11-46-103.  Stray animals.

(1)  Each municipal or county animal control officer shall hold or cause to be held at an animal shelter any unidentified or unclaimed stray animal in safe and humane custody for a minimum of five business days after the time of impound and prior to making any final disposition of the animal.

Terms Used In Utah Code 11-46-103

(2)  An animal shelter shall ensure that a record of each held animal is maintained that includes the:

(a)  date of impound;

(b)  date of disposition; and

(c)  method of disposition, which may be:

(i)  placement in an adoptive home or other transfer of the animal, which shall be in accordance with 2;

(ii)  return to the animal’s owner;

(iii)  placement in a community cat program as defined in Section 11-46-302; or

(iv)  euthanasia in accordance with 4.

(3)  An unidentified or unclaimed stray animal may be euthanized before the completion of the five working day minimum holding period to prevent unnecessary suffering due to serious injury or disease if the euthanasia complies with:

(a)  written agency or department policies and procedures;

(b)  local ordinances; and

(c)  4.

(4)  An unidentified or unclaimed stray animal shall be returned to the animal’s owner upon:

(a)  the establishment of proof of ownership;

(b)  compliance with the requirements of applicable local ordinances; and

(c)  compliance with 2.

Amended by Chapter 360, 2023 General Session