Oklahoma § 4-512 - Seizure of abandoned or neglected animals - Divestment of

§ 4-512. Seizure of abandoned or neglected animals - Divestment of

ownership.

A. If a law enforcement officer has reason to believe that an

animal has been abandoned or neglected in violation of Sections 1685

or 1692 through 1700 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the

officer may apply in a court of competent jurisdiction for a warrant

to seize the animal. Upon a showing of probable cause, the court

shall issue a warrant and set a hearing within ten (10) calendar

days of the date of issuance to determine if a violation of such

statutes has occurred. Upon execution of the warrant, the animal

shall be impounded and the owner of the animal shall receive written

notice of the time and place of a hearing to determine whether the

owner’s right to ownership of the animal shall be terminated.

B. If the court finds that the owner of the animal has not

abandoned or neglected the animal, the court shall order the animal

returned to the owner.

C. If the court finds that the owner of the animal has

abandoned or neglected the animal, the owner shall be divested of

ownership of the animal, and the court shall order:

1. The ownership of the animal be transferred to a nonprofit

animal shelter, pound or society for the protection of animals so

that the animal may be sold or adopted; or

2. The animal be humanely destroyed if the court determines

that the best interests of the animal or that the public health and

safety would be served by doing so.

D. If the court finds that the owner of the animal has

abandoned or neglected the animal, the court shall order the owner

to pay all court costs, any reasonable costs incurred for housing

and caring for the animal during impoundment, and any reasonable

costs incurred for humanely destroying the animal if ordered by the

court.

Added by Laws 2007, c. 116, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2007.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 4. Animals