American Samoa § 25.1610 - Vicious animals prohibited

§ 25.1610. Vicious animals prohibited

(a) No person may import into or possess in the Territory a live vicious animal, except for animals being exported out of the Territory within 48 hours of their arrival. (b) For the purpose of this section, a vicious animal is one which, without provocation; (1) has made an attack on a person whether or not the attack resulted in any injuries to the person; (2) bitten any person; or (3) displays snarling, snapping, growling, clawing or other behavior which tends to intimidate, frighten or subdue a person. (c) Animals which display the behavior described in subsection (b) upon command of an owner or keeper are considered vicious animals under this section. (d) This section shall be enforced and animals shall be seized by the Department of Public Safety upon its own initiative and upon formal complaint by a person or guardian or parent of a person attacked, bitten or otherwise harassed by a vicious animal. An animal seized under this section must be inspected by the Department of Agriculture officials and be destroyed within 48 hours if the officials confirm its vicious behavior. The Department of Agriculture shall handle the destruction of such animals in a reasonably humane manner. (e) Any person who imports or possesses a vicious animal in the Territory is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. If such animal causes injury to a person in an unprovoked attack then the importer or possessor is guilty of a class D felony.