SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1662, 2260 PRINTER'S NO. 3675
No. 1459 Session of 1981
INTRODUCED BY DAVIES, GRIECO, WENGER, MADIGAN, COLE, STUBAN,
LUCYK, SHOWERS, W. W. FOSTER, MOWERY, GALLEN AND CALTAGIRONE,
MAY 12, 1981
SENATOR HELFRICK, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, IN SENATE,
AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 9, 1982
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of December 27, 1974 (P.L.995, No.326),
2 entitled "An act regulating the practice of veterinary
3 medicine and imposing penalties," further providing for
4 abandonment of animals.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Section 34, act of December 27, 1974 (P.L.995,
8 No.326), known as the "Veterinary Medicine Practice Act," is
9 amended to read:
10 Section 34. Abandonment of Animals by Owner; Procedure for
11 Handling.--(a) Any animal placed in the custody of a licensed
12 doctor of veterinary medicine for treatment, boarding, or other
13 care which shall be abandoned by its owner or his agent for a
14 period of more than ten days after written notice by registered
15 return receipt mail is given to the owner or his agent at his
16 last known address and return receipt is received by the doctor,
17 may be turned over to the custody of the nearest Humane Society
1 or dog pound in the area for disposal after [thirty days] forty- <--
2 eight SIXTY hours as such custodian may deem proper. During such <--
3 [thirty day] forty-eight SIXTY hour period, the animal may be <--
4 released only to the owner or his agent. If the owner claims the
5 animal, he shall be liable for room and board charges for the
6 animal during the abandonment period.
7 (b) The giving of notice to the owner, or the agent of the
8 owner, of such animal by the licensed doctor of veterinary
9 medicine as provided in subsection (a) and receipt of return
10 receipt by the doctor which he shall retain for [thirty] twelve
11 days, shall relieve the doctor of veterinary medicine, and any
12 custodian to whom such animal may be given of any further
13 liability for disposal. It is further provided that such
14 procedure by the licensed doctor of veterinary medicine shall
15 not constitute grounds for disciplinary procedure under this
16 act.
17 (c) For the purpose of this section, the term "abandonment"
18 means to forsake entirely or to neglect or refuse to provide or
19 perform the legal obligations for the care and support of an
20 animal by its owner or his agent. Such abandonment shall
21 constitute relinquishment of all rights and claims by the owner
22 to such animal.
23 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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