Missouri Chapter 578: Miscellaneous Offenses
Chapter 578 of the Missouri Revised Statutes covers a broad range of criminal offenses that don’t fall neatly into other categories, including crimes against animals, hunting violations, hazing, gang activity, and sports bribery. Many of these laws were enacted to protect public safety, animal welfare, and the integrity of institutions and recreational activities in Missouri.
What Chapter 578 Covers
- Animal abuse, neglect, and fighting laws
- Hunting and trapping interference or trespass
- Hazing and conduct in educational or group settings
- Sports bribery and gang-related felony enhancements
Click any section below for a plain-language explanation of each statute, including penalties and legal interpretations.
Chapter 578 Statutes Explained
- § 578.009 – Animal Neglect Penalties
- § 578.011 – Animal Trespass Penalties
- § 578.012 – Animal Abuse Penalties
- § 578.013 – Farm Animal Abuse Recording Law
- § 578.023 – Keeping Dangerous Wild Animals
- § 578.024 – Keeping a Dangerous Dog
- § 578.025 – Dogfighting
- § 578.026 – Spectating Dogfighting
- § 578.050 – Cockfighting and Bullbaiting
- § 578.151 – Interfering with Hunting, Fishing, or Trapping
- § 578.152 – Trespass During Hunting or Trapping Interference
- § 578.173 – Animal Baiting or Fighting (Felony)
- § 578.176 – Bear Wrestling
- § 578.365 – Hazing Law
- § 578.398 – Sports Bribery (First Degree)
- § 578.399 – Sports Bribery (Second Degree)
- § 578.423 – Criminal Street Gang Activity
- § 578.425 – Enhanced Sentences for Gang-Related Felonies
Charged With an Offense Under Chapter 578?
If you’re facing allegations under Chapter 578, you need legal support tailored to the complexity of these laws. Contact Combs Waterkotte online or call (314) 900-HELP today for a free consultation with an experienced Missouri criminal defense attorney and to protect your rights and prepare a strong defense.
578.005. Definitions
What key animal-related terms mean under Missouri law
This section explains important words used in Missouri’s animal welfare laws, including how the law defines animals, their care, and who is responsible for them.
1. “Adequate care”: Giving an animal normal, responsible care, including good food, clean water, shelter, and health care to keep it healthy based on its species.
2. “Adequate control”: Properly restraining or managing an animal so it doesn’t hurt itself, people, other animals, or property.
3. “Animal”: Any living creature with a backbone, except humans.
4. “Animal shelter”: A facility owned or run by a nonprofit group that houses and cares for animals.
5. “Farm animal”: Animals raised on a farm for products like food or fiber, or for use in farm production.
6. “Farm animal professional”: Someone who works at a place where farm animals are kept.
7. “Harbor”: Feeding or sheltering an animal at the same place for three or more days in a row.
8. “Humane killing”: Euthanizing an animal in a way approved by veterinary guidelines, or as part of feeding pet carnivores.
9. “Owner”: Anyone who keeps or claims to keep or own an animal, even if they don’t legally hold the title.
10. “Person”: Any individual, group, business, or legal organization.
11. “Pests”: Birds, rabbits, or rodents that harm property or public health, but not endangered species listed by the federal government or Missouri Wildlife Code.
Contact us online or call (314) 900-HELP to talk with a Missouri criminal defense lawyer.
