California · Penal Code

PEN §599f: (a) No slaughterhouse, stockyard, auction, market agency, or dealer shall buy, sell, or receive a nonambulatory animal.

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

Prohibits buying, selling, processing, or transporting nonambulatory livestock (cattle, swine, sheep, goats). Requires immediate euthanasia or veterinary treatment and humane handling methods. Violations subject to up to one year jail and/or $20,000 fine.

Read the full statutory text

(a) No slaughterhouse, stockyard, auction, market agency, or dealer shall buy, sell, or receive a nonambulatory animal. (b) No slaughterhouse shall process, butcher, or sell meat or products of nonambulatory animals for human consumption. (c) No slaughterhouse shall hold a nonambulatory animal without taking immediate action to humanely euthanize the animal. (d) No stockyard, auction, market agency, or dealer shall hold a nonambulatory animal without taking immediate action to humanely euthanize the animal or to provide immediate veterinary treatment. (e) While in transit or on the premises of a stockyard, auction, market agency, dealer, or slaughterhouse, a nonambulatory animal may not be dragged at any time, or pushed with equipment at any time, but shall be moved with a sling or on a stoneboat or other sled-like or wheeled conveyance. (f) No person shall sell, consign, or ship any nonambulatory animal for the purpose of delivering a nonambulatory animal to a slaughterhouse, stockyard, auction, market agency, or dealer. (g) No person shall accept a nonambulatory animal for transport or delivery to a slaughterhouse, stockyard, auction, market agency, or dealer. (h) A violation of this section is subject to imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year, or by a fine of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment. (i) As used in this section, “nonambulatory” means unable to stand and walk without assistance. (j) As used in this section, “animal” means live cattle, swine, sheep, or goats. (k) As used in this section, “humanely euthanize” means to kill by a mechanical, chemical, or electrical method that rapidly and effectively renders the animal insensitive to pain.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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