(a) The Chief Animal Control Officer, any animal control officer or any municipal or regional animal control officer may take physical custody of any animal when such animal control officer has reasonable cause to believe that such animal is in imminent harm and is neglected or is cruelly treated in violation of section 22-366, 22-415, 53-247, 53-248, 53-249, 53-249a, 53-250, 53-251 or 53-252, and, not later than ninety-six hours after taking physical custody, shall proceed as provided in subsection (c) of this section, except that if, in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian or the State Veterinarian, at any time after physical custody of such animal is taken, such animal is so injured or diseased that it should be destroyed immediately, such officer may humanely destroy or cause such animal to be humanely destroyed.

(b) The Chief Animal Control Officer, any animal control officer or any municipal or regional animal control officer may take physical custody of any animal upon issuance of a warrant finding probable cause that such animal is neglected or is cruelly treated in violation of section 22-366, 22-415, 53-247, 53-248, 53-249, 53-249a, 53-250, 53-251 or 53-252, and shall thereupon proceed as provided in subsection (c) of this section except that if, in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian or the State Veterinarian, at any time after physical custody of such animal is taken, such animal is so injured or diseased that it should be destroyed immediately, such officer may humanely destroy or cause such animal to be humanely destroyed.

(c) Such officer shall file with the superior court which has venue over such matter or with the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford at Hartford a verified petition plainly stating such facts of neglect or cruel treatment as to bring such animal within the jurisdiction of the court and praying for appropriate action by the court in accordance with the provisions of this section. Upon the filing of such petition, the court shall cause a summons to be issued requiring the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the animal, if known, to appear in court at the time and place named.

(d) If physical custody of an animal has been taken pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section and it appears from the allegations of the petition filed pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and other affirmations of fact accompanying the petition, or provided subsequent thereto, that there is reasonable cause to find that the animal's condition or the circumstances surrounding its care require that temporary care and custody be immediately assumed to safeguard its welfare, the court shall either (1) issue an order to show cause why the court should not vest in some suitable state, municipal or other public or private agency or person the animal's temporary care and custody pending a hearing on the petition, or (2) issue an order vesting in some suitable state, municipal or other public or private agency or person the animal's temporary care and custody pending a hearing on the petition. A hearing on the order issued by the court pursuant to subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection shall be held not later than fourteen days after the issuance of such order. The service of such order may be made by any officer authorized by law to serve process, state police officer or indifferent person and shall be served not less than forty-eight hours prior to the date and time of such hearing. If the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the animal is not known, notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given by publication in a newspaper having a circulation in the town in which such officer took physical custody of such animal not less than forty-eight hours prior to the date and time of such hearing.

(e) If physical custody of an animal has not been taken pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section, and the Chief Animal Control Officer, any animal control officer or any municipal or regional animal control officer has reasonable cause to believe that an animal is neglected or is cruelly treated in violation of section 22-366, 22-415, 53-247, 53-248, 53-249, 53-249a, 53-250, 53-251 or 53-252, such animal control officer may file a petition with the superior court which has venue over such matter or with the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford at Hartford, plainly stating such facts of neglect or cruel treatment as to bring the animal within the jurisdiction of the court and praying for appropriate action by the court to ensure the welfare of the animal including, but not limited to, physical removal and temporary care and custody of the animal, authorization of an animal control officer or a licensed veterinarian to provide care for the animal on site, vesting of ownership of the animal, the posting of a bond in accordance with subsection (f) of this section and the assessment of costs in accordance with subsection (h) of this section. Upon the filing of such petition, the court shall cause a summons for an order to show cause to be issued requiring the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the animal, if known, to appear in court at the time and place named. If the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the animal is not known, notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given by publication in a newspaper having a circulation in the town where the animal is located not less than forty-eight hours prior to the date and time of the hearing. If it appears from the allegations of the petition filed pursuant to this subsection and other affirmations of fact accompanying the petition, or provided subsequent thereto, that there is reasonable cause to find that the animal's condition or the circumstances surrounding its care require the immediate removal of the animal from the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the animal to safeguard its welfare, the court shall issue an order vesting in some suitable state, municipal or other public or private agency or person the animal's temporary care and custody pending a hearing on the petition which hearing shall be held not later than ten days after the issuance of such order for such temporary care and custody. The service of such order may be made by any officer authorized by law to serve process, state police officer or indifferent person and shall be served not less than forty-eight hours prior to the date and time of such hearing.

