{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-21-21-1680.4","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 21, § 21-1680.4","heading":"Protective custody of abused or neglected animals –","body":"Bond hearing.\n\nA. The purpose of this section is to provide a means by which\n\nany abused or neglected animal, as described in Section 1685 of\n\nTitle 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, may:\n\n1. Be removed from its present custody; or\n\n2. Be made the subject of an order issued to the owner by the\n\nappropriate court to provide care to the animal by the owner of the\n\nanimal or by another person at a location approved by the court,\n\nwith the order setting forth the conditions under which the animal\n\nwill be housed and cared for, and given protection and a humane\n\ndisposition.\n\nB. Any peace officer or animal control officer may:\n\n1. Specify terms and conditions by which the owner or keeper\n\nmay maintain custody of the animal at the expense of the owner to\n\nprovide care for the animal. The specifications shall be counter-\n\nsigned by the owner or keeper of the animal. Provided, however,\n\nthat violation of the custody agreement of the animal may result in\n\nthe impoundment of the animal; or\n\n2. Obtain a court order to take custody of any animal found\n\nneglected or cruelly treated by removing the animal from its present\n\nlocation.\n\nC. 1. After an animal has been seized and prior to any charges\n\nbeing filed, the agency that took custody of the animal shall,\n\nwithin seven (7) days from the date of seizure, petition the\n\ndistrict court in the county in which the animal was seized for a\n\nbond hearing to determine the cost and care for the animal. The\n\nbond hearing shall be held as soon as practicable and not more than\n\nten (10) business days from the date of application for the bond\n\nhearing. If the court finds that probable cause exists that an\n\nanimal has been abused, the court may order immediate forfeiture of\n\nthe animal to the agency that took custody of the animal. Provided,\n\nhowever, within seventy-two (72) hours of the order of forfeiture,\n\nthe person owning or having charge or custody of the animal may post\n\na security bond in an amount determined by the court that is\n\nsufficient to reimburse all reasonable and anticipated costs\n\nincurred by the agency caring for the animal from the date of\n\nseizure. Reasonable costs include, but are not limited to, medical\n\ncare and boarding of the animal.\n\n2. The bond shall be placed with the agency that took custody\n\nof the animal. The agency shall provide an accounting of expenses\n\nto the court when the animal is no longer in the custody of the\n\nagency or upon request by the court. The agency may petition the\n\ncourt for a subsequent bond hearing at any time. The bond hearing\n\nshall be held as soon as practicable and not more than ten (10)\n\nbusiness days from the date of application for the bond hearing.\n\nWhen all expenses covered by the bond are exhausted and a subsequent\n\nbond has not been posted, the animal shall be forfeited to the\n\nagency.\n\n3. If the animal is returned to the person who previously owned\n\nor had charge or custody of the animal, funds not used for the care\n\nof the animal shall be returned.\n\n4. Nothing in this section shall prevent the euthanasia of a\n\nseized animal at any time as determined necessary by a licensed\n\nveterinarian of the state.","path":["OK Code","Title 21"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os21.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"7bfcccbf8a4ed89349d630bb152a328afd3f9354af7f364149e66186d4956764","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-21-21-1680.3","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-21-21-1681"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}