§2466. Euthanasia of animals for research or biological supply

            A.(1) An animal shelter that turns over euthanized animals to a research facility or biological supply facility shall post and maintain a sign in a place where it is clearly visible to all persons turning animals over to the shelter. The sign shall contain the following statement: "Animals Euthanized at This Shelter May Be Used for Educational or Research Purposes or to Supply Blood, Tissue, or Other Biological Products".

            (2) The statement shall also be included on owner surrender forms in a size and style of font designed to be clearly visible to the owner.

            B. No animal shelter or other person that accepts animals from the public or takes in stray or unwanted animals shall euthanize an animal for the sole purpose of transferring the carcass to a research facility, biological supply facility, or animal dealer.

            C. No animal shelter or other person that accepts animals from the public or takes in stray or unwanted animals shall sell a living animal to a research facility, biological supply facility, animal dealer, or other person for the purpose of research or experimentation.

            D. An animal shelter or other person that accepts animals from the public or takes in stray or unwanted animals may give or transfer a living animal for the purpose of research or instruction only if:

            (1) Reasonable efforts to place the animal in a suitable environment outside of the shelter have been exhausted.

            (2) The animal is being given or transferred for one of the following reasons:

            (a) Instructional purposes, including necessary spay or neuter surgeries.

            (b) Research as part of a clinical trial using drugs or treatments already approved by the United States Department of Agriculture or United States Food and Drug Administration.

            (c) Research determined by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee to be deemed non-invasive.

            (3) When possible, the living animal is returned to its originating facility at the conclusion of the research or instruction.

            (4) Every precaution has been taken to minimize pain to the animal.

            E. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a research facility from working in collaboration with an animal shelter to investigate problems and provide services to shelter animals.

            F. Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars for each separate act of violation.

            Acts 2019, No. 383, §1.