Providing for the protection of rabbits from mistreatment, and making penalties applicable

This bill provides that rabbits are considered livestock subject to certain protections from mistreatment, in the same manner as cattle, goats, horses, swine, ratites, farm deer, or poultry.1).2) and associated criminal penalties, including a simple misdemeanor punishable by confinement for no more than days and a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855; a serious misdemeanor, punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560; and an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by confinement for no more than two years and a fine of at least $855 but not more than $8,540. 5). Generally, offenses involving animal mistreatment involve either livestock covered under Code chapter 717 or other animals (exempting game or wildlife) covered under Code chapter 717B.1, by either expressly including or excluding such animals.5(13)), the regulation of pet shops (Code chapter 162), domestic abuse proceedings (Code chapter 236), cooperative associations (Code chapter 501A), farm tenancies (Code chapter 562), animal contest events (Code chapter 717D), and an agricultural theft surcharge (Code chapter 911).