1. A person being the owner or possessor, or having charge or custody, of a maimed, diseased, disabled or infirm animal, who abandons such animal or leaves it to die in a public street, road or public place, or who allows it to lie in a public street, road or public place more than 3 hours after the person receives notice that it is left disabled, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

2. Any agent or officer of any society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or of any society duly incorporated for that purpose, or any police officer, may lawfully destroy or cause to be destroyed any animal found abandoned and not properly cared for, appearing, in the judgment of two reputable citizens called by the agent or officer to view the same in his or her presence, to be glandered, injured or diseased past recovery for any useful purpose, or after such agent or officer has obtained in writing from the owner of such animal the owner’s consent to such destruction.

3. When any person arrested is, at the time of such arrest, in charge of any animal or of any vehicle drawn by or containing any animal, any agent or officer of such society or societies or any police officer may take charge of such animal and of such vehicle and its contents and deposit the same in a safe place of custody, or deliver the same into the possession of the police or sheriff of the county or place wherein such arrest was made, who shall thereupon assume the custody thereof. All necessary expenses incurred in taking charge of such property shall be a charge thereon.

[Part 6:75:1873; B § 2487; BH § 4781; C § 4873; RL § 1378; NCL § 3236] + [7:178:1919; 1919 RL p. 3395; NCL § 10575]