If your dog or cat goes missing under suspicious circumstances in Louisiana, you’re not just dealing with a lost pet — you may be looking at a criminal matter. Louisiana is one of a handful of states that treats pet theft penalty questions differently from ordinary property crime, giving companion animals their own place in the criminal code rather than lumping them in with stolen bicycles or lawn equipment.
This matters because the penalties, the charging decisions, and even how you report the crime can look different depending on whether the animal taken was a family dog, a barn cat, or livestock. Below, you’ll find how Louisiana defines and punishes pet theft, what separates a misdemeanor from a felony charge, and what options you have — criminal and civil — if someone takes your animal.
Whether Stealing a Pet Is a Crime Under Louisiana Law
Yes — taking someone else’s pet in Louisiana is a criminal offense, not just a civil dispute over property. Louisiana treats dog theft as its own crime under R.S. 14:67.30, with escalating penalties for repeat offenders and clear steps for getting your pet back. That statute replaced the older R.S. 14:67.2, which covered the same conduct under a different section number for years before the legislature recodified it.
Under the current law, theft of animals is the misappropriation, killing, or taking of any animal which belongs to another, either without consent of the other to the misappropriation or taking, or by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations, with an intent to deprive the other permanently of the animal or an intent to ransom it for the purpose of extorting money or favor. That ransom language is notable — it means a classic “dognapping for reward” scheme fits squarely within the statute, not just a straightforward theft.
The law defines “animal” broadly. For purposes of this section, “animal” means any non-human living creature except for livestock as defined in R.S. 14:67.1. That means everything from a family dog to an exotic pet like the kind discussed in this guide to owning a monkey in Louisiana can fall under this statute, since livestock is carved out and handled separately. It’s worth noting that theft is a distinct charge from animal welfare violations like those covered under Louisiana’s dog chaining laws — one addresses taking an animal that belongs to someone else, the other addresses how an owner treats an animal they legally possess.
How Louisiana Charges Pet Theft: Animal-Specific Statutes vs General Theft or Larceny
Prosecutors in Louisiana generally have more than one legal path available when charging someone who stole a pet. The dedicated animal theft statute, R.S. 14:67.30, exists specifically for this conduct, but the general theft statute, R.S. 14:67, remains on the books and could theoretically apply as well, since theft is the misappropriation or taking of anything of value which belongs to another, either without the consent of the other to the misappropriation or taking, or by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations, with an intent to deprive the other permanently of whatever may be the subject of the misappropriation or taking essential to any theft conviction.
Livestock theft follows an entirely different track. Because animals like cattle, horses, and poultry are excluded from the animal theft statute’s definition, cases involving farm animals typically fall under R.S. 14:67.1 instead, which has its own restitution requirements. In addition to the penalties provided, a person convicted under this section shall be ordered to make full restitution to the victim and any other person who has suffered a financial loss as a result of the offense. This is a meaningfully different legal framework than the one governing a stolen dog or cat, which is why owners dealing with issues like cattle trespass or disputes tied to cattle branding requirements should understand they’re operating under separate statutes than someone whose house pet was taken.
Pro Tip: If you’re unsure whether your stolen animal counts as a “pet” or “livestock” under Louisiana law, tell the responding officer or detective every detail about how the animal was kept and used — as a companion versus for breeding, sale, or agricultural purposes. That distinction can change which statute applies.
Felony vs Misdemeanor Thresholds for Stealing a Dog, Cat, or Companion Animal in Louisiana
General theft in Louisiana is graded almost entirely by the dollar value of what was taken. A defendant who steals property or services valued at less than $1,000 commits a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months’ imprisonment and a $1,000 fine. Beyond that threshold, penalties climb sharply with value.
Animal theft under R.S. 14:67.30 doesn’t follow quite the same clean value ladder as general theft, and it carries an important carve-out for dogs kept as pets. Under the statute’s predecessor language, the provisions do not apply when the state proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the animal is a dog and a pet, and the theft of such animal shall be punishable as provided in Paragraph B(1) of this Section — meaning a stolen pet dog can be charged at the statute’s top felony tier regardless of the dog’s actual market value, whether it’s a mixed-breed rescue or a dog covered by Louisiana’s pit bull ownership rules or breed-specific requirements like those affecting Dobermans.
| Statute | Value or Circumstance | Charge Level | Maximum Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| General theft (R.S. 14:67) | Under $1,000 | Misdemeanor | 6 months jail, $1,000 fine |
| General theft (R.S. 14:67) | $1,000–$4,999 | Felony | Up to 5 years, $3,000 fine |
| General theft (R.S. 14:67) | $5,000–$24,999 | Felony | Up to 10 years, $10,000 fine |
| General theft (R.S. 14:67) | $25,000 or more | Felony | Up to 20 years, $50,000 fine |
| Animal theft (R.S. 14:67.30) | Under statutory value floor | Misdemeanor | 6 months, $500 fine |
| Animal theft (R.S. 14:67.30) | Dog kept as a pet, any value | Felony (top tier) | Up to 10 years hard labor, $3,000 fine |
| Animal theft, repeat offense | Two or more prior misdemeanor convictions | Felony | Up to 2 years hard labor, $1,000 fine |
Misdemeanor theft carries a sentence of up to 6 months in jail, while felony theft when misappropriation or taking amounts to a value of $1000 or more, but less than $5000, the offender shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, and if the value is $5,000 or more, but less than $25,000, the sentencing range is up to 10 years and/or a fine of up to $10,000, and when the value is $25,000 or more, the sentencing range is up to 20 years and a fine up to $50,000. This general theft framework helps illustrate why the pet-specific felony carve-out matters — without it, a low-value shelter dog might otherwise only support a misdemeanor charge under value-based rules alone.
