{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-257.100","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 257.100","heading":"Destruction of suffering, abandoned, or hopelessly diseased animal --","body":"\"Abandonment\" defined.\n(1) Any peace officer, animal control officer, or any person authorized by the board\nmay destroy or kill or cause to be destroyed or killed, any animal found abandoned\nand suffering and not properly cared for, or appearing to be injured, diseased, or\nsuffering past recovery for any useful purpose.\n(2) Before destroying the animal the officer shall obtain the judgment to that effect of a\nveterinarian, or of two (2) reputable citizens called by him to view the animal in his\npresence, or shall obtain consent to the destruction from the owner of the animal.\n(3) (a) Any animal placed in the custody of a licensed veterinarian for treatment,\nboarding, or other care, which shall be unclaimed by its owner or his agent for\na period of more than ten (10) days after written notice by certified mail,\nreturn receipt requested, is given the owner or his agent at his last known\naddress, shall be deemed to be abandoned and may be  turned over to the\nnearest humane society or animal shelter or disposed of as the custodian may\ndeem proper.\n(b) The giving of notice to the owner, or the agent of the owner of the animal by\nthe licensed veterinarian shall relieve the licensed veterinaria n and any\ncustodian to whom the animal may be given of any further liability for\ndisposal.\n(4) Abandonment shall constitute the relinquishment of all rights and claims by the\nowner to the animal.","path":["KRS Chapter 257"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=12350","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:53:06Z","sha256":"d44751dc82925ef8a607cebd978605d4838f384e2f7d2158803b1460af9a7285","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-257.090","next":"us-ky/krs-257.105"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}