§2452. Abandoned animals

            A. An animal shall be considered abandoned when the owner thereof has not paid the charge for veterinary services, including medical, or for boarding, within ten days after rendition to the owner of the invoice for such services or boarding and no other agreement with the owner has been reached for the payment of such charge for services or boarding. The person to whom the charges are due may then give notice, as provided in R.S. 3:2453.

            B. After a declared emergency, an animal shall be considered abandoned when such animal is receiving temporary shelter services in a facility operated by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the owner has not claimed the animal within thirty days of the declared emergency and a reasonable effort has been made to contact the owner.

            C. The owner of an abandoned animal shall be deemed to have relinquished all rights and claims to such animal by virtue of such abandonment, except as provided in R.S. 3:2454(B).

            Added by Acts 1978, No. 692, §1; Acts 1997, No. 976, §1; Acts 2008, No. 920, §1, eff. July 14, 2008; Acts 2017, No. 41, §1.