West Virginia Statutes

§ 61-8-19 — Cruelty to animals; penalties; exclusions

West Virginia § 61-8-19
JurisdictionWest Virginia
Ch. 61CRIMES AND THEIR PUNISHMENT
Art. 8CRIMES AGAINST CHASTITY, MORALITY AND DECENCY

This text of West Virginia § 61-8-19 (Cruelty to animals; penalties; exclusions) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering West Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
W. Va. Code § 61-8-19 (2026).

Text

(a)(1) It is unlawful for any person to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly,
(A)Mistreat an animal in cruel manner;
(B)Abandon an animal;
(C)Withhold;
(i)Proper sustenance, including food or water;
(ii)Shelter that protects from the elements of weather; or
(iii)Medical treatment, necessary to sustain normal health and fitness or to end the suffering of any animal;
(D)Abandon an animal to die;
(E)Leave an animal unattended and confined in a motor vehicle when physical injury to or death of the animal is likely to result;
(F)Ride an animal when it is physically unfit;
(G)Bait or harass an animal for the purpose of making it perform for a person's amusement;
(H)Cruelly chain or tether an animal; or
(I)Use, train or possess a domesticated animal for the purpose of se

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Related

§ 2131
7 U.S.C. § 2131

Legislative History

2021 Reg. Sess., HB2017; 2021 Reg. Sess., HB2095; 2020 Reg. Sess., SB191; 2019 Reg. Sess., SB124; 2019 Reg. Sess., HB2185; 2018 Reg. Sess., HB4359; 2016 Reg. Sess., SB436; 2008 Reg. Sess., HB4344; 2005 Reg. Sess., SB588; 2003 Reg. Sess., SB205; 2002 Reg. Sess., SB527; 1995 Reg. Sess., HB2298; 1991 Reg. Sess., HB2297; 1988 Reg. Sess., HB2888

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Bluebook (online)
West Virginia § 61-8-19, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/statute/wv/61/61-8-19.