Chapter 346 — Pet and Companion Animal Welfare Act

343.20 Definitions This section defines key terms used in Minnesota's animal cruelty laws. It explains what counts as an 'animal,' … 343.21 Overworking or Mistreating Animals; Penalty This section makes it illegal to abuse, neglect, overwork, or mistreat animals in Minnesota. It covers torture, failing … 343.22 Investigation of Cruelty Complaints This section explains how animal cruelty complaints are investigated in Minnesota. Anyone who believes animal cruelty is … 343.23 Expenses of Investigation This section says the county pays for animal cruelty investigations, including veterinary fees and the cost of caring … 343.24 Cruelty in Transportation This section makes it a misdemeanor to transport animals in a cruel way. Animals must have enough space to stand and lie … 343.25 Docking Horses; Penalty This section makes it a misdemeanor to dock (cut the bony part of) a horse's tail. It also applies to anyone who allows … 343.26 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law by the 2010 Legislature (Chapter 333, Article 1, … 343.27 Poisoning Animals This section makes it a gross misdemeanor to poison an animal without justification. It applies whether you give the … 343.28 Animal With Infectious Disease This section makes it a misdemeanor to sell or let an animal run free when you know it has a contagious disease. It also … 343.29 Exposure of Animals; Duty of Officers This section allows peace officers, animal control officers, and humane agents to rescue animals that are not properly … 343.30 Injury to Birds This section makes it a petty misdemeanor to harm, kill, or destroy the nests or eggs of unprotected birds. The law … 343.31 Animal Fights and Possession of Fighting Animals This section makes animal fighting a felony in Minnesota, including dogfighting and cockfighting. Attending an animal … 343.32 Artificially Colored Animals; Sale This section bans the sale or display of artificially dyed or colored chicks, ducklings, goslings, or rabbits. They … 343.33 Use as Advertising Devices This section bans selling or giving away chicks, ducklings, and goslings under four weeks old in groups of fewer than … 343.34 Care of Animals Used as Advertising Devices This section requires anyone selling, raffling, or displaying chicks, ducklings, or goslings to provide proper heating … 343.35 Violations This section makes violating the colored animal and baby poultry sales rules (sections 343.32 to 343.34) a petty … 343.36 Greased Pig Contests and Turkey Scrambles This section bans greased pig contests and turkey scrambles in Minnesota. It is a misdemeanor to run, operate, or take … 346.01 Who May Take up This section says only a landowner or someone who lives on the land can take in a stray animal (called an 'estray') … 346.02 This section has been repealed. It was removed from Minnesota law by the 2023 Legislature (Chapter 52, Article 19, … 346.021 Finder to Give Notice This section says if you find a stray animal and know the owner, you must tell the owner within seven days. If you do … 346.03 Appraisement This section requires the finder of a stray animal worth $10 or more to get it appraised by a county or municipal judge … 346.04 Charges for Keeping This section says the rightful owner of a stray animal has one year to reclaim it by paying all lawful charges. If the … 346.05 Sale of Estray This section explains what happens when no one claims a stray animal. If it was appraised at $10 or less, the finder … 346.06 Money, How Disposed of This section says that any money left over from the sale of a stray animal, after paying expenses, goes to the county … 346.07 Removal of Estray; Neglect to Give Notice This section says taking someone else's stray animal without paying the charges makes you liable for the animal's full … 346.08 Distraint of Animals Doing Damage This section allows a landowner to capture (distrain) any animal that is causing damage on their land. The landowner can … 346.09 Animals Doing Damage This section sets the rules for notifying an animal's owner and getting damage appraised after capturing an animal on … 346.10 Appraisement; Procedure This section describes how the damage appraisal process works. Three sworn appraisers examine the damage, may hear … 346.11 Tender by Owner; Effect This section allows an animal owner to offer a damage payment before the formal appraisal process begins. If the offer … 346.12 Impoundments This section requires that animals held for damage must be impounded if damages are not paid within 24 hours after … 346.13 Poundmaster; Custody; Sale; Time; Notice This section gives the poundmaster authority to keep impounded animals and sell them at public auction if they are not … 346.14 Sale of Animal Not Impounded This section covers the sale of animals held for damage when there is no public pound in the town. If the animals are … 346.15 Redemption