Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) BA State Certification Practice Exam

If someone kicks a neighbor's dog due to personal annoyance, what crime might they be charged with?

1. Animal Cruelty

2. Criminal Damage to Property

3. Assault

4. Negligence

The correct answer is: Criminal Damage to Property

If someone kicks a neighbor's dog out of personal annoyance, the most applicable charge would typically fall under animal cruelty. Animal cruelty laws are designed to protect animals from harm and mistreatment, and kicking a dog can be considered a form of physical abuse towards the animal. The intent behind the action is central to the definition of animal cruelty, as it encompasses acts that cause unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal. While criminal damage to property relates to harming someone else's property, which potentially could apply if the animal is viewed as property, the fundamental nature of kicking a living creature is more directly aligned with laws protecting animals from cruelty. Therefore, the better choice here would be animal cruelty, as it addresses the inappropriate behavior specifically towards an animal. The nuances of the law regarding different crimes mean that actions affecting living creatures often have specific statutory protections that extend beyond general property damage laws.