Title 4, Title 4 — Animals

If requested to do so, releasing agencies shall refund deposited funds to the adopting party upon reasonable proof being presented to the releasing agency by the adopting party that the adopted animal died before the expiration of the period during which the spaying or neutering …

Funds which have been forfeited by adopting parties shall be placed in a separate account, which shall be an interest bearing account whenever feasible and releasing agencies shall allocate funds from said account to programs which directly promote, subsidize or otherwise reduce …

Subject to the provisions and purposes of the Dog and Cat Sterilization Act and laws of the State of Oklahoma, releasing agencies may establish adoption standards for pets in their care; provided, however, that in the case of public facilities said standards must be reasonably re…

The provisions of the Dog and Cat Sterilization Act shall not be construed to require the sterilization of dogs and cats which are being held in releasing agencies which might be claimed by their rightful owners; nor shall it be construed to require the sterilization of dogs and …

A. Any dog, cat or any other animal which is kept for pleasure rather than utility in or about a household, held by or in the custody of a private or public animal shelter or agency and not reclaimed by the owner, may be disposed of only by: 1. Adoption as a pet in a suitable hom…

Possession and purchase by certified animal euthanasia technician. A. Denatured sodium pentobarbital shall be administered by any one of the following methods: 1. Intravenous or intracardial injection of a lethal dose in dogs and cats. Intracardiac injection is acceptable only wh…

Personnel shall be thoroughly instructed and be adequately trained in the operation and use of the carbon monoxide chamber. Carbon monoxide shall be administered in the following manner: Adult animals, over sixteen (16) weeks of age, to be euthanized, shall be left in the chamber…

Carbon monoxide chambers shall be equipped with: 1. Internal lighting and a viewport providing direct visual observation of any animal within the chamber; 2. Compressed cylinder gas of commercial grade adequate to achieve a uniform carbon monoxide gas concentration throughout the…

Manner of disposal. Any municipality that does not have proper facilities and trained personnel shall transport in a humane manner any animals which are to be euthanized to the nearest municipality which has proper facilities and trained personnel or contract for euthanasia of su…

Failure by any private or public animal shelter to comply with the provisions of this act for euthanizing animals shall constitute a nuisance. Any person may maintain a civil action to enjoin the continuance of the nuisance. If the acts sought to be enjoined are determined by the…

The provisions of Sections 1 through 7 of this act shall not apply to any municipality with a population of ten thousand (10,000) or less persons according to the latest Federal Decennial Census. However, unclaimed animals must be destroyed by an acceptable, humane method. Added …

As used in this act: 1. “Abandon” includes leaving an animal without making reasonable arrangements for assumption of custody by another person; and 2. “Neglect” means unreasonable deprivation of necessary food, care, or shelter. Added by Laws 2007, c. 116, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2007…

ownership. A. If a law enforcement officer has reason to believe that an animal has been abandoned or neglected in violation of Sections 1685 or 1692 through 1700 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the officer may apply in a court of competent jurisdiction for a warrant to sei…

Programs. A. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, through the State Veterinarian, may: 1. Adopt an education program concerning pet overpopulation with emphasis on the importance of spaying and neutering to control pet overpopulation; 2. Accept gifts, grant…

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Care and Disposition of Disaster Animals Act". Added by Laws 2015, c. 304, § 1, emerg. eff. May 12, 2015.

As used in the Care and Disposition of Disaster Animals Act: 1. "Animal shelter" means a physical facility or entity, including those utilizing private homes, operating for the purpose of providing temporary or long-term animal shelter to lost, unwanted or abandoned animals, that…

A. Disaster animals taken from a disaster area or delivered to an animal shelter following a Class #1 Event or Class #2 Event shall be kept by the animal shelter that receives the disaster animals according to the applicable holding period, unless the owner of the disaster animal…

Any individual who is not working under the authority of an animal shelter and who takes possession of disaster animals shall transfer the disaster animals as quickly as reasonably possible to an animal shelter along with available tracking information. Added by Laws 2015, c. 304…

A. No disaster animal may be removed from the state without the permission of the State Veterinarian or by satisfying such requirements as might be established by the State Veterinarian. B. Except as provided in subsection A of this section, anyone who knowingly removes disaster …

A. The Care and Disposition of Disaster Animals Act shall not limit an animal control authority or agent thereof from humanely euthanizing an animal in accordance with existing state law. B. The Care and Disposition of Disaster Animals Act does not impose any affirmative duty on …

Violations of the Care and Disposition of Disaster Animals Act may be enforced by the State Board of Agriculture pursuant to its enforcement authority and all remedies found in the Oklahoma Agricultural Code for the enforcement of Title 2 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Added by Laws 2…

Service animal exception. A. For purposes of this section: 1. The terms "place of public accommodation", "public accommodation" and "service animal" shall have the same meaning as such terms are defined in 28 C.F.R., Section 36.104. "Service animal" does not include an emotional …

A. As used in this act, "domestic animals" shall include all domestic animals including, but not limited to, cattle, bison, hogs, sheep, goats, equidae, chickens or other poultry and exotic livestock. The term "domestic animals" shall not include dogs and cats. B. As used in this…

Any person taking up an estray as hereinbefore provided shall feed and care for said estray. Added by Laws 1970, c. 165, § 10.

If any person unlawfully takes up or conceals an estray, or fails to comply with the provisions of this act, such person so offending shall be guilty of the felony of larceny of domestic animals, a Class D3 felony offense, and shall be punished by imprisonment as provided for in …

In event the taker-up and the owner and/or claimant cannot agree as to the amount of damages or expenses involved, the small claims division of the district court in the county where estray is located shall have jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter, as well as determine claims b…

- Conditions. A. A person may claim to be the owner of exotic livestock under this chapter only if: 1. The exotic livestock is tagged, branded, banded, or marked in another manner that identifies the exotic livestock as being the property of the claimant; or 2. The person acquire…

Any domestic animal found running at large upon public or private lands in the State of Oklahoma, whose owner is unknown in the vicinity of the premises where found, shall be known as an "estray", and it shall be unlawful for any person, company or corporation or either of their …

Reports. Any landowner or lessee of land may take up any domestic animal that strays upon his premises or any public thoroughfare adjoining the same. When any person shall take up any stray animal, he shall make a reasonable investigation immediately to ascertain the owner of suc…

Upon taking up an estray animal or animals, and after sending a description to the county sheriff, the taker-up shall be entitled to hold the same lawfully until relieved of its custody by the sheriff. Should a claimant for said animal apply to the taker-up for possession of this…

A. 1. Upon receiving notice of the taking up of any strayed animal, it shall be the duty of any peace officer, unless the owner thereof is identified and known by the peace officer to be the owner, to make or cause to be made an examination of the brand records and reports of los…

A. If a peace officer is unable to determine the owner or probable owner of any strayed animal from brand records and other reports of lost, strayed and stolen livestock, the sheriff shall cause to be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the county in which the …

In the event that there is more than one (1) claimant to any estray after the publication of the notice, as provided by this act, and if a contest or controversy ensues as a result of adverse claimants, then after the publication the sheriff shall certify the matter to the distri…

All domestic animals shall be restrained by the owner thereof at all times and seasons of the year from running at large in the State of Oklahoma. Damages caused by the domestic animals trespassing upon lands of another shall be recovered in a manner provided by law. For the purp…

A. Any person who: 1. Willfully omits to keep a domestic animal such person owns or has charge of within a suitable enclosure; 2. Allows the animal to be unrestrained or to run at large, with notice, actual or constructive, that the enclosure within which the animal is kept is op…