Animal abuse: forfeiture

Owners or keepers must pay seizure and care costs for animals lawfully taken by an agency, regardless of the legal authority used for the seizure. Failure to pay or reclaim the animal can result in its legal abandonment and disposition.

What the law does ​

• Applies seizure-and-care cost liability to animals properly seized under any provision of California law, not only specified animal-neglect provisions or search warrants.
• Treats an animal as abandoned if permitted charges are unpaid within 14 days of seizure, or if the owner does not pay charges and reclaim the animal within 14 days after notice that it is available for return.
• Allows the seizing agency to humanely euthanize or otherwise properly dispose of an animal deemed abandoned.

Who it affects ​

• Owners and keepers of animals lawfully seized by peace officers, humane society officers, or animal control officers.
• Local agencies that seize, care for, and dispose of animals.