Estray Animal Control Unit and Estray Livestock Stewardship Program

(a) The Department of Agriculture shall maintain an estray animal control unit for the care, custody, transportation, impoundment, temporary care placement, and lawful disposition of estrays. (b) The Department of Agriculture is authorized to establish and administer an Estray Livestock Stewardship Program for the temporary care placement of estray livestock with qualified custodial caretakers. (c) The Department may approve livestock owners, ranchers, farmers, agricultural operators, or other qualified persons as custodial caretakers for estray livestock. (d) Temporary care placement may continue pending: (1) Identification of the owner; (2) Reclamation by the owner; (3) Transfer to Department custody; (4) Public sale or disposition pursuant to law; (5) Other lawful disposition authorized by the Department. (e) Custodial caretakers may receive reimbursement from the Estray Livestock Stewardship and Enforcement Fund established pursuant to this Article for the reasonable expenses associated with feed, care, veterinary services, transportation, fencing, and livestock maintenance. (f) A Custodial caretaker shall have the right of first refusal to acquire lawful ownership of an estray livestock in the caretaker’s custody, if the caretaker elects to do so, following the expiration of all notice, reclamation and disposition requirements established by this Article. The Department of Agriculture may transfer ownership directly to the custodial caretaker or permit the caretaker to match the highest acceptable bid at any public sale conducted pursuant to § 61510. SOURCE: GC § 12184; amended by P.L. 11-68, P.L. 38-143:3 (Oct. 13, 2026). 2026 NOTE: P.L. 38-143:13 states: “The Department of Agriculture shall promulgate all rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act no later than one-hundred eighty (180) days following enactment. Pending the promulgation of rules and regulations, the Department may establish interim policies and procedures consistent with this Act.”