Title XVII, AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS

272.134. Agreement for no fence permitted. — Nothing in this chapter shall prevent adjoining landowners from agreeing that no fence is needed between their property. ­­-------- (L. 2001 H.B. 219 merged with S.B. 462)

272.136. Landowner may exceed lawful fence requirements. — Nothing in this chapter shall prevent either of adjoining landowners from building the landowner or the landowner's neighbor's portion of a fence in excess of the lawful fence requirements prescribed by this chapter. ­­--…

272.210. Definitions. — As used in sections 272.210 to 272.370 the following words and terms have the following meanings: (1) "Lawful fence", a fence with not less than four boards per four feet of height; said boards to be spaced no farther apart than twice the width of the boar…

272.220. Fields enclosed, how. — All fields and enclosures in which livestock are kept or placed shall be enclosed by a lawful fence. ­­-------- (L. 1963 p. 401 § 2, A.L. 1965 p. 395)

272.235. Adjoining landowners obligated to build fence — when — exceptions. — If there is a need for a fence by either of two joining landowners both shall be obligated to build and maintain a fence under the provisions of sections 272.210 to 272.370. Nothing in sections 272.210 …

272.240. Partition fences — owner may demand payment, when. — Whenever the owner of real estate desires to erect or construct a lawful fence which wholly or partially borders the land of another, he shall notify the other owner that he desires a division fence. If within ninety d…

272.250. Duty of judge if parties disagree on value — fence viewers to estimate. — If the parties interested fail to agree as to the value of one-half of the fence, the owner of the fence may apply to a circuit or associate circuit judge of the county, who shall without delay iss…

272.260. Value of fence may be recovered, when. — If the person thus assessed or charged with the value of one-half of any fence, under the provisions of sections 272.210 to 272.370 shall neglect or refuse to pay over to the owner of the fence the amount so awarded, the same may …

272.270. Fence owners may agree on maintenance — agreement recorded — refusal to agree, procedure. — 1. The several owners may, in writing, agree upon the portion of partition fences between their lands which shall be erected and maintained by each, which writing shall describe t…

272.280. Duties of judge if parties disagree on repairs — fence viewers to designate. — If the parties cannot agree as to the part each shall have and keep in repair, either of them may apply to a circuit or associate circuit judge of the county who shall forthwith summon three d…

272.290. Special partition fences — owner may demand payment, when. — Whenever the fence of any owner of real estate now erected or constructed, or which shall hereafter be erected, constructed or rebuilt, the same being thereafter a fence designed to restrain swine, sheep or oth…

272.300. Fees of fence viewers, judge and sheriff — taxed as costs. — The persons appointed by the judge under sections 272.250 and 272.280 to discharge the duties therein specified, shall receive five dollars each per day for the time actually employed, which, together with the …

272.310. Owners to repair division fence — remedy for failure. — Every person owning a part of a division fence shall keep the same in good repair according to the requirements of sections 272.210 to 272.370. Either party owning land adjoining a division fence may, upon the failu…

272.320. Division fence not to be removed — exceptions. — No division fence shall be removed without the consent of all the owners thereof, unless for the purpose of opening a public road or highway or making repairs. ­­-------- (L. 1963 p. 401 § 12)

272.330. Application of law. — 1. The provisions of sections 272.240 to 272.350 shall apply to any division fence even though it may stand wholly upon one side of the division line. 2. The provisions of sections 272.210 to 272.370 shall not apply to counties which have all or par…

272.340. Judgment of judge may be reviewed in circuit court. — Any person aggrieved by any order or judgment of the judge made or entered under the provisions of sections 272.250 and 272.280 may have the same reviewed by a petition in the circuit court of the county wherein the p…

272.350. Petition for review shall state what. — The petition shall set forth the grounds of objection, and upon the filing thereof the circuit court shall be possessed of the cause, and proceed to hear and determine the objections, and make such order or judgment as may be right…

272.360. Provisions of law effective after election. — The provisions of sections 272.210 to 272.370 are hereby suspended in the several counties of this state until a majority of the legal voters of any county voting on the question at any general or special election called for …

272.370. Petition for election — notice — order of adoption. — The county commission may on its own motion and shall upon the petition of one hundred real estate owners of ten acres or more of the county submit to the voters at a general or special election the proposition for th…

273.010. Dog defined. — The word "dog", as used in sections 273.010 to 273.030, shall be held and construed to mean all animals of the canine species, both male and female. ­­-------- (RSMo 1939 § 14537) Prior revisions: 1929 § 12863; 1919 § 4353; 1909 § 857

273.020. Recovery of damages for sheep killed — disposition of dog, penalty. — In every case where sheep or other domestic animals are killed or maimed by dogs, the owner of such animals may recover against the owner or keeper of such dog or dogs the full amount of damages and th…

273.030. Dogs may be killed, when. — If any person shall discover any dog or dogs in the act of killing, wounding or chasing sheep in any portion of this state, or shall discover any dog or dogs under such circumstances as to satisfactorily show that such dog or dogs has or have …

273.033. Killing or injuring a dog, reasonable apprehension of imminent harm is an absolute defense. — 1. In any action for damages or a criminal prosecution against any person for killing or injuring a dog, a showing by a preponderance of the evidence that such person was in rea…

