Under this act, animal control officers must hold stray animals in safe and humane custody for a minimum of 5 business days prior to making any final disposition of the animal. A stray animal may be euthanized prior to the completion of the 5-day period to prevent unnecessary suffering due to serious injury or disease.
§ 11-46-101 . Title
§ 11-46-102 . Definitions
§ 11-46-103 . Stray animals
§ 11-46-101. Title
This chapter is known as the “Animal Welfare Act.”
Credits
Laws 2011, c. 130, § 1, eff. May 10, 2011.
§ 11-46-102. Definitions
As used in this chapter:
(1) “Animal” means a cat or dog.
(2) “Animal control officer” means any person employed or appointed by a county or a municipality who is authorized to investigate violations of laws and ordinances concerning animals, to issue citations in accordance with Utah law, and take custody of animals as appropriate in the enforcement of the laws and ordinances.
(3) “Animal shelter” means a facility or program:
(a) providing services for stray, lost, or unwanted animals, including holding and placing the animals for adoption, but does not include an institution conducting research on animals, as defined in Section 26-26-1; or
(b) a private humane society or private animal welfare organization.
(4) “Person” means an individual, an entity, or a representative of an entity.
Credits
Laws 2011, c. 130, § 2, eff. May 10, 2011.
§ 11-46-103. Stray animals
(1) Each municipal or county animal control officer shall hold any unidentified or unclaimed stray animal in safe and humane custody for a minimum of five business days after the time of impound and prior to making any final disposition of the animal.
(2) A record of each animal held shall be maintained. The record shall include:
(a) date of impound;
(b) date of disposition; and
(c) method of disposition, which may be:
(i) placement in an adoptive home or other transfer of the animal, which shall be in compliance with Part 2, Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization Act;
(ii) return to its owner;
(iii) placement in a community cat program as defined in Section 11-46-302; or
(iv) euthanasia.
(3) An unidentified or unclaimed stray animal may be euthanized prior to the completion of the five working day minimum holding period to prevent unnecessary suffering due to serious injury or disease, if the euthanasia is in compliance with written agency or department policies and procedures, and with any local ordinances allowing the euthanasia.
(4) An unidentified or unclaimed stray animal shall be returned to its owner upon:
(a) proof of ownership;
(b) compliance with requirements of local animal control ordinances; and
(c) compliance with Part 2, Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization Act.
Credits
Laws 2011, c. 130, § 3, eff. May 10, 2011.