HCS HB 1600 -- IMPOUNDMENT OF ANIMALS

SPONSOR:  Hobbs (Viebrock)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Conservation and Natural Resources by a vote of 12 to 0.

Currently, any neglected or abused animal may be impounded.  This
substitute requires that a farm animal weighing more than 50
pounds not be impounded until the district state veterinarian of
the Department of Agriculture has examined the animal and
determined the animal to be in imminent danger of loss of life or
has determined that the condition or conditions deemed to be in
violation cannot reasonably be rectified before the disposition
hearing.  If before the disposition hearing, reasonable attempts
to correct the condition have not been made and approved by the
veterinarian during a required follow-up visit, the animals may
be impounded or destroyed.

If abused or neglected farm animals in the possession of a
caregiver are impounded, the authority having custody of the
animals is required to make a diligent effort to notify the owner
in writing that the animals are impounded.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will require farm
animals weighing more than 50 pounds to be quarantined and not
impounded until a veterinarian of the Department of Agriculture
has examined the animal and determined the animal to be in
imminent danger.  The remainder of the farm animals owned are to
be quarantined until the owner has been instructed to correct the
animal abuse violation.  Impounding only adds considerable undue
stress on the animals when no accusations have been proven to be
true.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Viebrock and Dake;
Price Keller; Missouri Farm Bureau; and Missouri Federation of
Animal Owners.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that it is erecting
more barriers to rescue abused and neglected animals.  Without
additional resources to ensure that the district veterinarian can
inspect the animals immediately, the bill could lead to tragedy.

Testifying against the bill were Missouri Alliance for Animal
Legislation; and Humane Society of Missouri.

Kristina Jenkins, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:43 am