273.036. Owner liable, when — fine, amount. — 1. The owner or possessor of any dog that bites, without provocation, any person while such person is on public property, or lawfully on private property, including the property of the owner or possessor of the dog, is strictly liable…

273.040. Dog defined. — The word "dog", whenever used in sections 273.040 to 273.180 without qualifications, is intended to mean a female as well as a male dog over six months of age. ­­-------- (RSMo 1939 § 14555) Prior revision: 1929 § 12878

273.050. Dog tax, when due. — No dog shall be permitted to be and remain within the limits of the state unless the owner thereof, or someone for said owner, shall have caused such dog to be listed and the tax imposed by sections 273.040 to 273.180 to be paid on or before the firs…

273.060. Amount of tax. — The tax on each male dog and each spayed female dog, of which the certificate of a veterinarian or the affidavit of the owner is produced, in this state shall be one dollar per year, and the tax on all other dogs in this state shall be three dollars per …

273.070. Issuance of license — plate — certificate — license fees — county dog license fund — purposes. — 1. County clerks shall issue licenses to applicants and shall deliver to the applicants a metallic plate having the number corresponding to that of the license stamped thereo…

273.080. License fastened to dog's collar. — It shall be the duty of the owner of every listed dog to put around the neck of such dog a collar to which shall be attached with a metallic fastening the metallic plate aforesaid. ­­-------- (RSMo 1939 § 14552) Prior revision: 1929 § …

273.090. License tags and certificates, how furnished. — The secretary of state shall annually procure such number of metallic plates as may be required, of convenient size and shape, or design to be changed each year, and having cast thereon in raised letters, "S.L.T." and the f…

273.100. Impounding of dogs — redemption — fees — penalty. — 1. Every city or town marshal of every incorporated city or town in this state, within their jurisdiction, shall take up and impound in a suitable place, the location of which place shall be given by a notice posted in …

273.110. Application to recover damages from fund. — 1. No owner or custodian of livestock or poultry which has been injured or killed by dogs shall be entitled to receive any portion of the county dog license fund unless within ten days after suffering such loss or damage he, wi…

273.120. Examination of applications, pass judgment. — The county commission shall between the first and fifteenth days of March of each year hereafter meet in session to consider and examine said applications and affidavits covering losses over a period of one year, which said y…

273.130. Records to be kept — warrants — funds prorated, when. — A complete record shall be kept of the commission's proceedings, including the names of the applicants and cosigners and the amount paid to each applicant, and the number of livestock or poultry injured or killed. T…

273.150. Failure to pay tax — penalty — exceptions. — Every owner of a dog and every person who shall suffer or permit a dog to remain upon such premises under his immediate control without having caused such dog to be listed and the tax thereon to be paid as provided for by sect…

273.160. Assessor to list all dogs — notify owner of tax. — The assessor for taxation purposes in each county and city of this state, annually at the time of assessing property as required by law, shall make diligent inquiry as to the number of dogs owned, harbored, or kept by an…

273.170. Applicability of law — petition — election. — 1. Upon the filing of a petition signed by one hundred or more voters of any county and presented to the county commission at any regular or special session thereof the county commission shall order the question, as to whethe…

273.180. Repeal of license tax on dogs — procedure. — 1. Upon the filing of a petition signed by one hundred or more voters of any county and presented to the county commission at any regular or special session thereof, it shall be the duty of the county commission to order the q…

273.325. Citation of law — definitions. — 1. Sections 273.325 to 273.357 shall be known as the "Animal Care Facilities Act". 2. As used in sections 273.325 to 273.357, the following terms mean: (1) "Adequate food", the provision, at suitable intervals of not more than twelve hour…

273.327. License annually required to operate animal boarding facilities, pet shops, pounds, dealers and commercial breeders — fees, exemption from fees for certain licensees. — No person shall operate an animal shelter, pound or dog pound, boarding kennel, commercial kennel, con…

273.329. Director may refuse to license or may revoke licenses, grounds — operation without license, penalty. — 1. The director may refuse to issue or renew or may revoke a license on any one or more of the following grounds: (1) Material and deliberate misstatement in the applic…

273.331. Inspection required for license — state veterinarian's duties and authority — provisional license issued until inspection — inspections required annually or on complaint. — A license shall be issued only upon inspection by the state veterinarian, his designee, or an anim…

273.333. Investigations conducted, when — violations, administrative procedure — order for remedial action by circuit courts — administrative penalties, amount — penalties, deposit in general revenue — appeals, procedure. — The state veterinarian or an animal welfare official, up…

273.335. Substantial ongoing risk to health and welfare of animals, temporary or permanent injunction — animals in pain or diseased taken into custody for euthanasia, when, costs to licensee. — When, in the judgment of the state veterinarian or an animal welfare official, any per…

273.338. Failure of reinspections after original violation, penalty, amount — payment of penalty required before license renewal. — Persons and facilities which subsequently fail two consecutive reinspections for an original violation shall be charged a fee of one hundred dollars…

273.340. Dealers to purchase only from licensed or exempt persons — violation, penalties. — A dealer shall only purchase animals from persons in this state who are licensed under sections 273.325 to 273.357, or who are exempt from licensure. Any dealer who knowingly purchases ani…