Senate Bill 402 Summary

• Amends 4 O.S. 2011, Section 41 to expand liability of animal owners whose dogs (family canidae or felidae) kill or injure livestock to include reasonable attorney fees and litigation expenses.

• Authorizes animal control officers and law enforcement to seize potentially dangerous dogs without a warrant if the dog is running at large, poses continuing threat to livestock or persons, or under other specified conditions.

• Establishes definitions for "potentially dangerous dog" (multiple unprovoked incidents of chasing or threatening livestock) and "dangerous dog" (killed/injured livestock or prior notice of being potentially dangerous with continued threat).

• Allows courts to order seizure of a dog upon motion during civil damage actions if probable cause exists that the dog is dangerous or will be adjudicated a common nuisance, with the animal held until civil action conclusion or release conditions are established.

• Clarifies that seizure and confinement costs are borne by the animal owner unless the owner prevails in civil litigation, in which case costs are taxed against the nonprevailing party; limits municipal and county obligations to operate animal welfare facilities.