HB 420 -- Impoundment of Animals

Sponsor:  Viebrock

Currently, any neglected or abused animal may be impounded.  This
bill prohibits a farm animal weighing more than 50 pounds from
being impounded until a district state veterinarian of the
Department of Agriculture has examined the animal and determined
the animal to be in imminent danger of loss of life or has
determined that the condition or conditions deemed to be in
violation cannot reasonably be rectified before the disposition
hearing.  Any animal not impounded must be quarantined.  If
before the disposition hearing, reasonable attempts to correct
the condition as instructed by the veterinarian have not been
made as verified during a required follow-up visit by the state
veterinarian, the court may impound or dispose of the farm
animal.

If an abused or neglected farm animal in the possession of a
caregiver is impounded, the authority having custody of the
animal is required to make a diligent effort to notify the owner
in writing that the animal has been impounded.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:24 am