Effective - 28 Aug 1983
578.016. Impoundment of animal found off property of owner or custodian, disposition, procedure — liability of owner or custodian for costs — lien — rights of owner or custodian. — 1. Any duly authorized public health official, law enforcement official, or animal control officer may impound any animal found outside of the owned or rented property of the owner or custodian of such animal when such animal shows evidence of neglect or abuse. Any animal impounded pursuant to this section shall be:
(1) If the owner can be ascertained and the animal is not diseased or disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose, held for recovery by the owner. The owner shall be notified within five business days of impoundment by phone or by mail of the animal's location and recovery procedures. The animal shall be held for ten business days. An animal unclaimed after ten business days may be put up for adoption or humanely killed;
(2) Placed in the care or custody of a veterinarian, the appropriate animal control authority or animal shelter. The animal shall not be disposed of, unless diseased or disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose, until after expiration of a minimum of five business days, during which time the public shall have clear access to inspect or recover the animal through time periods ordinarily accepted as usual business hours. After five business days, the animal may be put up for adoption or humanely killed; or
(3) If diseased or disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose as determined by a public health official, law enforcement official, veterinarian or animal control officer, humanely killed.
2. The owner or custodian of an animal impounded pursuant to this section shall be liable for reasonable costs for the care and maintenance of the animal. Any person incurring reasonable costs for the care and maintenance of such animal shall have a lien against such animal until the reasonable costs have been paid and may put up for adoption or humanely kill any animal if such costs are not paid within ten days after demand. Any moneys received for an animal adopted pursuant to this subsection in excess of costs shall be paid to the owner of such animal.
3. The owner or custodian of any animal killed pursuant to this section shall be entitled to recover the actual value of the animal up to but not to exceed six hundred dollars if the owner or custodian shows that such killing was unwarranted.
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(L. 1983 S.B. 211 § 6)
Structure Missouri Revised Statutes
Title XXXVIII - Crimes and Punishment; Peace Officers and Public Defenders
Chapter 578 - Miscellaneous Offenses
Section 578.005 - Definitions.
Section 578.009 - Animal neglect — penalties.
Section 578.011 - Animal trespass, penalty.
Section 578.012 - Animal abuse — penalties.
Section 578.014 - Responsibility of parent or guardian of minor owning.
Section 578.021 - Neglected or abused animal not to be returned to owner or custodian, when.
Section 578.022 - Law enforcement dogs, exempt from certain laws, when.
Section 578.023 - Keeping a dangerous wild animal — penalty.
Section 578.024 - Keeping a dangerous dog — penalties.
Section 578.025 - Dogfighting — penalty.
Section 578.026 - Spectating dog fighting — penalty.
Section 578.027 - Causing a dog to pursue a live animal propelled by a device — penalty.
Section 578.029 - Knowingly releasing an animal — penalty.
Section 578.050 - Bullbaiting and cockfighting — penalty.
Section 578.095 - Desecration of flags — penalty.
Section 578.105 - Additional counties may be exempted from provisions of section 578.100, procedure.
Section 578.110 - Counties may be exempted from provisions of section 578.100, procedure.
Section 578.115 - No penalty, when.
Section 578.170 - Definitions.
Section 578.173 - Baiting or fighting animals — penalty.
Section 578.176 - Bear wrestling — penalty.
Section 578.179 - Seizure and disposition of animals.
Section 578.188 - Severability.
Section 578.350 - Medical deception — penalty — immunity, when.
Section 578.365 - Hazing — consent not a defense — penalties.
Section 578.398 - Sports bribery, first degree, penalty.
Section 578.399 - Sports bribery, second degree, penalty.
Section 578.421 - Citation of law — definitions.
Section 578.423 - Participating knowingly in criminal street gang activities, penalty.
Section 578.525 - Unlawful retrieval of large or small game — affirmative defense — penalty.
Section 578.600 - Citation of law — definitions.
Section 578.602 - Prohibited acts — purpose of act — permit required, procedure.
Section 578.604 - Identification number on animal required.
Section 578.612 - Permit for transport of animal required.
Section 578.614 - Violations, penalty — exceptions.
Section 578.616 - Civil forfeiture, when.
Section 578.618 - Local laws, more restrictive permitted.
Section 578.620 - Inapplicability of act.
Section 578.622 - Additional exemptions
Section 578.624 - Large carnivore fund created, use of moneys.
Section 578.625 - Unavailability of use of certain moneys
Section 578.700 - Notaries and notarial acts — prohibited acts — violations, penalties.