State highway patrol and other law enforcement officers, powers and duties to enforce animal protection
Police officers and state highway patrol can get search warrants and search places to enforce Missouri animal protection laws. If an officer arrests someone for breaking animal fighting laws, the officer takes the animals and any equipment being used. The officer files paperwork with the court describing what was taken, and the items are held until the case is over. If the person is found guilty, the animals and items are forfeited and destroyed or disposed of. If the person is found not guilty, the property is returned to the owner.
578.030. State patrol and other s, powers and duties to animal protection. — 1. The of section 43.200 , any member of the state highway patrol or other law enforcement officer may apply for and serve a , and shall have the power of in to enforce the provisions of sections 578.025 to 578.050.
2. Any member of the state highway patrol or other law enforcement officer making an under section 578.025 shall lawfully take possession of all dogs or other animals and all , implements, or other property or things used or employed, or about to be employed, in the violation of any of the provisions of section 578.025. Such officer, after taking possession of such dogs, animals, paraphernalia, implements or other property or things, shall file with the court before whom the is made against any person so arrested an stating therein the name of the person charged in such complaint, a description of the property so taken and the time and place of the taking thereof together with the name of the person from whom the same was taken and the name of the person who to own such property, if known, and that the has reason to believe and does believe, stating the ground of such belief, that the property so taken was used or employed, or was about to be used or employed, in such violation of section 578.025. He or she shall thereupon the property so taken to the court, which shall, by order in writing, place the same in the of an officer or other proper person named and in such order, to be kept by him or her until the or of such person complained against, and shall send a copy of such order without delay to the of the county. The officer or person so named and designated in such order shall immediately thereupon assume the custody of such property and shall retain the same, subject to the order of the court before which such person so complained against may be required to appear for trial. Upon the conviction of the person so charged, all property so seized shall be by the court to be and shall thereupon be destroyed or otherwise as the court may order. In the event of the or final discharge without conviction of the person so charged, such court shall, on , direct the of such property so held in custody to the owner thereof.
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Source & history notes
(L. 1984 H.B. 1210 §§ 2, 4, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Effective 1-01-17
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.