MISSOULA — Montana counties plan to try again to pass a law to shift the burden of paying for the care of animals seized in animal cruelty cases to their owners.
The Missoulian reports that legislation backed by the Montana Association of Counties is expected to be similar to ones in 36 other states. In some cases but only at the request of prosecutors, it would require animal owners to post a bond to pay for care. If owners can’t do that, the animals could be forfeited after a legal hearing and put into foster care or adopted.
The law wouldn’t apply to cattle, sheep or pigs.
Attempts to pass a similar law in 2015 and 2017 failed because of concerns over due process and whether it could affect livestock operations.