Section 717.2A. Rescue of neglected livestock.

  1.  a.  A law enforcement officer may rescue livestock neglected as provided in section 717.2 on public or private property, as provided in this subsection.

  b.  The officer may enter onto property of a person to rescue neglected livestock if the officer obtains a search warrant issued by a court, or enters onto the premises in a manner consistent with the laws of this state and the United States, including Article I, section 8, of the Constitution of the State of Iowa, or the fourth amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

  c.  Livestock neglected as provided in section 717.2 may be rescued pursuant to the following conditions:

  (1)  If a criminal proceeding has not been commenced against the person owning or caring for the livestock, the following shall apply:

  (a)  The local authority shall receive a written statement from a veterinarian licensed pursuant to chapter 169, providing that, in the veterinarian’s opinion, the livestock is neglected.

  (b)  The local authority shall provide written notice to the person owning or caring for the livestock by delivery at the last known address of the person. The local authority shall deliver the notice by certified mail or make a good faith effort to personally deliver the notice to the person owning or caring for the livestock. The notice shall include all of the following:

  (i)  The name and address of the local authority.

  (ii)  A description of the livestock subject to rescue.

  (iii)  A statement informing the person that the livestock may be rescued pursuant to this chapter within one day following receipt of the notice by the person. The statement must specify a date, time, and a location for delivery of the response designated by the local authority, as provided in this subsection.

  (iv)  A statement informing the person that in order to avoid rescue of the livestock, the person must respond to the notice in writing signed by a veterinarian licensed pursuant to chapter 169. The veterinarian must state that, in the opinion of the veterinarian, the livestock is not neglected, or the person is taking immediate measures required to rehabilitate the livestock.

  (c)  A law enforcement officer may rescue the livestock, if the local authority fails to receive a written response by the person owning or caring for the livestock by the end of normal office hours of the next day that the local authority is available to receive the response at the offices of the local authority. However, if the local authority is not available to receive a response at its offices, the local authority may designate another location in the county to receive the response.

  (2)  If a criminal proceeding has been commenced against the person owning or caring for the livestock, the local authority must receive a written statement from a veterinarian licensed pursuant to chapter 169, providing that, in the veterinarian’s opinion, the livestock is neglected.

  (3)  Regardless of whether a criminal proceeding has commenced, the local authority may immediately rescue livestock without providing notice as otherwise required in this section. However, the local authority must receive a written statement from a veterinarian licensed pursuant to chapter 169, providing that in the veterinarian’s opinion, the livestock is neglected. In order to rescue the livestock, the local authority must determine that the livestock has been abandoned or that no person is able or willing to care for the livestock, and the livestock is permanently distressed by disease or injury to a degree that would result in severe and prolonged suffering.

  2.  If livestock is rescued pursuant to this section, the local authority shall post a notice in a conspicuous place at the location where the livestock was rescued. The notice shall state that the livestock has been rescued by the local authority pursuant to this section. The local authority shall provide for the maintenance of the neglected livestock. The local authority may contract with a livestock care provider for the maintenance of the neglected livestock. The local authority shall pay the livestock care provider for the livestock’s maintenance regardless of proceeds received from the sale of the livestock or any reimbursement ordered by a court, pursuant to section 717.5.

  3.  The livestock shall be subject to disposition pursuant to section 717.5.

94 Acts, ch 1103, §10