§143-15  Contracts for seizing andimpounding dogs.  Any county may contract with any society or organizationformed for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or similar dog protectiveorganization, for the seizure and impounding of all unlicensed dogs, and forthe maintenance of a shelter or pound for unlicensed dogs, and for lost,strayed, and homeless dogs, and for the destruction or other disposition ofseized dogs not redeemed as provided in this chapter.  The county may prescribein the contract the manner in which the work is to be done by the society ororganization and it may also direct the disposition to be made of all dogsseized pursuant to this chapter. [L 1941, c 268, §14; RL 1945, §7165; RL 1955,§156-15; HRS §143-15]

 

Attorney General Opinions

 

  The plain languageand legislative history of this section and §143-16 made very clear thatlegislature intended to authorize county reliance upon private humane societiesto impound stray dogs within their borders; this can be accomplished only if §§76-16(17)and 76-77(10) are interpreted broadly.  Att. Gen. Op. 97-6.