00HOUSE BILL NO. 386                                                                                                      
01 "An Act relating to cruelty to animals and the provision of food and water to                                           
02 confined or impounded animals."                                                                                         
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 03.55 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                   
05  Sec. 03.55.100.  CONFINEMENT OF ANIMALS WITHOUT FOOD AND                                                              
06 WATER; INTERVENTION BY OTHERS.  (a)  Except as provided in (b) of this                                                  
07 section, if an animal is impounded or confined without necessary food and water for                                     
08 more than 36 consecutive hours, a person may, as necessary, enter the pound or place                                    
09 of confinement in which the animal is confined, and supply the animal with necessary                                    
10 food and water.                                                                                                         
11  (b)  The authority of a person to enter and provide necessary food and water                                          
12 under (a) of this section does not apply to the impoundment or confinement of an                                        
13 animal that                                                                                                             
14   (1)  conforms to accepted veterinary practice;                                                                       

01   (2)  is part of scientific research governed by accepted standards; or                                               
02   (3)  is necessarily incident to lawful hunting or trapping activities.                                               
03  (c)  A person that provides necessary food and water under (a) of this section                                        
04 is not liable for the entry and may collect from the animal's owner the reasonable cost                                 
05 of the food and water provided.                                                                                         
06  (d)  Notwithstanding another provision of law, an animal to whom necessary                                            
07 food and water is provided under (a) of this section is subject to attachment for the                                   
08 costs of the food and water provided and is not exempt from levy and sale upon                                          
09 execution issued upon the judgment.                                                                                     
10  (e)  In this section, "animal" has the meaning given in AS 11.61.140.                                                 
11    * Sec. 2.  AS 11.61.140(a) is amended to read:                                                                       
12  (a)  A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person                                                   
13   (1)  intentionally inflicts severe and prolonged physical pain or suffering                                          
14 on an animal;                                                                                                           
15   (2)  with criminal negligence, [RECKLESSLY] neglects an animal and,                                                
16 as a result of that neglect, causes the death of the animal or causes severe pain or                                    
17 suffering to the animal; or                                                                                             
18   (3)  kills an animal by the use of a decompression chamber.