Notice. Hearing. Posting of bond. Proceedings re ownership.

(a) The Chief Canine Control Officer, any canine control officer or any municipal or regional animal control officer may lawfully take charge of any animal found neglected or cruelly treated, in violation of sections 22-366, 22-415 and 53-247 to 53-252, inclusive, and shall thereupon proceed as provided in subsection

(b) of this section, except that if, in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian, such animal is so injured or diseased that it should be destroyed immediately, such officer may humanely destroy or cause such animal to be humanely destroyed.

(b) Such officer shall file with the superior court which has venue over such matter a verified petition
plainly stating such facts as to bring such animal within the jurisdiction of the court and praying for appropriate action by the court in accordance with the provisions of this section. Upon the filing of such petition the court shall cause a summons to be issued requiring the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the animal, if known, to appear in court at the time and place named, which summons shall be served not less than fourteen days before the date of the hearing. If the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the animal is not known, notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given by publication in a newspaper having a circulation in the town in which such officer took charge of such animal not less than fourteen days before the date of the hearing. Such court shall further give notice to the petitioner of the time and place of the hearing not less than fourteen days before the date of the hearing.

(c) If it appears from the allegations of the petition and other affirmations of fact accompanying the petition, or provided subsequent thereto, that there is reasonable cause to find that the animal's condition or the circumstances surrounding its care require that its custody be immediately assumed to safeguard its welfare, the court shall either

(1) issue an order to the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the animal to show cause at such time as the court may designate why the court shall not vest in some suitable state, municipal or other public or private agency or person the animal's temporary care and custody pending a hearing on the petition or
(2) issue an order vesting in some suitable state, municipal or other public or private agency or person the animal's temporary care and custody pending a hearing on the petition which hearing shall be held within ten days from the issuance of such order on the need for such temporary care and custody. The service of such orders may be made by any officer authorized by law to serve process, state police officer or indifferent person.
(d) If the court issues an order pursuant to subsection (c) of this section vesting the animal's temporary care and custody in some suitable state, municipal or other public or private agency or person, the owner or owners shall either relinquish ownership of the animal or post a surety bond or cash bond with the agency or person in whom the animal's temporary care and custody was vested. The surety bond or cash bond shall be in the amount of four hundred fifty dollars and shall secure payment for the reasonable expenses of the agency or person having temporary care and custody of the animal in caring and providing for such animal until the court makes a finding as to the animal's disposition under subsection (e) of this section or for thirty days, whichever occurs first. The requirement that a bond be posted may be waived if such owner provides satisfactory evidence that he is indigent and unable to pay for such bond.

(e)

(1) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is neglected or cruelly treated, it may vest ownership of the animal in any state, municipal or other public or private agency which is permitted by law to care for neglected or cruelly treated animals or with any person found to be suitable or worthy of such responsibility by the court.
(2) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is so injured or diseased that it should be destroyed, the court may order that such animal be humanely destroyed.
(3) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is not neglected or cruelly treated, it may cause the animal to be returned to its owner or owners or person having responsibility for
its care or, if such owner or owners or person is unknown or unwilling to resume caring for such animal, it may vest ownership of the animal in any state, municipal or other public or private agency or person found to be suitable or worthy of such responsibility.
(4) If the court makes a finding under subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection less than thirty days after the issuance of an order of temporary care and custody under subsection (c) of this section and the owner of the animal has posted a bond pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the agency or person with whom the bond was posted shall return the balance of such bond to the owner. The amount of the bond to be returned to the owner shall be calculated at the rate of fifteen dollars per day for the number of days less than thirty that such agency or person has not had temporary care and custody of the animal.
(5) If the court makes a finding under subdivision (3) of this subsection after the issuance of an order of temporary care and custody under subsection (c) of this section and the owner of the animal has posted a bond pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the agency or person with whom the bond was posted shall return such bond to such owner.
(f) Unless the court finds that the animal is not neglected or cruelly treated, the expense incurred by the state or a municipality in providing proper food, shelter and care to an animal it has taken charge of under subsection (a) of this section and the expense incurred by any state, municipal or other public or private agency or person in providing temporary care and custody to an animal under subsection (c) of this section, calculated at the rate of fifteen dollars per day, shall be paid by the owner or owners or person having responsibility for the care of the animal.

(P.A. 95-358, S. 2.)

The commissioner, the Chief Canine Control Officer and any canine control officer in any part of the state, any regional animal control officer in the territory to which he is assigned and any municipal animal control officer in the municipality for which he has been appointed may arrest any person and may issue a written complaint and summons in furtherance thereof for any violation of any law relating to dogs or to any domestic animal in the same manner sheriffs, police officers or constables may exercise in their respective jurisdictions.

(1949 Rev., S. 3377; 1953, S. 1815d; 1963, P.A. 613, S. 3; 1969, P.A. 81, S. 4; P.A. 76-381, S. 35; P.A. 91-59, S. 3; P.A. 93-435, S. 32, 95.)

History: 1963 act included regional and municipal wardens in arrest power and allowed arrests "without warrants"; 1969 act replaced references to dog wardens with references to canine control officers of corresponding rank; P.A. 76-381 deleted "without warrant" and allowed arresting officer to issue complaints and summonses; P.A. 91-59 replaced references to "regional canine control officer" and "local dog warden" with references to "regional animal control officer" and "municipal animal control officer", respectively; P.A. 93-435 made certain technical and grammatical revisions, effective June 28, 1993.

Complaint against municipal animal control officer. Any municipal animal control officer may be removed by the authority which appointed him or by the commissioner, and a successor may be appointed by such authority or commissioner. Any owner of a dog or cat aggrieved by the taking of such dog or cat by a municipal animal control officer may make complaint to the appointing authority of such municipal animal control officer or to the commissioner; and if, upon investigation of the complaint, the authority or the commissioner finds that the municipal animal control officer took the dog or cat otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, or abused or cruelly treated the dog or cat, the authority or the commissioner may remove the officer and appoint his successor.

(1949 Rev., S. 3382; 1953, S. 1820d; P.A. 91-59, S. 10; P.A. 93-435, S. 38, 95; P.A. 96-243, S. 4.)

History: P.A. 91-59 replaced reference to "local dog warden" with reference to "municipal animal control officer"; P.A. 93-435 made certain technical and grammatical revisions, effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 96-243 added cats to coverage of this section.

Booster vaccination required. Proof of vaccination. Any owner or keeper of a dog or cat of the
age of three months or older shall have such dog or cat vaccinated against rabies. Any animal
vaccinated prior to one year of age or receiving a primary rabies vaccine at any age shall be
considered protected for only one year and shall be given a booster vaccination one year after
the initial vaccination and shall be vaccinated at least every three years thereafter. Those
animals revaccinated after one year of age shall be given booster vaccinations at least every
three years thereafter. Proof of vaccination shall be a certificate issued by a licensed
veterinarian in accordance with subsection (a) of section 22-339c. Any violation of this section
shall be an infraction.

(P.A. 85-167, S. 3, 9; P.A. 91-46, S. 2, 12; P.A. 93-435, S. 43, 95; P.A. 96-243, S. 13, 16.)

History: P.A. 91-46 entirely replaced previous provisions with new language re rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats; P.A. 93-435 made certain technical and grammatical revisions, effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 96-243 added provision making violations of section an infraction, effective June 6, 1996.

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