§2859. Adoption and donation of unclaimed horses; rules and regulations

A. Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, following a diligent attempt to locate the owner and proper advertisement, the animal control authority or the sheriff in parishes where there is no other animal control authority may provide for the adoption or donation of any unclaimed horse or may transfer the horse to an animal control agency in another parish prior to resorting to any other means of disposition of the animal, provided the horse is determined to be free of those diseases for which the Louisiana Board of Animal Health would otherwise require that the horse be destroyed by euthanasia.

B. Each parish animal control authority or sheriff in parishes where there is no other animal control authority shall establish guidelines for the proper adoption or donation of unclaimed horses. Any recommendations made by the Louisiana Animal Control Association shall be taken into consideration by the authority or sheriff when establishing the guidelines.

C. As used in this Section, "unclaimed horse" means any domesticated member of the family "equidae", including horses, burros, asses, donkeys, zebras, and similar other species, and crossbred hybrids of these including mules, in which no one claims ownership after reasonable notice has been provided regarding its custody.

D. "Proper advertisement" for purposes of this Section means giving notice by advertising in a newspaper having general circulation within the parish once a week for two consecutive weeks. The notice shall set forth all of the following:

(1) A description of the horse.

(2) A statement that the owner is unknown or if known, that he cannot be located.

(3) A statement indicating when and where the horse was found.

(4) A location where the owner can prove ownership and reclaim the horse.

Acts 2001, No. 715, §1, eff. June 25, 2001; Acts 2008, No. 920, §1, eff. July 14, 2008.