Section 273.350

Title XVII AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS

Chapter 273

Effective - 28 Aug 1992   

  273.350.  Director to develop rules to include safety standards for motor vehicles transporting live animals — define exotic animals and their care — wildlife not to be included — shipping diseased animals, penalty. — The director shall promulgate rules pursuant to the provisions of chapter 536 required to implement the provisions of sections 273.325 to 273.357.  Such rules shall include establishing health and safety standards for motor vehicles regularly used in the commercial transportation of live animals.  The director shall also by rule define the term "exotic animals", which shall generally refer to canines and felines not ordinarily kept for domestic purposes, and shall promulgate rules establishing standards for food, water, housing and health care for exotic animals and standards for determining whether a particular operation is a farming practice or is a breeder of pets; provided that the authority of the department of conservation to regulate wildlife within the state of Missouri as provided by section 252.030 shall not be deprived or diminished.  Any animal welfare official shall have the authority of an animal control officer as defined by chapter 578.  It shall be unlawful for any person licensed or registered pursuant to sections 273.325 to 273.357 to knowingly ship a diseased animal, and any such person who violates this provision shall be subject to a fine of not more than one hundred dollars for each diseased animal shipped.  Sections 273.325 to 273.357 and the rules promulgated thereunder shall apply to all businesses, individuals and agents which transport animals in or through this state, except that such businesses, individuals and agents licensed by the USDA shall be subject to USDA standards relating to transportation of animals.

­­--------

(L. 1992 S.B. 636 § 4 subsec. 1)