1664

(a) If a person willfully, knowingly, carelessly or with criminal negligence, leaves an animal in a location with the intention of dereliction, said person is committing the crime of abandoning an animal.\n(b) Abandonment of an animal is a fourth-degree felony that entails the punishment of imprisonment ranging from six (6) months and one (1) day to three (3) years.\n(1) If upon conviction, the accused qualifies and avails him/herself of serving time on probation or of any alternative method other than jail imprisonment, the punishment shall entail a mandatory fine ranging from one thousand [dollars] ($1,000) to five thousand dollars ($5,000).\n(c) If, as a consequence of the abandonment of an animal, the animal sustains severe bodily injury or dies, the crime shall be deemed to be a third-degree felony that entails the punishment of imprisonment ranging from three (3) years and one (1) day to eight (8) years.\n(1) If upon conviction, the accused qualifies and avails him/herself of serving time on probation or of any alternative method other than jail imprisonment, the punishment shall entail a mandatory fine ranging from three thousand [dollars] ($3,000) to eight thousand dollars

ving time on probation or of any alternative method other than jail imprisonment, the punishment shall entail a mandatory fine ranging from three thousand [dollars] ($3,000) to eight thousand dollars ($8,000).\nHistory —Aug. 4, 2008, No. 154, § 2.1.