§ 40-69-280 — Abandoned animals; notice to owner.

(A) An animal is considered abandoned when the animal has been placed in the custody of a licensed veterinarian for boarding, treatment, or other care and is unclaimed by its owner or the owner's agent and the owner or the owner's agent has not paid the charges for the boarding, treatment, or other care within ten days of notice of these charges being provided to the owner or the owner's agent in accordance with this section and no other payment agreement with the owner or the owner's agent has been reached. (B) The notice required in subsection (A) must be given to the owner of the animal or the owner's agent at his last known address by registered mail or by certified mail, return receipt requested, and must contain a statement that if the animal is not claimed and if the charges are not paid within ten days after receipt of the notice, the animal may be sold, donated, turned over to the nearest humane society or animal shelter or otherwise disposed of as the person having custody of the animal considers proper. (C) The owner of an abandoned animal is deemed to have relinquished all rights and claims to the animal by virtue of the abandonment. (D) Providing notice to the owner or the owner's agent pursuant to this section relieves the custodian of the animal of any liability for the sale, donation, euthanasia, or other disposal of the animal.

Legislative History

HISTORY: 2006 Act No. 294, SECTION 1.