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47-1710. Release or disposition of animals from pound or animal shelter; use of proceeds from sale of animals. (a) An animal shall not be disposed of by an owner or operator of a pound or of an animal shelter as a pound until after expiration of a minimum of three full business days of custody during which the public has clear access to inspect and recover the animal through time periods ordinarily accepted as usual business hours. During such time of custody, any owner or operator of such facility shall attempt to notify the owner or custodian of any animal maintained or impounded by such facility if such owner or custodian is known or reasonably ascertainable. Such an animal may at any time be released to the legal owner, moved to a veterinary hospital for treatment or observation, released in any manner, if such animal was a gift animal to an animal shelter, or euthanized by a duly incorporated humane society or by a licensed veterinarian if it appears to an officer of such humane society or to such veterinarian that the animal is diseased or disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose.

(b) After the expiration of the holding period established in subsection (a), the governing body of a political subdivision regulating the operation of a pound shall have ownership of such animal and shall determine the method of disposition of any animal. Any pound releasing live animals to prospective owners shall comply with the provisions established in K.S.A. 47-1731, and amendments thereto. Any such proceeds derived from the sale or other disposition of such animals shall be paid directly to the treasurer of the political subdivision, and no part of such proceeds shall accrue to any individual.

(c) After the expiration of the holding period established in subsection (a), the board of directors of any humane society operating an animal shelter as a pound, shall have ownership of such animal and shall determine the method of disposition of any animal. Any animal shelter releasing live animals to prospective owners shall comply with the provisions established in K.S.A. 47-1731, and amendments thereto. Any such proceeds derived from such sale or disposition shall be paid directly to the treasurer of the humane society and no part of such proceeds shall accrue to any individual.

History: L. 1972, ch. 201, § 10; L. 1977, ch. 116, § 5; L. 1995, ch. 244, § 7; L. 1996, ch. 151, § 13; L. 2000, ch. 31, § 1; L. 2012, ch. 125, § 30; July 1.