Section 578.012 - Animal abuse - penalties1. A person commits the offense of animal abuse if he or she: (1) Intentionally or purposely kills an animal in any manner not allowed by or expressly exempted from the provisions of sections 578.005 to 578.023 and 273.030;(2) Purposely or intentionally causes injury or suffering to an animal; or(3) Having ownership or custody of an animal knowingly fails to provide adequate care which results in substantial harm to the animal.2. Animal abuse is a class A misdemeanor, unless the defendant has previously been found guilty of animal abuse or the suffering involved in subdivision (2) of subsection 1 of this section is the result of torture or mutilation consciously inflicted while the animal was alive, in which case it is a class E felony.Amended by 2014 Mo. Laws, SB 491,s A, eff. 1/1/2017.Amended by 2013 Mo. Laws, SB 9,s A, eff. 10/11/2013.L. 1983 S.B. 211 § 4, A.L. 1994 S.B. 545, A.L. 1996 S.B. 491, A.L. 2001 S.B. 462