Oklahoma § 21-1686 - Abandoned animals – Euthanasia – Custody of animal

§ 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.