The sheriff may take possession of any animal suspected of being dangerous. The sheriff may hold such animal until a formal determination can be made of the extent of the danger such animal poses. If the animal has attacked or bitten a human or an animal pet, the formal determination shall include consultation with the department of health for the purposes of rabies control. The sheriff may dispose of any animal so determined to be dangerous.
S.D. Codified Laws § 7-12-29
Taking and holding animal suspected of being dangerous--Formal determination--Disposal of dangerous animal
Applied in 3 court decisions — leading case Tipton v. City of Tabor (1997)
Most recently applied in City of Onida v. Brandt & Meyer (April 2021)
Source: SL 1988, ch 71.
Official source: South Dakota Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain South Dakota statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.