amend Chapter 343, Section 21 of the Minnesota Statutes, relating to the penalty for overworking or mistreating animals.

 

The purpose of this act is to increase the financial penalty for animal mistreatment to $25,000, create a Minnesota

statewide Animal Cruelty Offender Registry, and authorize the allocation of fine revenue collected pursuant to this

Statute to fund approved Shelters or Rehabilitation programs for abused animals.

 

Minnesota Statute Section 343.21 does not adequately prevent individuals from overworking and mistreating animals, and

penalties are only punitive, not restorative. The current financial penalty does not deter an individual from engaging

in animal cruelty. Under current law, there is no unified system that allows the public to view who has been convicted

of animal cruelty, which allows for repeat offenders. Animal shelters in Minnesota are underfunded, and this can lead to

inadequate medical care, increased illness, and even death for abused animals.

 

“Animal” is defined as every living creature except members of the human race as defined by Minnesota Statutes Section

343.21, subd. 2.

“Animal Cruelty Offender Registry” is defined as a publicly available database maintained by the State of Minnesota to

record the names of any individuals who have been convicted of overworking or mistreating animals within the State of

Minnesota.

“Mistreatment” is defined includes abuse, torture, neglect, failure to provide adequate food, water, shelter, or

veterinary care, or any violation described in Minnesota Statute Section 343.21.

“Registry Offender” means a person convicted of a misdemeanor or felony under Minnesota Statute Section 343.21 whose

name appears in the Minnesota Animal Cruelty Offender Registry.

“Approved Animal Shelter or Rehabilitation Program” means any nonprofit, government, or other licensed facility

providing care for abused animals.

 

The funding for maintaining the Animal Cruelty Offender Registry and the approved Animal Shelters or Rehabilitation

Programs will be resourced by the fines imposed on the individuals who have been convicted of Minnesota Statutes Section

343.21.

 

Violation of Minnesota Statutes 343.21 may result in fines up to $25,000, in addition to existing imprisonment statutes.

Animal ownership restrictions would be imposed on any individual convicted of violating Minnesota Statute 343.21 to

prohibit such individual from owning any animal for 10 years following a misdemeanor or lifetime following a felony. Any

convicted individual may petition for reinstatement of animal ownership rights after 5 years. Employment restrictions

would be imposed on any individual convicted under Minnesota Statues Section 343.21 to prohibit such individual from

working in any veterinary clinic, hospital, or animal care facility, volunteering in any animal shelter, humane society,

rescue organization, or animal adoption agency, fostering animals through public, private, or military programs,

participating in service-animal raising, training, or fostering, or holding any paid or unpaid position in which such

individual supervises, cares for, or trains animals. The duration of employment restrictions will mirror any ownership

restrictions, and petition rights will also apply.

The act shall be enforced by law enforcement officers, animal control organizations, and the Minnesota Department of

Public Safety for compliance with the Animal Cruelty Offender Registry, and the Minnesota State and local courts for

sentencing and restrictions.

 

Section 1-5 are effective September 1, 2026, and apply to crimes committed on and after that date.