ABANDONMENT LAW CLARIFIED

  • ACCORDING TO STATUTORY ABANDONMENT PROVISIONS, IF AN ANIMAL IS NOT PICKED UP FROM THE HOSPITAL WITHIN 14 DAYS AFTER THE ANIMAL WAS DUE TO BE PICKED UP, THE ANIMAL IS CONSIDERED TO BE ABANDONED. THE VETERINARIAN, IF UNABLE TO FIND A NEW OWNER FOR THE ANIMAL AFTER TRYING FOR AT LEAST 10 DAYS, MAY HUMANELY DESTROY THE ANIMAL IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS AND FORMALITIES OF THESE SECTIONS OF THE CIVIL CODE. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THERE IS AN ATTEMPT OF THE OWNER TO PHYSICALLY RETRIEVE THE ANIMAL OR OTHERWISE CONTACT THE VETERINARY FACILITY OR GIVE NOTICE OF INTENT TO RETRIEVE THE ANIMAL WITHIN THE 14 DAY PERIOD, THE ANIMAL WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED ABANDONED.

    THE BASICS OF THE LIEN LAW


    ACCORDING TO THE STATE BOARD OF VETERINARY EXAMINERS, THE FOLLOWING FACTS ABOUT THE LIEN LAW SHOULD HELP CLEAR UP MISINTERPRETATIONS OR MISUNDERSTANDINGS:
    • A DOCTOR MAY KEEP AN ANIMAL AS A LIEN AGAINST MONEY OWED BY A PET OWNER FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY THE VETERINARIAN. DURING THIS PERIOD OF LIEN, THE DOCTOR MAY NOT CHARGE THE PET OWNER FOR FOOD AND BOARD.
    • IF THE AMOUNT DUE FOR VETERINARY SERVICES HAS NOT BEEN PAID WITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER PAYMENT BECAME DUE, THE LAW AUTHORIZES THE VETERINARIAN TO SELL THE ANIMAL BY GIVING 10 DAYS NOTICE AND NOT MORE THAN 20 DAYS WRITTEN NOTICE.
    • THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE ARE TO BE APPLIED TO THE DISCHARGE OF THE LIEN WITH THE REMAINDER GOING TO THE LEGAL OWNER. THE VETERINARIAN CANNOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, DESTROY OR THREATEN TO DESTROY THE ANIMAL DURING THIS PROCESS.

    I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THE ABOVE-MENTIONED LAW.
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