RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 162 (SB 58) 2021 Regular Session Womack
Prior law required that every impounded horse, mule, donkey, or ass be branded with a
distinctive brand that is burned into the hide of the animal. Prior law further required that
records of the brand and a description of the animal be kept by the patrol and the pound
keeper.
New law deletes the branding requirement and instead requires every impounded animal to
be permanently identified by branding, tattoo, electronic device, or other method of
identification approved by the commissioner.
New law requires records of the identification method, including a description of the animal,
to be maintained by the impounding jurisdiction.
Prior law provided that a person who finds a corporeal movable that has been lost must make
a diligent effort to locate its owner or possessor and to return the thing to them. Prior law
also provided that one who has possessed a movable as a good faith owner under an act
sufficient to transfer ownership, and without interruption for three years, acquires ownership
by prescription.
New law requires the possessor of a found domestic animal to prove the animal lacked a
microchip or other owner-identifying information prior to claiming ownership under prior
law, and that the presence of owner-identifying information creates a rebuttable presumption
that the possessor has not satisfied the requirements for ownership under prior law.
Effective upon signature of the governor (June 11, 2021).
(Amends R.S. 3:2856; adds C.C. Art. 3419.1)