CHAPTER 530a
CONNECTICUT HUMANE SOCIETY

      Sec. 29-108a. (Formerly Sec. 17-22). Definitions. The terms "animals" and "animal", as used in this chapter and in sections 53-247, 53-252 and 53-253, shall include all brute creatures and birds.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2915.)

      History: Sec. 17-22 transferred to Sec. 29-108a in 1989.

      Sec. 29-108b. (Formerly Sec. 17-23). Appointment of agents as special police officers. The Commissioner of Public Safety may appoint, at the request of the Connecticut Humane Society, accredited agents of that society as special police officers to serve for two years from the date of their respective appointments, subject to removal by said commissioner. Such officers shall serve without pay, except their regular compensation as agents of said society. They shall receive no fees for service or return of any criminal process and shall have, throughout the state, the powers of constables and police officers to arrest and detain any person violating any provision of the statutes concerning cruelty to animals.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2917; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 88-156, S. 11; P.A. 00-99, S. 137, 154.)

      History: P.A. 77-614 replaced state police commissioner with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 88-156 deleted reference to neglect or cruel treatment of children or offenses against children from list of violations; Sec. 17-23 transferred to Sec. 29-108b in 1989; P.A. 00-99 deleted reference to sheriffs, effective December 1, 2000.

      Cited. 218 C. 757.

      Sec. 29-108c. (Formerly Sec. 17-24). Prevention of cruelty to animals. Any officer or agent of the Connecticut Humane Society may lawfully interfere to prevent the perpetration of any act of cruelty upon any animal in his presence, and any person who interferes with or obstructs or resists any such officer or agent in the discharge of his duty shall be fined not more than fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2916.)

      History: Sec. 17-24 transferred to Sec. 29-108c in 1989.

      Cited. 218 C. 757.

      Sec. 29-108d. (Formerly Sec. 17-25). Disposition of animal or vehicle of person arrested. When any person arrested under any provision of the laws relating to cruelty to animals is, at the time of such arrest, in charge of any vehicle drawn by or containing any animal cruelly treated, any agent or officer of the Connecticut Humane Society may take charge of such animal and of such vehicle and its contents, and shall give notice thereof to the owner, if known, at his last-known address by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and if the owner is not known, by publication in a newspaper having a circulation in the town in which the society took charge of such animal. The society shall care and provide for the animal and the vehicle and its contents until their owner takes charge of them or, if the state claims such seized property is a nuisance, until they are destroyed or disposed of in accordance with section 54-33g. The society shall have a lien on any such animal and vehicle for the expenses of such care and provision.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2918; P.A. 88-325, S. 2.)

      History: P.A. 88-325 specified that notice to the owner be by registered or certified mail to last-known address or by publication in newspaper in town where animal was taken if owner unknown, removed limitation of 60 days from the date of the notice for care of the animal and vehicle and added language on destruction or disposal if the state claims the seized property is a nuisance; Sec. 17-25 transferred to Sec. 29-108d in 1989.

      Sec. 29-108e. (Formerly Sec. 17-27). Detention and disposition of neglected or cruelly treated animals. (a) Any officer or agent of the Connecticut Humane Society may lawfully take charge of any animal found neglected or cruelly treated, in violation of sections 22-366, 22-415 and 53-247 to 53-252, inclusive, and shall thereupon proceed as provided in subsection (b) of this section, except that if, in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian, such animal is so injured or diseased that it should be destroyed immediately, such officer or agent may humanely destroy or cause such animal to be humanely destroyed.

      (b) Such officer or agent shall file with the superior court which has venue over such matter a verified petition plainly stating such facts as to bring such animal within the jurisdiction of the court and praying for appropriate action by the court in accordance with the provisions of this section. Upon the filing of such petition the court shall cause a summons to be issued requiring the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the animal, if known, to appear in court at the time and place named, which summons shall be served not less than fourteen days before the date of the hearing. If the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the animal is not known, notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given by publication in a newspaper having a circulation in the town in which the society took charge of such animal not less than fourteen days before the date of the hearing. Such court shall further give notice to the petitioner of the time and place of the hearing not less than fourteen days before the date of the hearing.

