HB 53

Abstract

Animal care; zoos and petting zoos; seizure ofanimals. Defines animals located at a zoo or petting zoo as agriculturalanimals for the standards for seizure or impoundment of companionanimals. The bill also contains technical amendments.

Animal care; zoos and petting zoos; seizureof animals. Raises from reasonable cause to probable cause the standard for a belief that animal cruelty laws are being violatedfor purposes of an application for a search warrant. The bill addsanimals located at a zoo or petting zoo, defined in the bill, to agricultural animals as exceptions to the standards for seizure orimpoundment of companion animals. The bill also requires that beforea seizure can take place at a zoo or petting zoo, a direct and immediatethreat to an animal must exist that cannot be corrected in a reasonabletime or that the owner is unable or unwilling to correct. The billrequires humane investigators to be residents of the Commonwealth.The bill contains technical amendments.