[R.O. 2016 § 205.310]
A. 
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.
B. 
All fines and penalties for a first finding of guilt under this Section may be waived by the court if the person found guilty of animal neglect shows that adequate, permanent remedies for the neglect have been made. Reasonable costs incurred for the care and maintenance of neglected animals may not be waived. This Section shall not apply to the provisions of Section 578.007, RSMo., or Chapter 272, RSMo.
C. 
In addition to any other penalty imposed by Section 578.009, RSMo., the court may order a person found guilty of animal neglect to pay all reasonable costs and expenses necessary for:
1. 
The care and maintenance of neglected animals within the person's custody or ownership;
2. 
The disposal of any dead or diseased animals within the person's custody or ownership;
3. 
The reduction of resulting organic debris affecting the immediate area of the neglect; and
4. 
The avoidance or minimization of any public health risks created by the neglect of the animals.
A. 
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 (12) hours.
B. 
For a first conviction of animal trespass, each offense shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00). The second and all subsequent convictions shall be punishable by imprisonment or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), or both such fine and imprisonment. All fines for a first conviction of animal trespass may be waived by the court, provided that the person found guilty of animal trespass shows that adequate, permanent remedies for trespass have been made. Reasonable costs incurred for the care and maintenance of trespassing animals may not be waived. This Section shall not apply to the provisions of Section 578.007, RSMo., or Sections 272.010 to 272.370, RSMo.
[R.O. 2016 § 205.320]
A. 
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, RSMo., and Section 273.030, RSMo.;
2. 
Purposely or intentionally causes injury or suffering to an animal; or
3. 
Having ownership or custody of an animal knowingly fails to provide adequate care which results in substantial harm to the animal.
[1]
Note: Under certain circumstances this offense can be a felony under state law.
[R.O. 2016 § 205.330]
A. 
Any person who:
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. 
Permits any act as described in Subsection (A)(1) or (2) of this Section to be done on any premises under his/her charge or control, or aids or abets any such act is guilty of an offense.
B. 
Any person who 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 at any other fighting or injuring as described in Subsection (A)(2) of this Section, with the intent to be present at such exhibition, fighting, or injuring is guilty of an offense.
C. 
Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit:
1. 
The use of dogs in the management of livestock by the owner of such livestock or his/her employees or agents or other persons in lawful custody of such livestock;
2. 
The use of dogs in hunting; or
3. 
The training of dogs or the use of equipment in the training of dogs for any purpose not prohibited by law.
[R.O. 2016 § 205.340; CC 1994 § 27.530]
A. 
Any person who shall impound or confine, or cause to be impounded or confined, in any pound or other place, any animal, and fails to supply the same during any such confinement with sufficient food and water, or shall cruelly overwork any domestic animal or shall cruelly drive or work the same when unfit for work, or shall unnecessarily fail to provide the same with proper food, drink, shelter, or protection form the weather, or shall cruelly abandon the same, or shall carry or cause the same to be carried, moved, or kept in or upon any vehicle in a cruel or inhumane manner, or shall fail to provide the same with adequate veterinary care when necessary, or shall otherwise treat the same in an unnecessary cruel or inhumane manner, shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this Subsection.
B. 
Any person shall have the power and be authorized to make recommendations to the Animal Control Officer that animals be removed from private owners and placed in the custody of the Animal Control Officer in cases where the health or safety of the animal is, in the opinion of the Animal Control Officer, in immediate danger. The Animal Control Officer shall have the power to remove any such animals, except from houses, without the consent of the owners, for the protection of the animals, and shall have the right to retain custody thereof until the threat to their health or safety, in the opinion of the Animal Control Officer, has been removed. Any expense incurred in such impoundment becomes a lien on the animal impounded and must be discharged before the animal is released from custody.
[R.O. 2016 § 205.350; CC 1994 § 27.560]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to feed or place so as to constitute a direct or obvious hazard to man or animal, or offer or tempt any animal with liquid, meat or any food which shall:
1. 
Cause prostration, convulsion, pain or suffering as a prelude to death;
2. 
Cause death; or
3. 
Be proven toxic or lethal in the amount present to any man or domestic animal by competent medical or veterinary authority.
B. 
This Section does not apply to the poisoning of rodents or other harmful pests if done in such manner as not to expose poisonous substances to domestic animals.