Oregon Senate Bill 304 - protecting animals abandoned in forclosures

We shouldn’t need to have this written into law but it there seems to be need of it with more and more animals being abandoned when their families lose their homes. The family’s thought process is in all likelihood is not to cause harm to the animal, and I have been told of cases where food, water and notes about the pet are left with the animal in the foreclosed home. In many cases these families have tried what options they thought were available to place their pets with friends or family members, tried local shelters and found them full, and ran out of time. It does not change the fact that they abandoned their pets. That not all those that are finding these pets are doing their level best to get care for these animals only repeated the abandonment.


OHS takes lead in protecting pets abandoned in foreclosures

Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Hillsboro Argus

The Oregon Humane Society is urging state lawmakers to better protect animals who are abandoned because of mortgage foreclosures. In testimony to be presented this afternoon in Salem, OHS Executive Director Sharon Harmon will ask lawmakers to make sure animals don't suffer from neglect when they are left behind at a foreclosed property.

"These animals need food, water, companionship and veterinary care to survive and deserve to be treated better than personal belongings that are left behind," said OHS Executive Director Sharon Harmon.

SB 304, backed by Sen. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Beaverton and introduced at the request of OHS, would for the first time establish a clear process for placing animals abandoned because of foreclosure into new caring homes. Mortgagors, for example, would be required to provide minimum care for an abandoned animal and to contact the appropriate agency or animal shelter to take custody of the animal. While many mortgage companies and banks try to do the right thing, current law is unclear when it comes to the issues of animal care and ownership transfer.

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index.ssf?/base/new/1235503211196460.xml&coll=6

Summary of bill reads:

Requires mortgagor taking possession of real property to provide minimum care for domestic animal or livestock abandoned at property. Requires mortgagor to arrange for law enforcement agency, animal control agency or animal shelter to take custody of abandoned domestic animal or livestock.

Makes mortgagor that fails to provide abandoned domestic animal or livestock with minimum care subject to animal neglect statutes having maximum penalty of six months¢ imprisonment, $2,500 fine, or both, or if failure results in serious physical injury or death of domestic animal or livestock, to maximum penalty of one year’s imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both. Makes failure of mortgagor to timely arrange for placing domestic animal or livestock in custody of law enforcement agency, animal control agency or animal shelter subject to maximum $90 fine.
Authorizes animal shelter taking custody of abandoned domestic animal or livestock from mortgagor to petition for legal ownership of abandoned domestic animal or livestock.

http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/sb0300.dir/sb0304.intro.pdf