(b) The person may prove ownership of a companion animal by providing the dealer with:
(A) Photographs clearly showing the companion animal and any distinguishing markings;
(B) Licensing information;
(C) Veterinary records;
(D) Registration records;
(E) Microchip-implantation records; or
(F) Tattooing records.
(2)(a) When a person claims to be the owner of a companion animal being held by an animal dealer, the animal dealer shall:
(A) Upon proof of ownership and payment by the person of actual direct expenses incurred by the animal dealer in obtaining and caring for the dog or cat, turn the dog or cat over to the person; or
(B) If the animal dealer disputes the identification, or if the amount of expenses cannot be agreed upon, turn the dog or cat over to an animal shelter pending resolution of the dispute.
(b) If the person claiming to be the owner and the animal dealer cannot resolve the dispute within a reasonable length of time, the circuit court for the area in which the dog or cat is located may, upon petition, designate a third party to serve as an impartial adjudicator of the issue. The decision of the third party is final and the dog or cat shall be released accordingly. If the decision is in favor of the person claiming to be the owner, that person shall pay the animal dealer the amount of the actual direct expenses incurred by the animal dealer in obtaining and caring for the dog or cat while the dog or cat was in the possession of the animal dealer. The party losing the dispute shall pay the expenses incurred by the animal shelter in caring for the dog or cat during the pendency of the dispute. No filing or other fees shall apply to the petition to the circuit court. The court shall process the matter as informally and as expeditiously as possible.
(c) An animal dealer who fails to turn a dog or cat over as required by this subsection commits a Class A misdemeanor.
(3) Law enforcement officers or animal control officers may conduct routine inspections of animal dealer facilities during normal business hours to insure compliance with animal control statutes, ordinances and regulations. [1991 c.837 §7; 1995 c.658 §110]
Copyright ©2024 LegalFix. All rights reserved. LegalFix is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and does not provide legal advice, services, or representation. The information on this website is an overview of the legal plans you can purchase—or that may be provided by your employer as an employee benefit or by your credit union or other membership group as a membership benefit.
LegalFix provides its members with easy access to affordable legal services through a network of independent law firms. LegalFix, its corporate entity, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors do not provide legal advice, services, or representation—directly or indirectly.
The articles and information on the site are not legal advice and should not be relied upon—they are for information purposes only. You should become a LegalFix member to get legal services from one of our network law firms.
You should not disclose confidential or potentially incriminating information to LegalFix—you should only communicate such information to your network law firm.
The benefits and legal services described in the LegalFix legal plans are not always available in all states or with all plans. See the legal plan Benefit Overview and the more comprehensive legal plan contract during checkout for coverage details in your state.
Use of this website, the purchase of legal plans, and access to the LegalFix networks of law firms are subject to the LegalFix Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.