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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill establishes requirements for animal shelters that euthanize animals.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ modifies definitions;
13 ▸ addresses the methods by which an animal shelter or animal control officer may
14 euthanize an animal;
15 ▸ requires an animal shelter that euthanizes animals to adopt a euthanasia policy and
16 training program; and
17 ▸ makes technical changes.
18 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19 None
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 None
22 Utah Code Sections Affected:
23 AMENDS:
24 11-46-102, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 130
25 11-46-103, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 130
26 ENACTS:
27 11-46-401, Utah Code Annotated 1953
28 11-46-402, Utah Code Annotated 1953
29
30 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
31 Section 1. Section 11-46-102 is amended to read:
32 11-46-102. Definitions.
33 As used in this chapter:
34 (1) "Animal" means a cat or dog.
35 (2) "Animal control officer" means any person employed or appointed by a county or a
36 municipality who is authorized to investigate violations of laws and ordinances concerning
37 animals, to issue citations in accordance with Utah law, and to take custody of animals as
38 appropriate in the enforcement of [
39 (3) (a) "Animal shelter" means a facility or program[
40 lost, or unwanted animals, including holding and placing the animals for adoption.
41 [
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44 [
45 (b) "Animal shelter" includes a private humane society or private animal welfare
46 organization.
47 (c) "Animal shelter" does not include an institution, as that term is defined in Section
48 26-26-1, which is conducting research on animals.
49 (4) "Person" means an individual, an entity, or a representative of an entity.
50 Section 2. Section 11-46-103 is amended to read:
51 11-46-103. Stray animals.
52 (1) Each municipal or county animal control officer shall hold any unidentified or
53 unclaimed stray animal in safe and humane custody for a minimum of five business days after
54 the time of impound and prior to making any final disposition of the animal.
55 [
56 (2) A municipal or county animal control officer shall ensure that a record of each held
57 animal is maintained that includes the:
58 (a) date of impound;
59 (b) date of disposition; and
60 (c) method of disposition, which may be:
61 (i) placement in an adoptive home or other transfer of the animal, which shall be in
62 compliance with Part 2, Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization Act;
63 (ii) return to its owner;
64 (iii) placement in a community cat program as defined in Section 11-46-302; or
65 (iv) euthanasia in accordance with Part 4, Euthanasia of Shelter Animals.
66 (3) An unidentified or unclaimed stray animal may be euthanized [
67 completion of the five working day minimum holding period to prevent unnecessary suffering
68 due to serious injury or disease[
69 (a) written agency or department policies and procedures[
70 (b) any local ordinances allowing the euthanasia[
71 (c) the provisions of Part 4, Euthanasia of Shelter Animals.
72 (4) An unidentified or unclaimed stray animal shall be returned to [
73 owner upon:
74 (a) proof of ownership;
75 (b) compliance with any requirements of local animal control ordinances; and
76 (c) compliance with the provisions of Part 2, Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization Act.
77 Section 3. Section 11-46-401 is enacted to read:
78
79 11-46-401. Euthanasia of shelter animals -- Permitted methods.
80 (1) Subject to Subsection (2) and except as provided in Subsection (3), on or after July
81 1, 2022, an animal shelter shall use sodium pentobarbital or a derivative as the exclusive
82 method for euthanasia of an animal.
83 (2) An animal shelter shall administer sodium pentobarbital or a derivative by:
84 (a) intravenous injection by hypodermic needle;
85 (b) intraperitoneal injection by hypodermic needle; or
86 (c) if an animal is unconscious, intracardial injection by hypodermic needle.
87 (3) (a) Subsection (1) does not apply to an animal control officer who, subject to
88 Subsection (3)(b), euthanizes an animal in an emergency situation outside of an animal shelter's
89 facility or place of business.
90 (b) If an animal control officer euthanizes an animal in an emergency situation, the
91 officer shall use, in the officer's judgment, the most humane method available to the officer.
92 Section 4. Section 11-46-402 is enacted to read:
93 11-46-402. Animal shelter euthanasia training -- Documentation.
94 (1) If an animal shelter euthanizes animals, the animal shelter shall:
95 (a) adopt a policy for euthanasia that mandates procedures that comply with the
96 applicable provisions of this part;
97 (b) adopt a euthanasia training program; and
98 (c) require each person who conducts or assists with euthanasia on behalf of the animal
99 shelter to attend the euthanasia training program at least once every two years.
100 (2) An animal shelter described in Subsection (1) shall:
101 (a) ensure that the animal shelter's euthanasia training program is reviewed and
102 approved by a veterinarian who is licensed in accordance with Title 58, Chapter 28, Veterinary
103 Practice Act; and
104 (b) maintain a record of training dates and who attended.