HB 1517 -- 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
it to be in imminent danger of loss of life or has determined
that the condition or conditions deemed to be in violation of
state law 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 violation as instructed by the state veterinarian have not
been made as verified during a required follow-up visit by the
veterinarian, the court may impound or dispose of the farm
animal.

If an abused or neglected farm animal is impounded while in the
possession of a caregiver, 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, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:11 pm