Dispositions of Animals - Pound Seizure
POLICY STATEMENT
The National Animal Control Association
opposes pound seizure laws (which mandates sale of animals from shelters to research).
BASIS FOR POLICY
- Such laws infringe upon the rights
of animal shelters to determine the fate of animals in their care.
- Such
laws hinder the efforts of progressive animal shelters to promote animal welfare in a collective atmosphere of public trust.
- Animal research is clearly a personal decision which should be decided
by individual animal owners without involvement of animal shelters.
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
The National Animal Control Association
encourages repeal of existing pound seizure laws. Owners who wish to relinquish their animals to research facilities should
do so directly to the research facility. When local government feels it is necessary to disregard this recommendation, the
following should be guidelines for said seizure:
- Only owner-surrender
animals be allowed to be seized.
- The animal user should provide
information concerning the research facility.
- After the owner
has read this information and still desires to surrender their pet to an animal user, they may do so.
This agreement should be on a written form approved by the local government's attorney.
- There should be a grace period of 24 hours allowing the owner to cancel the agreement before
the animal is released.
Reviewed/Revised by the NACA Corporate
Office - 09/17/02