Section 24132 Of Chapter 9. Equine Protection: Enforcement From California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 11. >> Chapter 9.
24132
. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person is
civilly liable for four times the value of the animal at the time of
taking, possessing, harboring, transporting, or slaughtering of the
animal, with interest, at the prime rate from the date of that
occurrence, for attorney fees incurred in the recovery of the animal,
and for an amount in fair compensation for the time and money
properly expended by the owner in pursuit of the animal, as follows:
(1) In any action for the wrongful taking, possessing, harboring,
or transporting of an animal for slaughter or for the slaughter of
the animal without the consent of the owner or the person lawfully in
possession of the animal or any animal whose ownership is still in
dispute.
(2) In any action where a person knowingly, by any false
representation or pretense, defrauds another person of any animal,
which results in the wrongful taking, possessing, harboring, or
transporting of the animal for slaughter without the consent of the
owner or the person lawfully in possession of the animal or any
animal whose ownership is still in dispute.
(b) The commencement of any criminal prosecution for the theft of
the animal shall not preclude or prevent any civil action as
specified in this section.