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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies provisions regarding stray animals and community cats.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ authorizes a municipal or county animal control officer to refuse to release a stray
13 animal that is determined to be carrying a disease or to be a threat to the health,
14 safety, or welfare of persons, property, or other domesticated animals; and
15 ▸ requires community cat caretakers or sponsors to feed community cats only during
16 daylight hours.
17 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18 None
19 Other Special Clauses:
20 None
21 Utah Code Sections Affected:
22 AMENDS:
23 11-46-103, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 130
24 11-46-303, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 130
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26 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27 Section 1. Section 11-46-103 is amended to read:
28 11-46-103. Stray animals.
29 (1) [
30 officer shall hold any unidentified or unclaimed stray animal in safe and humane custody for a
31 minimum of five business days after the time of impound and prior to making any final
32 disposition of the animal.
33 (2) A municipal or county animal control officer may refuse to release a stray animal if
34 the animal control officer determines that the animal is:
35 (a) carrying a disease; or
36 (b) a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of persons, property, or other domesticated
37 animals.
38 [
39 (a) date of impound;
40 (b) date of disposition; and
41 (c) method of disposition, which may be:
42 (i) placement in an adoptive home or other transfer of the animal, which shall be in
43 compliance with Part 2, Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization Act;
44 (ii) return to its owner;
45 (iii) placement in a community cat program as defined in Section 11-46-302; or
46 (iv) euthanasia.
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48 completion of the five working day minimum holding period to prevent unnecessary suffering
49 due to serious injury or disease, if the euthanasia is in compliance with written agency or
50 department policies and procedures, and with any local ordinances allowing the euthanasia.
51 [
52 (a) proof of ownership;
53 (b) compliance with requirements of local animal control ordinances; and
54 (c) compliance with Part 2, Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization Act.
55 Section 2. Section 11-46-303 is amended to read:
56 11-46-303. Community cats.
57 (1) A cat received by a shelter under the provisions of Section 11-46-103 may be
58 released prior to the five-day holding period to a sponsor that operates a community cat
59 program.
60 (2) A community cat is:
61 (a) exempt from licensing requirements and feeding bans; and
62 (b) eligible for release from an animal shelter prior to the mandatory five-day hold
63 period in Section 11-46-103.
64 [
65 (3) (a) Neither a community cat caretaker nor a sponsor has custody, as defined in
66 Section 76-9-301, of any cat in a community cat colony.
67 (b) Cats in a colony that are obviously owned, as evidenced by a collar, tags,
68 microchip, or other discernable owner identification, are not exempt from the provisions of
69 Title 76, Chapter 9, Part 3, Cruelty to Animals.
70 (4) Sterilization and vaccination records shall be maintained for a minimum of three
71 years and be available to an animal control officer upon request.
72 (5) A community cat caretaker or a sponsor may only feed community cats during
73 daylight hours.