Full Statute Name:  Connecticut General Statutes Annotated. Title 49. Mortgages and Liens. Chapter 847. Liens. § 49-70. Lien on animals for their keep. Transfer of abandoned animals

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Primary Citation:  C.G.S.A. § 49-70 Country of Origin:  United States Last Checked:  February, 2024 Alternate Citation:  CT ST § 49-70 Date Adopted:  1949 Historical: 
Summary: This Connecticut law provides that when a special agreement has been made between the owner of any animals and a person keeping/taking care of such animals for a price, those animals are subject to a lien in favor of the person keeping the animals. The person keeping those animals may detain the animals until the debt is paid. If the debt is not paid with 30 days after it becomes due, the keeper may sell the animals at public auction after he or she gives written notice to the owner of the time and place at least six days before the sale. Additionally, a commercial boarding kennel or veterinary hospital may transfer abandoned animals to a nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organization. An animal is considered abandoned if the owner or keeper of such animal fails to retrieve the animal within five days of the date on which such owner or keeper was scheduled to retrieve the animal. Written notice notice sent certified, return-receipt requested must first be sent to the owner with a ten-day waiting period before the transfer can occur.


(a) When a special agreement has been made between the owner of any animals, including birds and fish, and any person who keeps and feeds such animals, regarding the price of such keeping, such animals shall be subject to a lien, for the price of such keeping, in favor of the person keeping the same; and such person so keeping such animals may detain the same until such debt is paid; and, if it is not paid within thirty days after it is due, he may sell such animals, or so many thereof as are necessary, at public auction, upon giving written notice to the owner of the time and place of such sale at least six days before such sale, and apply the proceeds to the payment of such debts, returning the surplus, if any, to such owner.

(b) A commercial kennel, as defined in section 22-327, or a veterinary hospital which boards or grooms animals for nonmedical purposes, may transfer any abandoned animal in its custody to a nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organization which annually places ten or more animals in private homes as pets. An animal shall be considered abandoned if the owner or keeper of such animal fails to retrieve the animal within five days of the date on which such owner or keeper was scheduled to retrieve the animal. Prior to transferring such animal, such kennel or veterinary hospital shall give notice of its intention to do so to the owner or keeper at his last-known address by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall allow a period of ten days to elapse after the receipt is returned before transferring such animal. Each such commercial kennel and veterinary hospital shall post in a visible location the procedures provided for in this subsection and shall give a written notice of such procedures to any person who boards an animal at such kennel or with such veterinary hospital. Any nonprofit organization which receives an animal in accordance with the provisions of this subsection shall not be liable in any civil action brought by the previous owner or keeper of such animal for any subsequent transfer or disposal of such animal by such organization.

Credits
(1949 Rev., § 7249; 1959, P.A. 248; 1995, P.A. 95-358, § 3; 1996, P.A. 96-243, § 6, eff. June 6, 1996.)

Editors' Notes

Agricultural liens securing interests in farm products, perfection and priority, see C.G.S.A. § 42a-9-101 et seq.

Cruelty to animals, lien of person caring for animals found in custody of person arrested for, see C.G.S.A. § 53-253.

Disposition of animal of person arrested, see C.G.S.A. § 29-108d.

 
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