| | 1. Notice.__An animal shelter that accepts a pet under this | section shall within 24 hours of receiving the pet send a | notice by registered mail, return receipt requested, to the | owner of the pet. The notice must inform the owner of the | provisions of this section. |
|
| | 2. Release of pet. Upon payment of costs incurred for food, | shelter and veterinary care, an animal shelter shall release a | pet accepted under this section to its owner or to a person | who is designated in a letter signed by the owner as acting on | the owner's behalf. |
|
| | 3.__Transfer of ownership; disposition of pet.__If an owner | fails to arrange for release of a pet in accordance with | subsection 2 within 10 days of the pet's acceptance by the | shelter, ownership of the pet is vested with the animal | shelter upon expiration of the 10-day period and the animal | shelter may: |
|
| A.__Offer the pet for adoption or sell or give away the | pet; or |
|
| B.__Dispose of the pet humanely in accordance with Title | 17, chapter 42, subchapter 4. |
|
| An animal shelter may not sell or give a pet to a research | facility. |
|
| | 4. Claims. When an owner does not arrange for the release | of a pet under subsection 2, the animal shelter is entitled to | receive from the department $4 a day for food and shelter for | the pet for a maximum of 10 days. |
|
| | 5.__Immunity.__A veterinarian, a humane agent, an animal | control officer or an animal shelter, including a person | employed by an animal shelter, is not civilly liable to the | owner of a pet for the loss of that pet resulting from actions | taken in compliance with this section. |
|
| A person who brings a pet to an animal shelter in accordance | with this section is not civilly liable to the owner of a pet | for the loss of that pet resulting from actions taken in | compliance with this section. |
|
| Nothing in this subsection grants to an animal shelter or | person any immunity from liability arising from the gift, sale | or other transference of a pet to a research facility in | violation of subsection 3. |
|
| §3919-C.__Animal held pending court decision |
|
|