Witnesses urge models and funding fixes to speed disposition of seized animals and reduce shelter burden

Montpelier — At Wednesdays House Judiciary hearing on H.578, multiple witnesses urged lawmakers to pair new civil tools with operational fixes so seized animals do not languish in shelters and rescues.

Lisa Millett, director of the Division of Animal Welfare, said the legislations civil forfeiture and cost-of-care tools can help but, as drafted, might not shorten hold times. "In some cases, where a defendant has the money to pay the cost of care, it would actually extend the amount of time they have to be held," Millett said, explaining that paying bond can preserve an owners title and keep animals in rescue custody for longer.

Millett described three alternative approaches: a Minnesota-style 10-day default where title forfeits unless the owner requests a hearing and pays a portion of costs; a Texas-style automatic hearing set within 10 days of seizure; and centralizing expertise by designating specialized prosecutors or a single court to hear these complex matters. She said those options reduce judicial and prosecutorial load and provide clearer timetables for dispositions.

Ira McDonald, founder of Merrimack Farm Sanctuary, gave a concrete example: his organization cared for two starved pigs from March 2025 through the first day of trial in October and submitted a bill of nearly $9,000. "Merrimack Farm Sanctuary has yet to be reimbursed for any of Olivia and Gladys' expenses," McDonald said, urging the committee to create reliable reimbursement mechanisms and clearer guidance on custodial caregivers.

Witnesses also urged statutory guardrails for registry disbursements (how petitioners draw funds deposited into court), including oversight steps such as affidavits, receipts or court review of significant draws, and the option for courts to order payments directly to providers to minimize court accounting burdens. They warned that current bill text would allow a petitioner to "immediately begin to draw from those funds" without defined oversight.

Millett recommended training and certification for custodial caregivers, noting that animals taken from cruelty cases often require specialized medical and husbandry care and that poorly trained custodians can unintentionally harm animals or create legal and evidentiary complications. She also said custodial placement raises confidentiality and safety issues for hosts, and recommended secure, accountable placements.

Lawmakers did not vote; they asked witnesses and agencies for written comments and said they would continue drafting amendments.