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ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER Effective Date: June 2, 2018  Amends - GO 6.4.3 ( January 8, 2016 ) Number: 6.4.3 Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: June Reviewing Authority: SOD / Specialized Patrol Subject: Livestock An d Domestic Animals This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Definitions 3. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance and direction to all personnel when handling loose animals, animal cruelty, and dangerous, inju red, or diseased animals. 2. Definitions A. Animal Cruelty - depriving of any animal of the necessary sustenance or shelter, overloading, tormenting or unnecessarily or cruelly beating an animal, mutilating or killing an animal or the torturing of any ani mal with the intent to inflict intense pain, serious physical injury or death. B. Contractor - a private rancher utilized to perform the physical impoundment and care for the animal until claimed by the owner or sold at auction. C. Dangerous Animal - any animal, exotic, domestic or livestock, which, by its actions or condition, poses a clear and imminent danger to any person. D. Domestic Animals - tame animals, such as d ogs or cats, that are usually kept as pets in homes and on farms and ranches. E. Livestock - horses, mules, cattle, calves, swine, goats, sheep, ostriches, emus, or any other animal which can or may be used in and for the preparation of meat or meat products. 3. Procedures A. Loose/Stray Animals; Impoundment; Auction 1. Initial Response a. Domestic animal or small animal complaints should be referred to Animal Services by Communications personnel. b. Upon receipt of a call for loose livestock, Communications Telecommunicators shall dispatch a Uniform Patrol deputy or a n Agricultural Crim es deputy when available. c. If livestock is found loose, the deputy shall: 1. Look for an obvious break in any nearby fence and attempt to 6.4.3, Page 2 of 6 guide the animal back through the hole. If possible, the deputy should make a temporary repair to the fence and not ify the livestock owner of the action taken. 2. Attempt to locate the livestock's owner by: a. Checking nearby houses b. Calling the on call Agricultural Crimes deputy 3. If the deputy cannot guide the livestock back into a fenced area, the deputy should a ttempt to locate the livestock's owner for assistance. d. If the owner cannot be located, or the animal habitually escapes, Communications should be asked to contact the on-call Agricultural Crimes deputy. e. The Agricultural Crimes deputy shall verify own ership using appropriate means, such as consulting unit records and community contacts. 1. The deputy shall provide any reasonable assistance requested by the Agricultural Crimes deputy . 2. If additional assistance is needed, or it appears that impoundment will take significant time, the deputy shall ask the on-call Agricultural Crimes deputy to respond. 3. The on -call Agricultural Crimes deputy shall, if necessary, contact the animal contractor. 2. Administrative Procedures a. When an animal is impounded, Communications personnel shall document the impoundment in an Impoundment Log at Communications. The log book entry will include: 1. A description of the animal 2. Location/date/time impounded 3. Current location of the animal b. All inquiries concerning impounded livestock will be referred to Communications. Inquiries for impoundment of domestic animals should be referred to Animal Services. c. The impounding deputy shall forward a copy of the complaint report/property receipt to Civil Process. Normally , only a property receipt is needed when impounding loose livestock. Unusual circumstances may dictate the use of a more extensive report. 3. Release of Impounded Livestock a. Livestock owners who wish to reclaim animals should be referred to Civil Proce ss if between 0800 hrs and 1700 hrs., Monday through Friday. All other times, the owner should be referred to the animal contractor who has possession of the livestock. b. The owner may claim impounded livestock by identifying the animal and paying all co sts of impoundment and any other costs incurred per FS 588. Acceptable livest ock identification is defined as: 1. Horses may be identified by registration papers, bill of sale, Coggins test paperwork from a veterinarian, or photograph. 2. Cattle and other animals may be identified by brand, 6.4.3, Page 3 of 6 photograph, or the owner giving a verbal descri ption. c. The livestock owner may claim the animal from the animal contractor anytime before 0900 hrs of the next business day after impoundment by paying impoundment fees to the contractor. Business days are defined as Monday through Friday. 1. The contr actor must forward a "Contractor's Impoundment Animal Receipt" to Civil Process showing the charges and to whom the animal was released. 2. If after 0900 hrs, of the next business day after impoundment, the owner must obtain a release for the animal at Civil Process. d. If the owner has release paperwork or proof of ownership, the Agricultural Crimes deputy does not have to be present