(1) In the event the State Department of Agriculture or any of its employees or agents meet with any resistance or lack of cooperation by the owner or person in charge of any livestock or property in the performance of their duties, the department may apply to the circuit court of the county in which such livestock or property is located or, if livestock or property is located in two or more counties, in the circuit court of any of those counties, for an order requiring such owner or person to cease and desist such resistance or otherwise comply with the orders of the department.
(2) The order of the court shall be based upon a duly verified petition filed by the department setting forth the facts relative to such resistance or lack of cooperation. A copy of the petition may be served either by registered mail or by certified mail with return receipt upon the owner or person in charge of the livestock or in the manner provided for service of summons in civil actions. Such owner or person in charge shall appear and answer the allegations of the petition within 10 days from the date the petition was served.
(3) If the owner or person in charge of any livestock or property fails to appear or the court either with or without such appearance finds the allegations of the petition are true and the action by the department necessary for the eradication and control of diseases of livestock in this state, the court shall enter its order requiring the owner or person in charge to cease and desist from such resistance or to comply with the lawful orders of the department, as the case may be. However, the court may enter its order without a hearing, if it satisfactorily appears to the court that a delay in answering would jeopardize disease eradication and control. A request by the department for a summary order by the court relative to any lack of cooperation or resistance by the owner or person in charge shall be supported by an affidavit showing the necessity for summary action.
(4) The sheriff of the county in which such livestock or property is located shall execute such order by serving upon the owners or person in charge of such livestock or property a copy thereof duly certified to by the clerk of the circuit court, and by enforcing the provisions thereof. [1953 c.689 §9; 1955 c.557 §29; 1991 c.249 §59]
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