This section gives the buyer of an impounded animal the duty to keep it for at least two months. During that time, the … 346.155 Possessing Regulated Animals This section regulates ownership of dangerous wild animals in Minnesota, including big cats, bears, and primates. People … 346.16 Running at Large; Defined; Prohibited; Treble Damages This section makes it illegal to let cattle, horses, mules, sheep, pigs, or goats run loose in Minnesota. Herding … 346.17 Proceeds of Sale This section explains how sale money from impounded animals is divided. The seller keeps fees and animal care costs, the … 346.18 Taking Distrained Beasts a Misdemeanor This section makes it a misdemeanor to take a distrained (seized) animal without paying the damages and costs first. The … 346.19 This section has been repealed or renumbered by the Minnesota Legislature. 346.20 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.20. 346.21 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.21. 346.215 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.22. 346.216 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.23. 346.22 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.24. 346.23 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.25. 346.24 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.26. 346.25 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.27. 346.26 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.28. 346.27 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.29. 346.28 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.30. 346.29 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.31. 346.30 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.32. 346.31 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.33. 346.32 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.34. 346.33 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.35. 346.34 This section number has been reassigned. The content formerly here is now found at section 343.36. 346.35 Citation This section establishes the short title for sections 346.35 through 346.44, which may be called the 'Pet and Companion … 346.36 Definitions This section defines key terms used in the Pet and Companion Animal Welfare Act. It covers 'abuse,' 'cruelty,' … 346.37 General Provisions This section sets general rules for pet care at vet offices, boarding facilities, and commercial facilities. It covers … 346.38 Equines This section sets minimum care standards for horses, ponies, mules, and burros held by veterinarians, boarding … 346.39 Dogs and Cats This section sets minimum care standards for dogs and cats held by veterinarians, boarding facilities, or commercial … 346.40 Pet Birds This section sets minimum care standards for pet birds held by veterinarians, boarding facilities, or commercial … 346.41 Rodents This section sets minimum care standards for pet rodents held by veterinarians, boarding facilities, or commercial … 346.42 Other Animals This section says any pet animals not specifically covered by the horse, dog/cat, bird, or rodent rules must be cared … 346.43 Farm Animals Excluded This section says the Pet and Companion Animal Welfare Act (sections 346.35 to 346.44) does not apply to farm animals … 346.44 Penalties This section sets the penalty for violating the Pet and Companion Animal Welfare Act's care standards (sections 346.36 … 346.47 Seized Animals This section sets rules for how animals seized by public authority must be handled. Seized animals must be held at least … 346.50 Dogs; Identification This section requires dogs that are off their owner's property and not under control to have identification. Acceptable … 346.51 Bites This section says the owner of an unvaccinated dog that bites someone or exposes them to rabies can be penalized under … 346.52 Local Programs This section says local governments can set stricter rules for dog identification and rabies control than what state law … 346.53 Penalties This section makes violating the dog identification requirement (section 346.50) and the unvaccinated dog bite provision … 346.54 Notification of Owners This section requires animal shelter workers to check every animal they receive for identification, try to identify the … 346.55 Civil Liability This section makes it illegal to transfer or possess someone else's dog or cat without permission, especially to animal … 346.56 Unauthorized Release of Animals This section makes a person who releases a confined research, science, or educational animal without permission liable … 346.57 Dogs and Cats in Motor Vehicles This section makes it illegal to leave a dog or cat unattended in a parked car in a way that endangers the animal's … 346.58 Dogs and Cats; Best Management Standards for Care by Dealers, Commercial Breeders, and Brokers This section directs the Commissioner of Agriculture to work with animal welfare groups and industry representatives to …