717B.3  Animal neglect.
  1.  A person who impounds or confines, in any place, an animal is guilty of animal neglect, if the person does any of the following:  fails to supply the animal during confinement with a sufficient quantity of food or water; fails to provide a confined dog or cat with adequate shelter; or tortures, deprives of necessary sustenance, mutilates, beats, or kills an animal by any means which causes unjustified pain, distress, or suffering.
  2.  This section does not apply to a research facility, as defined in section 162.2, provided that the research facility performs functions within the scope of accepted practices and disciplines associated with the research facility.
  3.  A person who negligently or intentionally commits the offense of animal neglect is guilty of a simple misdemeanor. A person who intentionally commits the offense of animal neglect which results in serious injury to or the death of an animal is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.
94 Acts, ch 1103, §14; 95 Acts, ch 49, §25; 2008 Acts, ch 1058, §21