impound any animal found outside of the owned or rented property of the owner or custodian of such animal when such animal shows evidence of neglect or abuse. Any animal impounded pursuant to this section shall be: (1…
1. Any duly authorized public health official or law enforcement official may seek a warrant from the appropriate court to enable him or her to enter private property in order to inspect, care for, or impound neglected or abused animals. All requests for such warrants shall be accompanied by an affidavit stating the pr…
If a person is found guilty of the offense of animal neglect or animal abuse and the court having jurisdiction is satisfied that an animal owned or controlled by such person would in the future be subject to such neglect or abuse, such animal shall not be returned to or allowed to remain with such person, but its dispo…
Any dog that is owned, or the service of which is employed, by a law enforcement agency and that bites or injures another animal or human in the course of their official duties is exempt from the provisions of sections 273.033, 273.036, 578.012, and 578.024.
1. A person commits the offense of keeping a dangerous wild animal if he or she keeps any lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, Canada lynx, bobcat, jaguarundi, hyena, wolf, bear, nonhuman primate, coyote, any deadly, dangerous, or poisonous reptile, or any deadly or dangerous reptile ov…
1. A person commits the offense of keeping a dangerous dog if he or she owns or possesses a dog that has previously bitten a person or a domestic animal without provocation and that dog bites any person on a subsequent occasion. 2. The offense of keeping a dangerous dog is a class B misdemeanor, unless such attack: (1)…
1. A person commits the offense of dogfighting if he or she: (1) Owns, possesses, keeps, or trains any dog, with the intent that such dog shall be engaged in an exhibition of fighting with another dog; (2) For amusement or gain, causes any dog to fight with another dog, or causes any dogs to injure each other; or (3) P…
1. A person commits the offense of spectating dogfighting if he or she is knowingly present, as a spectator, at any place, building, or structure where preparations are being made for an exhibition of the fighting of dogs, with the intent to be present at such preparations, or is knowingly present at such exhibition or…
1. A person commits the offense of causing a dog to pursue a live animal propelled by a device if he or she ties or attaches or fastens any live animal to any machine or device propelled by any power for the purpose of causing such animal to be pursued by a dog or dogs. 2. The offense of causing a dog to pursue a live…
1. A person commits the offense of unlawful removal of an electronic dog collar or radio transmitting device if he or she removes an electronic or radio transmitting collar from a dog without the permission of the owner of the dog with the intent to prevent or hinder the owner from locating the dog. 2. The offense of u…
1. A person commits the offense of knowingly releasing an animal if he or she, acting without the consent of the owner or custodian of an animal, intentionally releases any animal that is lawfully confined for the purpose of companionship or protection of persons or property or for recreation, exhibition or educational…
1. The provisions of section 43.200 notwithstanding, any member of the state highway patrol or other law enforcement officer may apply for and serve a search warrant, and shall have the power of search and seizure in order to enforce the provisions of sections 578.025 to 578.050. 2. Any member of the state highway patr…
1. A person commits the offense of bullbaiting or cockfighting if he or she: (1) Keeps, uses, or in any way is connected with or interested in the management of, or receives money for the admission of any person to, any place kept or used for the purpose of fighting or baiting any bull, bear, cock, or other creature, e…
1. A person commits the offense of desecrating a flag if he or she purposefully and publicly mutilates, defaces, defiles, tramples upon or otherwise desecrates the national flag of the United States or the state flag of the state of Missouri. 2. The offense of desecrating a flag is a class A misdemeanor.
1. Whoever engages on Sunday in the business of selling or sells or offers for sale on such day, at retail, motor vehicles; clothing and wearing apparel; clothing accessories; furniture; housewares; home, business or office furnishings; household, business or office appliances; hardware; tools; paints; building and lum…
If any county of the first class having a charter form of government containing the major portion of a city of over four hundred fifty thousand inhabitants exempts itself from the application of section 578.100 by a vote of the voters of the county pursuant to provisions of law permitting such vote, then a county in th…
1. The governing body of any city not within a county may, by ordinance, exempt areas of the city located within two thousand five hundred yards of a convention center owned by the city or within two thousand five hundred yards of a municipal auditorium owned by the city, or either of such areas, or parts of either or…
1. As used in this section, the term "area" includes all cities not within a county, all first class counties having a charter form of government and adjoining such cities not within a county and all first class counties which adjoin such first class counties having a charter form of government and adjoining cities not…