(a) When a special agreement has been made between the owner of any animals, including birds and fish, and any person who keeps and feeds such animals, regarding the price of such keeping, such animals shall be subject to a lien, for the price of such keeping, in favor of the person keeping the same; and such person so keeping such animals may detain the same until such debt is paid; and, if it is not paid within thirty days after it is due, he may sell such animals, or so many thereof as are necessary, at public auction, upon giving written notice to the owner of the time and place of such sale at least six days before such sale, and apply the proceeds to the payment of such debts, returning the surplus, if any, to such owner.

(b) A commercial kennel, as defined in section 22-327, or a veterinary hospital which boards or grooms animals for nonmedical purposes, may transfer any abandoned animal in its custody to a nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organization which annually places ten or more animals in private homes as pets. An animal shall be considered abandoned if the owner or keeper of such animal fails to retrieve the animal within five days of the date on which such owner or keeper was scheduled to retrieve the animal. Prior to transferring such animal, such kennel or veterinary hospital shall give notice of its intention to do so to the owner or keeper at his last-known address by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall allow a period of ten days to elapse after the receipt is returned before transferring such animal. Each such commercial kennel and veterinary hospital shall post in a visible location the procedures provided for in this subsection and shall give a written notice of such procedures to any person who boards an animal at such kennel or with such veterinary hospital. Any nonprofit organization which receives an animal in accordance with the provisions of this subsection shall not be liable in any civil action brought by the previous owner or keeper of such animal for any subsequent transfer or disposal of such animal by such organization.

(1949 Rev., S. 7249; 1959, P.A. 248; P.A. 95-358, S. 3; P.A. 96-243, S. 6, 16.)

History: 1959 act referred to “animals, including birds and fish” rather than to “cattle, horses, sheep or swine” and allowed sale of animals if debt not paid within 30 rather than 21 days after due; P.A. 95-358 added Subsec. (b) re transfer of abandoned dogs and cats to rescue or adoption organizations; P.A. 96-243 added provision in Subsec. (b) allowing veterinary hospitals to transfer abandoned animals under this section and changed references to “dogs and cats” to “animals” and shortened the timeframes for notice to owners or keepers and disposition of abandoned animals, effective June 6, 1996.

Under statute as at common law, possession is necessary to the preservation of the lien. 57 C. 547. Waiver of lien by claiming possession upon another basis. 74 C. 541.