(f) If the court issues an order vesting the animal's temporary care and custody in some suitable state, municipal or other public or private agency or person, the owner or owners shall either relinquish ownership of the animal or post a surety bond or cash bond with the agency or person in whom the animal's temporary care and custody was vested. The surety bond or cash bond shall be in the amount of five hundred dollars for each animal placed in the temporary care or custody of such agency or person and shall secure payment for the reasonable expenses of the agency or person having temporary care and custody of the animal in caring and providing for such animal until the court makes a finding as to the animal's disposition under subsection (g) of this section. The requirement that a bond be posted may be waived if such owner provides satisfactory evidence that such owner is indigent and unable to pay for such bond.

(g) (1) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is neglected or cruelly treated, it shall vest ownership of the animal in any state, municipal or other public or private agency which is permitted by law to care for neglected or cruelly treated animals or with any person found to be suitable or worthy of such responsibility by the court.

(2) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is so injured or diseased that it should be destroyed, the court may order that such animal be humanely destroyed.

(3) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is not neglected or cruelly treated, it may cause the animal to be returned to its owner or owners or person having responsibility for its care or, if such owner or owners or person is unknown or unwilling to resume caring for such animal, it may vest ownership of the animal in any state, municipal or other public or private agency or person found to be suitable or worthy of such responsibility.

(4) If the court makes a finding under subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection less than thirty days after the issuance of an order of temporary care and custody and the owner of the animal has posted a bond, the agency or person with whom the bond was posted shall return the balance of such bond, if any, to the owner. The amount of the bond to be returned to the owner shall be calculated at the rate of fifteen dollars per day per animal or twenty-five dollars per day per animal if the animal is a horse or other large livestock for the number of days less than thirty that such agency or person has not had temporary care and custody of the animal less any veterinary costs and expenses incurred for the welfare of the animal.

(5) If the court makes a finding under subdivision (3) of this subsection after the issuance of an order of temporary care and custody and the owner of the animal has posted a bond, the agency or person with whom the bond was posted shall return such bond to such owner.

(h) If the court finds that the animal is neglected or cruelly treated, the expenses incurred by the state or a municipality in providing proper food, shelter and care to an animal it has taken custody of under subsection (a) or (b) of this section and the expenses incurred by any state, municipal or other public or private agency or person in providing temporary care and custody pursuant to an order vesting temporary care and custody, calculated at the rate of fifteen dollars per day per animal or twenty-five dollars per day per animal if the animal is a horse or other large livestock until the date ownership is vested pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of this section shall be paid by the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the animal. In addition, all veterinary costs and expenses incurred for the welfare of the animal that are not covered by the per diem rate shall be paid by the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the animal.

(i) If the court vests ownership of the animal in the Commissioner of Agriculture or a municipality, the commissioner or the municipality may conduct or participate in a public auction of the animal under such conditions the commissioner or the municipality deems necessary or the commissioner or the municipality may consign the animal to an auction or sell the animal through an open advertised bid process whereby bid price and demonstration of sufficient knowledge and ability to care for such animal are factors for the commissioner's or municipality's consideration. All moneys collected from the sale of animals sold by the Commissioner of Agriculture through such open advertised bid process shall be deposited in the animal abuse cost recovery account established in subsection (j) of this section. All moneys collected from the sale of animals sold by a municipality through such open advertised bid process shall be deposited by the town treasurer or other fiscal officer in the town's general fund. The commissioner or the municipality may also vest ownership of any such animal in an individual or a public or private nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organization.

(j) There is established a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund, to be known as the “animal abuse cost recovery account”. All moneys collected from sales at public auction of animals seized by the Department of Agriculture pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the account. Deposits of moneys may be made into the account from public or private sources, including, but not limited to, the federal government or municipal governments.

(k) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any moneys received by the Department of Agriculture pursuant to subsection (j) of this section shall be deposited in the General Fund and credited to the animal abuse cost recovery account. The account shall be available to the Commissioner of Agriculture for the purpose of the housing, care and welfare of any animal seized by the department, until final disposition of such animal. Additionally, the account may be used for the purpose of providing reimbursement to any municipality for the costs of providing temporary care to such animal if such temporary care exceeded thirty days in duration and such costs exceeded the amount of any surety bond or cash bond posted pursuant to subsection (f) of this section provided the total annual reimbursement to municipalities from said account for such purpose shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars. Nothing in this section shall prevent the commissioner from obtaining or using funds from sources other than the account for the housing, care and welfare of any animal seized by the department pursuant to this section.

