page 1 | page 2 | page 3 | page 4 | page 5 | page 6 | page 7
16.52.080 Transporting or confining in unsafe
manner--Penalty
Any person who willfully transports or confines or causes to be transported
or confined any domestic animal or animals in a manner, posture or confinement
that will jeopardize the safety of the animal or the public shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor. And whenever any such person shall be taken
into custody or be subject to arrest pursuant to a valid warrant therefor
by any officer or authorized person, such officer or person may take
charge of the animal or animals; and any necessary expense thereof shall
be a lien thereon to be paid before the animal or animals may be recovered;
and if the expense is not paid, it may be recovered from the owner of
the animal or the person guilty.
16.52.085 Removal of animals for feeding--Examination--Notice--Euthanasia
(1) If a law enforcement officer or animal control officer has probable
cause to believe that an owner of a domestic animal has violated this
chapter and no responsible person can be found to assume the animal's
care, the officer may authorize, with a warrant, the removal of the
animal to a suitable place for feeding and care, or may place the animal
under the custody of an animal care and control agency. In determining
what is a suitable place, the officer shall consider the animal's needs,
including its size and behavioral characteristics. An officer may remove
an animal under this subsection without a warrant only if the animal
is in an immediate life-threatening condition.
(2) If a law enforcement officer or an animal control officer has probable cause to believe a violation of this chapter has occurred, the officer may authorize an examination of a domestic animal allegedly neglected or abused in violation of this chapter by a veterinarian to determine whether the level of neglect or abuse in violation of this chapter is sufficient to require removal of the animal. This section does not condone illegal entry onto private property.
(3) Any owner whose domestic animal is removed pursuant to this chapter shall be given written notice of the circumstances of the removal and notice of legal remedies available to the owner. The notice shall be given by posting at the place of seizure, by delivery to a person residing at the place of seizure, or by registered mail if the owner is known. In making the decision to remove an animal pursuant to this chapter, the officer shall make a good faith effort to contact the animal's owner before removal.
(4) The agency having custody of the animal may euthanize the animal or may find a responsible person to adopt the animal not less than fifteen business days after the animal is taken into custody. A custodial agency may euthanize severely injured, diseased, or suffering animals at any time. An owner may prevent the animal's destruction or adoption by: (a) Petitioning the district court of the county where the animal was seized for the animal's immediate return subject to court-imposed conditions, or (b) posting a bond or security in an amount sufficient to provide for the animal's care for a minimum of thirty days from the seizure date. If the custodial agency still has custody of the animal when the bond or security expires, the animal shall become the agency's property unless the court orders an alternative disposition. If a court order prevents the agency from assuming ownership and the agency continues to care for the animal, the court shall order the owner to renew a bond or security for the agency's continuing costs for the animal's care.
page 1 | page 2 | page 3 | page 4 | page 5 | page 6 | page 7