§ 34-29-132 — Euthanasia in Emergency Situation

Whenever an emergency situation exists which requires the immediate euthanasia of an injured, diseased, or dangerous animal, a law enforcement officer, a veterinarian, or an agent or designee of a local animal control unit may humanely destroy the animal, as provided herein.
(1) Whenever any domestic animal is so injured or diseased as to appear useless and is in a suffering condition, and it reasonably appears to any officer that the animal is imminently near death and cannot be cured or rendered fit for service, and the officer has made a reasonable and concerted, but unsuccessful, effort to locate the owner, the owner’s agent, or a veterinarian, then the officer, acting in good faith and upon reasonable belief, may immediately destroy the animal by shooting the animal or injecting the animal with a barbiturate drug. If the officer locates the owner or the owner’s agent, the officer shall notify the owner or the owner’s agent of the animal’s location and condition. If the officer locates only a veterinarian, the officer shall destroy the animal only upon the advice and recommendation of the veterinarian.
(2) In the absence of negligence, wantonness, or willful conduct, no officer or veterinarian acting in good faith and with due care pursuant to this article may be held liable either criminally or civilly for euthanizing an animal, nor shall any civil or criminal liability attach to the employer of the officer or veterinarian.
(3) A court order shall not be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

Legislative History

(Act 2004-523, p. 1067, §3.)