CRIMINAL LAWAND PROCEDURE
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(B) a wound; or
(C) an injury;
consistent with participation in or training
for an animal fighting contest;
commits promoting an animal fighting contest, a
Level 6 felony.
35-46-3-10. Attending animal fighting
contest.
A person who knowingly or intentionally
attends a fighting contest involving animals com-
mits cruelty to an animal, a Class Amisdemeanor.
However, except for a conviction under section 1
of this chapter, the offense is a Level 6 felony if
the person has a prior unrelated conviction under
this chapter.
35-46-3-11. Striking, interfering with law
enforcement animal.
(a) Aperson who knowingly or intentionally:
(1) strikes, torments, injures, or otherwise
mistreats a law enforcement animal; or
(2) interferes with the actions of a law
enforcement animal while the animal is
engaged in assisting a law enforcement
officer in the performance of the officer’s
duties;
commits a Class A misdemeanor.
(b) An offense under subsection (a)(1) is a
Level 6 felony if the act results in:
(1) serious permanent disfigurement;
(2) unconsciousness;
(3) permanent or protracted loss or impair-
ment of the function of a bodily member
or organ; or
(4) death;
of the law enforcement animal.
(c) It is a defense that the accused person:
(1) engaged in a reasonable act of training,
handling, or discipline; and
(2) acted as an employee or agent of a
law enforcement agency.
(d) In addition to any sentence or fine imposed
for a conviction of an offense under this section,
the court:
(1) may order the person convicted to
make restitution to the person or law
enforcement agency owning the animal
for reimbursement of veterinary bills; and
(2) shall order the person convicted to
make restitution to the person or law
enforcement agency owning the animal
for reimbursement of the cost of replacing
the animal, which may include the cost of
training the animal, if the animal is per-
manently disabled or killed.
35-46-3-11.3. Striking, interfering with
search and rescue dog.
(a) As used in this section, “search and rescue
dog” means a dog that receives special training to
locate or attempt to locate by air scent or ground
or water tracking a person who is an offender or
is lost, trapped, injured, or incapacitated.
(b) A person who knowingly or intentionally:
(1) interferes with the actions of a search
and rescue dog while the dog is perform-
ing or is attempting to perform a search and
rescue task; or
(2) strikes, torments, injures, or otherwise
mistreats a search and rescue dog;
commits a Class A misdemeanor.
(c) An offense under subsection (b)(2) is a
Level 6 felony if the act results in:
(1) serious permanent disfigurement;
(2) unconsciousness;
(3) permanent or protracted loss or impair-
ment of the function of a bodily member
or organ; or
(4) death;
of the search and rescue dog.
(d) It is a defense that the accused person:
(1) engaged in a reasonable act of training,
handling, or disciplining the search and
rescue dog; or
(2) reasonably believed the conduct was
necessary to prevent injury to the accused
person or another person.
(e) In addition to any sentence or fine imposed
for a conviction of an offense under this section,
the court may order the person to make restitution
to the person who owns the search and rescue
dog for reimbursement of:
(1) veterinary bills; and
