The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-13
KILLING UNFIT ANIMALS.
What Right the Law Gives an Officer
Before Witnesses.

The Washington County Humane SO.
clety calls attention TO state law
which permits an officer 10 call on tive
reputable citizens and to--condemn AN
animal II Il Is unit for work; and ii the
owner does not kill the animal within
six hours the officer can, In the presence
OF witness, do 50, Anyone who inter.
feres with the officer in the performance
OF his duty Is guilty Of misdemeanor,
The law is as follows;
II is hereby enacted by the general as.
sembly of the state of Vermont;
| Section ]. ANY officer, agent or mem.
Der Of the Vermont Humane society, or
OF any incorporated humane society or
society for the prevention Of cruelty to
animals may lawfully interfere to pre-.
vent the preparation of any act of cruel
" upon any animal in his presence. Any
person who shall interfere with or oh.
struct any such officer agent or member
OF any such society in the discharge OF
his duty shall be guilty of misdemean-
or.
Sec. ?. Whenever an animal shall be
found abandoned or otherwise not prop
erly cared for. any officer or agent of any
such society may call two reputable citi
zens to examine il in his presence, and il
in their Judgment such animal is CLAN.
dered or otherwise afflicted with an in.
fictitious or ncurable disease and is a
menace 20 the public health. or Is perma-
nently unfit for work or injury or starved
past recovery, such officer or agent may
notify the owner or person in charge of
such animal, If known, and demand that
il be at once killed; and if such animal
is not killed by its owner or persons hay
ing it in charge within six hours after
such notice, or If no person adjudged
suitable by said officer or agent, and said
citizens, appears within six hours to take
charge of such animal. such officer or
agent may. in the presence of a witness,
thereupon kill such animal and bury its
body.
Sec 3. An officer or agent of the Yer |
mont Humane society, or OF any incor- |
porated humane society or society for
the prevention of cruelty TO animals may !
lawfully take charge of any animal
found abandoned, neglected, lame, sick. |
unfit for the labor it Is performing or |
otherwise cruelty treated, and shall /
thereupon give notice thereof to the |
owner, if known. or his agent and may /
provide suitable care for such animal I'M
ill the owner or agent shall take charge
of the same, or until such animal is
deemed by such officer or agent to be in
suitable condition to be delivered to such
owner or agent; and the expense of such
care and provision shall be charge
against the owner Of such animal, coll
eetabe by suit from such owner by any
such society. and such society shall have
, lien ON such animal for all expenses so
incurred.
Sec. 4. ANY officer or agent OF the I
Vermont Humane society, or OF any IN |
,orporated humane society or society FOR
he prevention of cruelty to animals, and |
uch special agents as may be appointed {
" any such society shall have the same
lower and authority to arrest as any ,
,fiicer authorized to serve criminal proc ,
IS for the purpose of enforcing any OF
he laws of this state in relation to cruel
V to animals, such power and authority i
o extend throughout the state. A per- !
on who shall interfere with or obstruct !
nv of such agents in the discharge OF )
heir duty shall be guilty of impeding an /.
fiicer and punished as provided in sec J
ion 1920 of the public states tSec. 6Ss2 .
|. L., provided, that all such officers
nd agents shall when making such ar :
ests declare his authority and exhibit
nd expose a suitable badge which has
cen adopted by such society.
Approved March 8, 1917.