      (c) If it appears from the allegations of the petition and other affirmations of fact accompanying the petition, or provided subsequent thereto, that there is reasonable cause to find that the animal's condition or the circumstances surrounding its care require that its custody be immediately assumed to safeguard its welfare, the court shall either (1) issue an order to the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the animal to show cause at such time as the court may designate why the court shall not vest in some suitable agency or person the animal's temporary care and custody pending a hearing on the petition or (2) issue an order vesting in some suitable agency or person the animal's temporary care and custody pending a hearing on the petition which hearing shall be held within ten days from the issuance of such order on the need for such temporary care and custody. The service of such orders may be made by any officer authorized by law to serve process, state police officer or indifferent person.

      (d) (1) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is neglected or cruelly treated, it may vest ownership of the animal in any private or public agency which is permitted by law to care for neglected or cruelly treated animals or with any person found to be suitable or worthy of such responsibility by the court.

      (2) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is so injured or diseased that it should be destroyed, the court may order that such animal be humanely destroyed.

      (3) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is not neglected or cruelly treated, it may cause the animal to be returned to its owner or owners or person having responsibility for its care or, if such owner or owners or person is unknown or unwilling to resume caring for such animal, it may vest ownership of the animal in any private or public agency or person found to be suitable or worthy of such responsibility.

      (e) Unless the court finds that the animal is not neglected or cruelly treated, the expense incurred by the society in providing proper food, shelter and care to an animal it has taken charge of under subsection (a) of this section and the expense incurred by an agency or person in providing temporary care and custody to an animal under subsection (c) of this section shall be paid by the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the animal and the society or such agency or person shall have a lien upon such animal for such expense.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2920; P.A. 88-325, S. 3; P.A. 92-242, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 88-325 removed "abandoned" from the description of animals the society may take charge of and that specified notice be by registered or certified mail or by publication in newspaper circulated in town where animal was taken; Sec. 17-27 transferred to Sec. 29-108e in 1989; P.A. 92-242 substantially revised section by amending Subsec. (a) to replace requirement that notice be given to the owner, if known, at his last-known address by registered or certified mail or, if the owner is unknown, by publication in a newspaper having a circulation in the town in which the society took charge of the animal and provision that society may provide for the animal until the owner takes charge of it with the expense of such care and provision being collectible from the owner, with more detailed provisions re custody of neglected or cruelly treated animals, re hearing procedure and re assignment of ownership after hearing and re liability for custodial expenses.

      Cited. 218 C. 757.

      Sec. 29-108f. (Formerly Sec. 17-28). Cost of care of neglected or cruelly treated animal. Disposition of animal if expense not paid. Section 29-108f is repealed.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2921; 1955, S. 1634d; P.A. 88-325, S. 4; P.A. 92-242, S. 2.)

      Sec. 29-108g. (Formerly Sec. 17-29). Destruction of animal in the charge of the society. Any agent or officer of the Connecticut Humane Society may lawfully take charge of and humanely destroy, or cause to be humanely destroyed, any abandoned, lost, strayed or homeless animal or animal unsuitable for adoption in his charge if upon examination a licensed veterinarian certifies, in writing, or if two persons called to view the animal in the presence of an agent or officer of the society find that the animal is injured, disabled or diseased past recovery, infirm or unsuitable for adoption, or if the owner consents in writing to such destruction. In the absence of such certification or finding or redemption by the owner, the society may, after five days, humanely destroy any animal in its charge pursuant to this section. In lieu of such destruction or redemption by the owner, the society may, in its discretion and without liability, deliver such animal, after five days, to a person other than the owner.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2922; P.A. 88-325, S. 5.)

      History: P.A. 88-325 changed requirements for destruction of animals by including language pertaining to examination by a veterinarian and authorizing destroying "infirm" animals, animals unsuitable for adoption and animals whose owners have given consent in writing for their destruction, and added provision allowing destruction after five days or delivery to a person other than the owner after five days; Sec. 17-29 transferred to Sec. 29-108g in 1989.

      Cited. 218 C. 757.

      Sec. 29-108h. (Formerly Sec. 17-29a). Use of high altitude euthanasia devices prohibited. No person or organization shall use any high altitude device for the purpose of destroying any animal, and on or after January 1, 1981, no person or organization shall possess any high altitude device for such purpose.

      (P.A. 79-155, S. 1, 2.)

      History: Sec. 17-29a transferred to Sec. 29-108h in 1989.

      Sec. 29-108i. (Formerly Sec. 17-30). Officers and agents to have certificates or badges. Officers and agents of said society shall be provided by said society with certificates that they are such officers or agents, in such form as the directors of said society may choose, or with badges bearing the name or seal of said society, and shall, if requested, show such certificates or badges when acting officially.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2923.)

      History: Sec. 17-30 transferred to Sec. 29-108i in 1989.