CT SB00309

Establishes a $500 per animal surety or cash bond requirement when courts vest temporary care and custody of confiscated animals with agencies or individuals, with waiver available for indigent owners.

Specifies daily care rates of $15 per animal or $25 per day for horses/large livestock, with courts ordering owners to reimburse reasonable expenses and veterinary costs for animals found to be neglected or cruelly treated.

Creates an animal abuse cost recovery account within the General Fund for proceeds from Department of Agriculture animal sales, with funds available for animal housing, care, and reimbursement to municipalities for temporary care costs exceeding 30 days (capped at $25,000 annually from this account).

Authorizes the animal population control account to reimburse municipalities for temporary animal care costs exceeding 30 days and posted bond amounts, with annual reimbursement capped at $50,000.

Establishes a task force to study humane treatment standards in municipal and regional animal shelters, including animal control officer training, adopter evaluation standards, volunteer coordination, and prevention of animal acquisition by persons convicted of animal abuse; task force must report findings by January 1, 2015.