Animal Law Digest

Missouri House Bill 2204 and Senate Bill 847 would effectively eliminate the authority of animal control officers to confiscate animals, prevent the adoption or disposition of confiscated animals prior to the conclusion of an associated animal cruelty or animal fighting case, and pave the way for abused and neglected animals to be left in the hands of accused abusers pending final disposition of animal-related cases. The bills additionally would prohibit humane law enforcement from sterilizing confiscated animals prior to the conclusion of the underlying criminal case.