1. (a) This section does not apply to a person who euthanizes an injured, a sick, a homeless, or an unwanted domestic animal if:

   1. (1) the person is employed by a humane society, an animal control agency, or a governmental entity operating an animal shelter or other animal impounding facility; and
   2. (2) the person euthanizes the domestic animal in accordance with guidelines adopted by the humane society, animal control agency, or governmental entity operating the animal shelter or other animal impounding facility.

2. (b) A person who knowingly or intentionally abuses a vertebrate animal commits cruelty to an animal, a Class A misdemeanor. However, the offense is a Level 6 felony if:

   1. (1) the person has a previous, unrelated conviction under this section;
   2. (2) the person committed the offense with the intent to threaten, intimidate, coerce, harass, or terrorize a family or household member;
   3. (3) the offense is committed in the immediate presence of a minor; or

   4. (4) the act results in:

      1. (A) serious permanent disfigurement;
      2. (B) unconsciousness;
      3. (C) permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ; or

      4. (D) the death;

         of the animal.

3. (c) A person who knowingly or intentionally tortures or mutilates a vertebrate animal commits torturing or mutilating a vertebrate animal, a Level 6 felony.
4. (d) A person who knowingly or intentionally kills a domestic animal without the consent of the owner of the domestic animal commits killing a domestic animal, a Level 6 felony.

5. (e) It is a defense to a prosecution under this section that the accused person:

   1. (1) reasonably believes the conduct was necessary to:

      1. (A) prevent injury to the accused person or another person;
      2. (B) protect the property of the accused person from destruction or substantial damage; or
      3. (C) prevent a seriously injured vertebrate animal from prolonged suffering; or
   2. (2) engaged in a reasonable and recognized act of training, handling, or disciplining the vertebrate animal.

6. (f) When a court imposes a sentence or enters a dispositional decree under this section, the court:

   1. (1) shall consider requiring:

      1. (A) a person convicted of an offense under this section; or

      2. (B) a child adjudicated a delinquent child for committing an act that would be a crime under this section if committed by an adult;

         to receive psychological, behavioral, or other counseling as a part of the sentence or dispositional decree; and

   2. (2) may order an individual described in subdivision (1) to receive psychological, behavioral, or other counseling as a part of the sentence or dispositional decree.

As added by P.L.193-1987, SEC.15. Amended by P.L.41-1998, SEC.2; P.L.132-2002, SEC.1; P.L.7-2007, SEC.1; P.L.171-2007, SEC.10; P.L.111-2009, SEC.14; P.L.158-2013, SEC.566; P.L.141-2019, SEC.10; P.L.80-2026, SEC.11.