2000 Minnesota Statutes

     347.14 Unlicensed dogs.  

    Subdivision 1.    Seizure; impoundment; presumption.  
 Any person may seize, impound, or restrain any unlicensed dog 
 which the person may find running at large.  The fact that a dog 
 is without a license attached to a collar shall be presumptive 
 evidence that the dog is unlicensed.  The sheriff and sheriff's 
 deputies, any marshal or constable or other police officer shall 
 seize, impound or restrain any dog for which no license has been 
 issued and for which one is required.  Any officer who shall 
 seize, restrain, impound, or kill any dog found in any place 
 without a license, as required under sections 347.09 to 347.20, 
 upon delivery of such dog or carcass and the proper disposal of 
 the carcass and after making a report to the town or city 
 treasurer of the town or city in which the dog was seized or 
 killed, showing that the dog did not have a license, shall 
 receive therefor a payment of $2, the same to be made from any 
 funds in the town or city treasury not otherwise appropriated.  

    The county auditor shall reimburse the town for any expense 
 incurred under section 347.10 and shall charge such expense to 
 the dog license fund.  

    Subd. 2.    Prohibitions; limitations; regulations.  It 
 shall be unlawful for any person to harbor or permit to remain 
 about the person's premises any dog for which no license exists 
 and for which one is required.  Any person who shall have seized 
 or impounded a dog with or without license under this section 
 shall deliver such dog to the humane officer of the town or 
 city, if such officer exists; or, if there be no such officer, 
 to the constable, statutory city marshal, or the town or city 
 police officer.  The officer to whom the dog is delivered shall, 
 without delay, notify the owner, personally or through the 
 United States mail, if such owner be known to the officer or can 
 be ascertained with reasonable effort, but if the owner be 
 unknown or cannot be ascertained, then the officer shall post 
 written notice in three public places in the officer's town, 
 giving a description of the dog, stating where it is impounded 
 and the conditions for its release.  If, after five days, the 
 owner does not claim the dog the officer shall dispose of the 
 dog in a proper and humane manner.  

    Subd. 3.    Penalties.  Any person who shall violate 
 any of the provisions of sections 347.08 to 347.21 shall be 
 liable to a penalty of not less than $5 nor more than $50 for 
 such violation.  

    HIST: (7297-47) 1939 c 410 s 7; 1943 c 294 s 3; 1973 c 123 art 
 5 s 7; 1986 c 444