§ 21-1686. Abandoned animals – Euthanasia – Custody of animal following arrest.

A.  Any person owning or having charge or custody of a maimed, diseased, disabled, or infirm animal who abandons the animal or who allows the animal to lie in a public street, road, or public place one (1) hour after the person receives notice by a duly constituted authority that the animal is disabled or dead, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

B.  Any peace officer or animal control officer may humanely destroy or cause to be humanely destroyed any animal found abandoned and for which no proper care has been given.

C.  When any person who is arrested is, at the time of the arrest, in charge of any animal or of any vehicle drawn by or containing any animal, any peace officer, or animal control officer may take custody of the animal or of the vehicle and its contents, or deliver the animal or the vehicle and its contents into the possession of the police or sheriff of the county or place where the arrest was made, who shall assume the custody thereof.  All necessary expenses incurred in taking custody of the animal or of the vehicle and its contents shall be a lien on such property.

D.  For the purpose of the provisions of this section and Section 1691 of this title, the term “abandon” means the voluntary relinquishment of an animal and shall include but shall not be limited to vacating a premises and leaving the animal in or at the premises, or failing to feed the animal or allowing it to stray or wander onto private or public property with the intention of surrendering ownership or custody over the animal.

R.L. 1910, § 2747.  Amended by Laws 1984, c. 104, § 1, operative July 1, 1984; Laws 2006, c. 188, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2006.