Fines, Jail or Prison Time, and Restitution for Pet Theft in Louisiana
On a first offense involving an animal that doesn’t qualify for the dog-and-pet felony exception, the baseline penalty is comparatively light. Whoever commits the crime of theft of animals shall be imprisoned for not more than six months or fined not more than five hundred dollars or both. That changes fast for repeat offenders — the law imposes a much steeper penalty once someone has a theft history involving animals.
If the offender in such a case has been convicted of misdemeanor theft of an animal two or more times previously, upon any subsequent conviction he shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than two years or may be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or both. Courts can also order restitution as part of sentencing. In addition to the foregoing penalties, a person convicted who killed an animal may be ordered to make full restitution to the owner of the animal, in an amount not less than the value of the animal as determined by the statute.
Louisiana law also builds in some flexibility for defendants who genuinely cannot pay. If a person ordered to make restitution is found to be indigent and therefore unable to make restitution in full at the time of conviction, the court shall order a periodic payment plan.
Pro Tip: Keep veterinary records, adoption paperwork, and proof of your pet’s rabies vaccination or microchip registration on file. If your case goes to sentencing, this documentation helps establish the animal’s value for restitution purposes.
Civil Damages, Treble Recovery, or Related Claims After Pet Theft in Louisiana
Criminal charges and civil recovery are two separate tracks, and Louisiana law allows both to move forward independently. A criminal conviction doesn’t automatically put your pet back in your home or reimburse your losses — for that, pet owners typically need to pursue a civil claim, most commonly for conversion, alongside any court-ordered restitution tied to the criminal case.
Unlike a handful of other states that have enacted treble-damages statutes specifically for stolen or harmed pets, Louisiana’s general theft and animal theft statutes focus on criminal penalties and restitution rather than multiplied civil damages. A civil suit for a stolen pet in Louisiana generally seeks the animal’s value, related expenses such as veterinary bills incurred searching for or recovering the animal, and in some circumstances court costs.
Important Note: This article explains general legal concepts and is not a substitute for legal advice. Civil remedies for pet theft can vary based on the facts of your case, and Louisiana courts have handled the valuation of companion animals differently than ordinary property in some rulings. Consult a licensed Louisiana attorney to evaluate your specific situation.
If your stolen pet is recovered but has been sold, gifted, or transferred to someone else, a civil action may also be necessary to compel return of the animal, separate from any restitution ordered in a criminal case involving the original thief.
How to Report a Stolen Pet to Police or Animal Control in Louisiana
Acting quickly after discovering your pet has been stolen — rather than simply missing — improves your odds of both a criminal charge and recovery. Louisiana law enforcement generally treats a credible theft report differently than a routine lost-pet call, so being specific about why you believe theft occurred matters from the first phone call.
- Call your local police department’s non-emergency line and explicitly state that you believe your pet was stolen, not simply lost, and provide any evidence such as broken locks, witness accounts, or security footage.
- File a written police report that includes your pet’s breed, description, microchip number, and any identifying features. Referencing established characteristics of popular dog breeds in Louisiana can help responding officers and the public identify your pet quickly.
- Contact your parish animal control office separately from police, since they maintain their own intake and lost-and-found records that may cross paths with your case.
- Update your pet’s microchip registry and notify the chip manufacturer that the animal is reported stolen, which can flag the chip if someone attempts to re-register it under a new owner.
- Share the report with local shelters and rescues so staff can watch for your pet if someone attempts to surrender or rehome it.
Throughout this process, keep a written timeline of every contact you make with police, animal control, and shelters. If the case eventually proceeds to prosecution under R.S. 14:67.30, this record can support both the criminal case and any restitution request.
Possession, Sale, or Transfer of a Stolen Pet Under Louisiana Law
Louisiana law doesn’t stop at the person who physically took the animal. Someone who knowingly buys, receives, or resells a stolen pet can face separate charges under the state’s illegal possession of stolen things statute. Illegal possession of stolen things is a distinct offense when the value of the stolen things is less than three hundred dollars at the lowest tier, with higher penalties applying as the value of the animal increases, mirroring the tiered structure used elsewhere in the theft statutes.
This creates real exposure for people who unknowingly buy a stolen pet from an online marketplace, a “free to good home” post, or even a legitimate-looking rehoming situation. If you’re acquiring a dog, cat, or other animal from someone other than a licensed shelter or rescue, ask for proof of ownership — prior vet records, purchase receipts, or registration paperwork — before completing the transfer.
Common Mistake: Assuming that paying money for an animal automatically makes the sale legitimate. Under Louisiana’s possession-of-stolen-property framework, a buyer can still face charges even after paying for a stolen pet if they knew or reasonably should have known it was stolen.
Cross-parish and interstate transfers of a stolen animal raise additional complications, particularly for anyone unfamiliar with Louisiana’s pet import requirements or the documentation rules that apply when transporting livestock across state lines. Moving a stolen animal out of state doesn’t erase the original theft charge, and it can add federal considerations depending on the circumstances and value involved.
If you’re on the receiving end of a suspicious rehoming situation, contacting the parish sheriff’s office before completing the transaction is a reasonable precaution. It protects you from potential possession charges and gives law enforcement a chance to check whether the animal matches an open theft report.
Pet theft in Louisiana carries consequences that go well beyond a simple property dispute, from felony-level exposure for anyone who steals a dog kept as a pet to restitution obligations and possible civil claims. Knowing which statute applies to your situation — and moving quickly to report the theft — gives you the best chance at both a resolution in court and getting your animal home.