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SF0024 • 2021

Bond for impounded animals.

AN ACT relating to animals; creating provisions relating to posting bond for an impounded animal other than a livestock animal; amending bond provision for impounded livestock animals as specified; and providing for an effective date.

Agriculture
Inactive

Wyoming marks this bill as inactive, which usually means it is no longer moving in the current session.

Sponsor
Agriculture
Last action
2021-04-07
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2021

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on what happens when an owner cannot afford to post a bond within ten days.

Bond for Impounded Animals

The bill creates rules about posting bond money to cover the costs of caring for impounded non-livestock animals and amends existing rules for livestock animals.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a rule that people who have non-livestock animals taken by authorities must post a bond with the court within ten days, covering at least ninety days of care including food, water, veterinary attention, transportation, and diagnostic testing.
  • Amends existing rules for livestock animals so owners also need to post a similar bond when their animals are impounded.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who have non-livestock animals taken by authorities due to violations of animal cruelty laws.
  • Owners of livestock animals impounded under specific circumstances.

Terms To Know

Bond
Money posted with a court as security that covers the costs of taking care of an animal until its owner can be found or decide what to do next.
Impounded Animals
Animals taken by authorities because they are suspected of being involved in illegal activities, such as cruelty or neglect.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much the bond should be for non-livestock animals; it leaves that up to a judge's decision.
  • It is unclear what happens if an owner cannot afford to post the required bond within ten days of their animal being impounded.

Bill History

  1. 2021-04-07 Senate

    S:Died in Committee Returned Bill Pursuant to SR 5-4

  2. 2021-03-23 Senate

    S No report prior to CoW Cutoff

  3. 2021-01-12 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S05 - Agriculture

  4. 2021-01-12 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  5. 2020-12-30 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
21LSO-0005
2021
STATE OF WYOMING
21LSO-0005
Numbered
2.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0024

Bond for impounded animals.

Sponsored by: Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Interim Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to animals; creating provisions relating to posting bond for an impounded animal other than a livestock animal; amending bond provision for impounded livestock animals as specified; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 6
‑
3
‑
203(j)(i) and 11
‑
29
‑
114(b)(i) are amended to read:

6
‑
3
‑
203.

Cruelty to animals; penalties; limitation on manner of destruction.

(j)

In addition to any sentence and penalties imposed under subsections (e), (h) and (n) of this section, the court may:

(i)

Require the defendant to
pay all reasonable costs incurred in providing necessary food and water, veterinary attention and treatment for any animal affected
post a bond with the circuit court in the county where the animal was impounded in accordance with the following:
; and

(A)

The bond shall be:

(I)

In an amount the circuit court determines is sufficient to provide for the animal's impoundment, transportation, board, nutritional care, veterinary care and diagnostic testing for at least ninety (90) days including the day on which the animal was impounded. The bond may also include an amount the circuit court determines sufficient to provide for the final disposition of the animal; and

(II)

Filed with the circuit court within ten (10) days after the animal is impounded.

(B)

When the bond expires, if the owner of the animal desires to prevent disposition of the animal by a person with authority to enforce this section, the owner shall post a new bond with the court as described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph;

(C)

If a bond is not posted under subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph, a person with authority to enforce this section shall dispose of the animal. As used in this paragraph, "dispose" means to place for adoption, sell or destroy the animal.

The owner of the animal shall be liable for all costs associated with the final disposition of the animal under this subparagraph;

(D)

If a bond has been posted in accordance with subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph, the person with authority to enforce this section may draw from the bond the actual costs as described in subdivision (A)(I) of
this paragraph, from the date of initial impoundment to the date of final disposition of the animal.

11
‑
29
‑
114.

Impoundment of livestock animals; cost of care for livestock animals; providing for bond.

(b)

The owner of the livestock animal impounded under subsection (a) of this section, and who has been cited under W.S. 6
‑
3
‑
203, shall be required to post a bond with the circuit court in the county where the livestock animal was impounded.

The bond shall be:

(i)

In an amount the circuit court determines is sufficient to provide for the livestock animal's
impoundment, transportation,

board, nutritional care, veterinary care and diagnostic testing for at least ninety (90) days including the day on which the livestock animal was impounded; and

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2021
.

(END)

1
SF0024