Missouri HB 586: Establishes micro shelters for animals and outlines minimum requirements for those shelters to operate

Bill Text

FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 586
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE WEBER.
0389H.01I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal sections 273.325 and 273.342, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections
relating to animal micro shelters.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 273.325 and 273.342, RSMo, are repealed and two new sections
2 enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 273.325 and 273.342, to read as follows:
273.325. 1. Sections 273.325 to 273.357 shall be known as the "Animal Care
2 Facilities Act".
3 2. As used in sections 273.325 to 273.357, the following terms mean:
4 (1) "Adequate food", the provision, at suitable intervals of not more than twelve
5 hours, unless the dietary requirements of the species require a longer interval, of a quantity of
6 wholesome foodstuff, suitable for the species and age, sufficient to maintain a reasonable
7 level of nutrition in each animal, all of which foodstuff is served in a safe receptacle, dish, or
8 container;
9 (2) "Adequate housing", the continuous provision of a sanitary facility, protection
10 from the extremes of weather conditions, proper ventilation, and appropriate spacedepending
11 on the species of animal, as defined by regulations of the USDA, as revised;
12 (3) "Adequate water", the provision, either continuously or at intervals suitable to the
13 species, which intervals shall not exceed eight hours, of a supply of potable water in a safe
14 receptacle, dish, or container;
15 (4) "Animal", anydogorcat,whichisbeingused, orisintended foruse, forresearch,
16 teaching, testing, breeding, or exhibition purposes, or as a pet;
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.

17 (5) "Animal shelter", a facility which is used to house or contain animals, which is
18 owned, operated, or maintained by an incorporated humane society, animal welfare society,
19 societyforthepreventionofcrueltytoanimals,orothernot-for-profitorganizationdevotedto
20 the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of such animals, or a person whose primary
21 purpose is to act as an animal rescue, to collect and care for unwanted animals or to offer
22 them for adoption;
23 (6) "Animal welfare official", any licensed veterinarian, designated by and under the
24 supervision of the state veterinarian, who administers or assists in the administration of the
25 provisions of sections 273.325 to 273.357, or any appointee of the director, and shall include
26 all deputy state veterinarians;
27 (7) "Boarding kennel", a place or establishment, other than a pound or animal shelter,
28 where animals, not owned by the proprietor, are sheltered, fed, and watered in return for a
29 consideration; however, "boarding kennel" shall not include hobby or show breeders who
30 board intact females for a period of time for the sole purpose of breeding such intact females,
31 and shall not include individuals who temporarily, and not in the normal course of business,
32 board or care for animals owned by other individuals;
33 (8) "Commercial breeder", a person, other than a hobby or show breeder, engaged in
34 the business of breeding animals for sale or for exchange in return for a consideration, and
35 who harbors more than three intact females for the primary purpose of breeding animals for
36 sale;
37 (9) "Commercial kennel", a kennel which performs grooming or training services for
38 animals, and may or may not render boarding services in return for a consideration;
39 (10) "Contract kennel", any facility operated by any person or entity other than the
40 state or any political subdivision of the state, for the purpose of impounding or harboring
41 seized, stray, homeless, abandoned or unwanted animals, on behalf of and pursuant to a
42 contract with the state or any political subdivision;
43 (11) "Dealer", any person who is engaged in the business of buying for resale, selling
44 or exchanging animals, as a principal or agent, or who holds himself out to be so engaged or
45 is otherwise classified as a dealer by the USDA as defined by regulations of the USDA;
46 (12) "Director", the director of the department of agriculture of the state of Missouri;
47 (13) "Hobby or show breeder", a noncommercial breeder who breeds dogs or cats
48 with the primary purpose of exhibiting or showing dogs or cats, improving the breed or
49 selling the dogs or cats, and having no more than ten intact females. Such breeder shall be
50 classified as a hobby or show breeder if such person only sells animals to other breeders or to
51 individuals;
HB 586 2

52 (14) "Humane euthanasia", the act or practice of putting an animal to death in a
53 humane or instantaneous manner under guidelines and procedures established by rules
54 promulgated by the director;
55 (1