(P.A. 95-358, S. 2; P.A. 98-12, S. 6, 22; P.A. 04-145, S. 1; P.A. 07-230, S. 1; P.A. 12-20, S. 1; P.A. 14-205, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 98-12 changed “canine control officer” to “animal control officer” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 04-145 made a technical change in Subsec. (d) and added Subsecs. (g) authorizing commissioner to conduct public auction of animal and vest ownership of animal in public or private nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organization, (h) and (i) re animal abuse cost recovery account and (j) requiring annual report to General Assembly, effective May 21, 2004; P.A. 07-230 substantially revised section, including amending Subsec. (a) to replace authority of animal control officer to “lawfully take charge of any animal found neglected or cruelly treated” with authority to “take physical custody of any animal when such animal control officer has reasonable cause to believe that such animal is in imminent harm and is neglected or cruelly treated”, require officer to proceed as provided in Subsec. (c) not later than 96 hours after taking physical custody and authorize State Veterinarian, in addition to licensed veterinarian, to opine that the animal “at any time after physical custody of such animal is taken” is so injured or diseased that it should be destroyed immediately, adding new Subsec. (b) re taking physical custody of animal upon issuance of a warrant, redesignating existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and amending same to allow petition to be filed with superior court for the judicial district of Hartford at Hartford, require petition to state such facts “of neglect or cruel treatment” as to bring the animal within jurisdiction of the court and delete provisions re service of summons and notice of hearing, redesignating existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d) and amending same to revise process for assumption of temporary care and custody of the animal, adding new Subsec. (e) re process when animal control officer files a petition praying for court action to ensure the welfare of the animal when physical custody has not been taken pursuant to Subsec. (a) or (b), redesignating existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (f) and amending same to increase amount of required bond from $450 to $500 and provide that such bond shall secure payment of reasonable expenses until the court makes a finding as to the animal's disposition rather than until the court makes a finding as to the animal's disposition “or for thirty days, whichever occurs first”, redesignating existing Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (g) and amending same to provide in Subdiv. (1) that the court “shall”, rather than “may”, vest ownership in agency if it finds the animal is neglected or cruelly treated, provide in Subdiv. (4) that amount of the bond returned to owner shall be calculated at $15 per day per animal or $25 per day per animal if the animal is a horse or other large livestock, less veterinary costs and expenses, rather than $15 per day, redesignating existing Subsec. (f) as Subsec. (h) and amending same to provide that amount owner must pay for temporary care and custody of the animal shall be calculated at $15 per day per animal or $25 per day per animal if the animal is a horse or other large livestock, rather than $15 per day, and require owner or person having responsibility for the animal to pay all veterinary costs and expenses not covered by the per diem rate, redesignating existing Subsec. (g) as Subsec. (i) and amending same to authorize municipality in which ownership of an animal has been vested to conduct a public auction of the animal, authorize commissioner or municipality to “participate in” a public auction, authorize commissioner or municipality to sell the animal through an open advertised bid process and provide that moneys collected from sale through such bid process shall be deposited in animal abuse cost recovery account if sold by commissioner and in town's general fund if sold by municipality, redesignating existing Subsecs. (h) and (i) as Subsecs. (j) and (k), respectively, and amending same to replace “domestic animals” or “domestic animal” with “animals” or “animal”, respectively, and deleting existing Subsec. (j) requiring commissioner to annually report to certain legislative committees re activities and status of animal abuse cost recovery account; P.A. 12-20 amended Subsec. (i) by deleting conditions re commissioner's or municipality's authority to vest ownership of animal in an individual or certain animal rescue or adoption organizations; P.A. 14-205 amended Subsec. (f) by adding provision re bond in the amount of $500 for each animal placed in temporary care or custody of agency or person and amended Subsec. (k) by adding provision allowing account to be used for providing reimbursement to municipality for costs of providing temporary care to animal if temporary care exceeded 30 days and costs exceeded amount of bond posted, effective June 13, 2014.

See Sec. 54-86n re appointment of advocate in proceeding re the welfare or custody of a cat or dog.

Trial court properly found defendant had neglected 46 cats in a 950 square foot residence because she had deprived them of proper care, food and medical attention. 287 C. 145.

Section not unconstitutionally vague because person of ordinary intelligence would know that keeping smaller breed dogs in uninsulated space with interior temperature of 30 degrees would constitute failure to provide proper protection from weather under Sec. 53-247(a). 153 CA 449. Plaintiff town and animal control officer filed an action under section but voluntarily agreed to settle action prior to court adjudicating that animals were either neglected or cruelly treated, thus, plaintiffs' choice to proceed in this manner precluded an order by the court directing defendant to reimburse plaintiffs pursuant to Subsec. (h). 182 CA 55.