Cruelty to animals-2.

WORKING DRAFT
2011
STATE OF
WYOMING
11LSO-0584

HOUSE BILL
NO.
HB0245

Cruelty to animals-2.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Wallis

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to
animal cruelty; providing fo
r county commissioner declaration of animal cruelty as a public nuisance;

providing penalties;
and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Wyoming
:

Section 1.
W.S. 11
‑
31
‑
301(a),
(b)
by creating a new paragraph (ii) and by renumbering (ii) and (iii) as (iii) and (iv)
, (c) and (g)

is
amended to read:

ARTICLE 3
ANIMALS RUNNING AT LARGE
AND CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

11
‑
31
‑
301.

Public nuisance; notice; penalties; rules and regulations; animal control districts and officers.

(a)

A board of county commissioners may declare the running at large of any specified animals

or cruelty to animals, as defined in W.S. 6
‑
3
‑
203(b),
in unincorporated areas within the county limits a public nuisance.

(b)

Notice of such a declaration shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the county and notices may be placed in appropriate locations. The notice shall specify any regulations necessary and convenient for animal control and shall state that:

(ii)

It is a public nuisance for persons to keep an animal in conditions that constitute cruelty to animals as defined in W.S. 6
‑
3
‑
203(b);

(ii)
(iii)

A fine shall be imposed on the owner of such animal and restitution for any damages to person or property caused by the animal shall be made by the owner;

(iii)
(iv)

Dogs or other animals, whose ownership cannot be determined, may be destroyed.

(c)

Upon the filing of any complaint, the county sheriff may arrest or issue a summons to the owner of any animal which is running at large or has attacked a person

or
to
a person who keeps an animal in conditions that constitute cruelty to animals as defined in W.S. 6
‑
3
‑
203(b)
. A first conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00). Each subsequent conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00).

(g)

A board of county commissioners may enact regulations relative to dogs running at large, vicious dogs, dogs running wild game or livestock
, cruelty to animals
or acts by other animals which shall carry out the purposes of this section.

The county sheriff shall and a county animal control officer or any other peace officer may enforce these regulations to protect persons and property.

Section 2.
This act is effective July 1, 2011.

(END)

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HB0245