Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 3050F – Dogs deemed personal property; theft; penalty
(a) All dogs shall be deemed personal property and may be the subject of theft pursuant to Chapter 5 of Title 11. Any warrant of arrest or other process issued under or by virtue of the several laws in relation to the theft of such property may be directed to and executed by any police officer, constable, or animal welfare officer.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 3050F
- Animal welfare officer: means an individual employed by the Department or employed by an independent contractor of the Department or by a municipality for the purpose of enforcing dog control laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 3041F
- Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
- Department: means the Department of Health and Social Services. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 3041F
- Dog: means any dog or dog hybrid. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 3041F
- Owner: means any person who owns, keeps, harbors, or is the custodian of a dog. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 3041F
- Personal property: All property that is not real property.
(b) The presence of any dog, regardless of age, not confined on the premises of a person other than the lawful owner of such dog shall raise no presumption of theft against the owner or tenant of such premises.
(c) No person shall confine any dog which is not that person’s own lawful property without contacting the Department within 48 hours of confining such dog and providing the Department with a complete description of the dog, the exact location of the premises on which such dog is to be detained, and the name of the owner or tenant of such property.
77 Del. Laws, c. 428, § ?7; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § ?1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 266, § ?14; 80 Del. Laws, c. 248, § ?5;