(a) Any employee of the Department of Children and Families who, in the course of his or her employment, has reasonable cause to suspect that an animal is being or has been harmed, neglected or treated cruelly in violation of section 53-247 shall make a written report to the Commissioner of Agriculture in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.

(b) A report made pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be made as soon as practicable, but not later than forty-eight hours after the employee has reasonable cause to suspect that an animal has been harmed, neglected or treated cruelly, and shall contain the following, if known: (1) The address where the animal was observed and the name and address of the owner or other person responsible for care of the animal; (2) the name and a description of the animal; (3) the nature and extent of the harm to, neglect of or cruelty to the animal; and (4) the approximate date and time such harm, neglect or cruelty was suspected.

(c) Not later than October 1, 2012, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Children and Families, in consultation with the Commissioner of Agriculture and within available appropriations, shall develop and implement training for Department of Children and Families employees concerning the identification of harm to, neglect of and cruelty to animals and its relationship to child welfare case practice.

(P.A. 11-194, S. 3; P.A. 14-70, S. 3; 14-122, S. 32.)

History: P.A. 14-70 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “an oral” with “a written” re report to commissioner; P.A. 14-122 made technical changes in Subsecs. (b) and (c).