Cruelty to Animals
11 Del. C. § 1325 — a class A misdemeanor, a felony for killing or serious injury, and no animals for 5 or 15 years after
- Cruel mistreatment of any animal, or cruel neglect of one in the person's custody.
- Killing or injuring another's animal without legal privilege or the owner's consent.
- Cruelly or unnecessarily killing or injuring any animal.
- Leaving an animal unattended in a vehicle so hot or cold it endangers the animal.
Cruelty is a class A misdemeanor, and a class F felony where the person intentionally kills or seriously injures an animal. After 2 misdemeanor convictions, further ones count as class F felonies.
No animals after. A misdemeanor conviction bars owning or possessing an animal for 5 years, and a felony conviction for 15 years, with fines of $1,000 and up for breaking the bar.
Accepted veterinary practice and research are outside parts of the section. A particular case is a question for a licensed Delaware attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- 11 Del. C. § 1325 — Cruelty to animals; class A misdemeanor; class F felony; class E felony
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Delaware attorney.