animal seizure; bond amount

Animal owners face higher seizure bonds

When an animal is seized and does not need humane destruction, the owner or keeper gets notice and can request a court hearing within 10 days. They must also post a $500 bond per animal within 10 days, up from $25. The court must set a hearing within 15 business days after receiving the request; the seizing agency must prove mistreatment, neglect, or abandonment, or that delaying humane destruction would cause needless suffering. The court can transfer ownership to the seizing or animal care agency and use the bond for care costs; otherwise, the bond is refunded. Missing the bond deadline, not requesting a hearing, or missing the hearing means the animal is treated as abandoned and ownership transfers to the seizing agency. The rules exclude certain regulated activities and equine seizures, and do not apply where local rules provide equal or stronger bonding and forfeiture protections.