Bill > S2174

This bill mandates that within three days of knowing or should have known a property has been vacated due to foreclosure, termination of tenancy, abandonment, or other removal of a tenant, the lessor or owner, or their representative, must inspect the property for abandoned animals. If an abandoned animal is found, the lessor, owner, or their designee must immediately report its presence and condition to an animal control officer, police officer, or other authorized agent, with prompt reporting serving as proof of care for the animal's suffering, and importantly, the person reporting the animal will not be considered its owner or custodian under existing law. The bill defines an "abandoned animal" as one found in a property vacated through foreclosure, summary process (a legal procedure to regain possession of property), termination of tenancy, or abandonment, and it amends existing laws to include these reporting requirements for various property vacancy situations, including those arising from mortgage foreclosures and summary process actions.