Penalties for abusing or mistreating of animals

Anyone caught abusing or mistreating animals can be charged under Section 44 & 45 of Animals Act 1953 (Act 647).

Section 44. Penalty for cruelty to animals 
(1) Any person who— 

(a) cruelly beats, kicks, ill-treats, overrides, overdrives, overloads, tortures, 
infuriates or terrifies any animal; 

(b) causes or procures or, being the owner, permits any animal to be so 
used; 

(c) being in charge of any animal in confinement or in course of transport
from one place to another neglects to supply such animal with sufficient
food or water;

(d) by wantonly or unreasonably doing or omitting to do any act, causes
any unnecessary pain or suffering, or, being the owner, permits any
unnecessary pain or suffering to any animal;

(e) causes, procures or, being the owner, permits to be confined,
conveyed, lifted or carried any animal in such manner or position as to
subject it to unnecessary pain or suffering;

(f) employs or causes or procures or, being the owner, permits to be
employed in any work or labour, any animal which in consequence of any
disease, infirmity, wound or sore, or otherwise is unfit to be so employed;
or

(g) causes, procures or assists at the fighting or baiting of any animal, or
keeps, uses, manages, or acts or assists in the management of any
premises or place for the purpose, or partly for the purpose, of fighting or
baiting any animal, or permits any premises or place to be so kept,
managed or used, or receives or causes or procures any person to receive, money for the admission of any person to such premises or place,
shall be guilty of an offence of cruelty and shall be liable to a fine of two
hundred ringgit or to imprisonment for a term of six months or to both.

Section 45. Power of veterinary authorities and police officers
(1) Any veterinary authority and any police officer may arrest without warrant any
person whom he sees committing any offence under section 44, and may seize
any animal in respect of which and any conveyance or article with or by means of
which such offence has been committed.

(2) Any person so arrested and any conveyance or article so seized shall be
immediately taken to a police station.

(3) Any animal so seized shall be taken to a police station or a pound or a
veterinary centre and may, subject to any order made in respect of the animal by
a Magistrate, be there detained until the accused has been tried.

(4) Any such officer may stop in any street or public place and examine any
animal in respect of which he has reason to believe that an offence has been or
is being committed under section 44.