What Constitutes Animal Neglect?
SD State Law 40-1-2.3: The neglect of an animal is the failure to provide food, water, protion from the elements, adequate sanitation, adequate facilities, or care generally considered to be standard and accepted for an animal’s health and well-being consistent with the species, breed, physical condition, and type of animal. Animals suffer and die from neglect when they are denied proper food, water, shelter, veterinary attention – causing them to slowly starve to death or die from lack of needed medical care or harsh weather conditions. 1. Provide Protection from the Elements: Protection from the elements means that an animal must have access to protection from wind, snow, rain, heat, and inclement weather. An insulated dog house provides great protection for an animal to seek. Utilize a tarp over a fenced-in pen to provide shade and protection from the sun. A shelter is still required for an outside animal even if it doesn’t use it! A pet carrier is not an adequate shelter. (see belo
