P.R. Laws tit. 5, § 748
The Secretary or his authorized representatives, after obtaining a judicial order and accompanied by a police officer or marshal, shall enter any premises to inspect any land or livestock to determine whether there is any livestock infected with ticks, provided due notice has been given to the owner, bailee or custodian of said land or livestock pursuant to § 747 of this title.
Whenever it has not been possible to deliver the notice specified in § 747 of this title after a bona fide attempt to the owner, bailee or custodian of any livestock, because his identity or domicile is unknown, the Secretary or his authorized representatives shall proceed to take such livestock into custody. The livestock under his custody shall be transported to the nearest available treatment station or pen as established by the Department. The Secretary’s representatives shall give the necessary treatment or treatments and keep them confined under their custody.
When the livestock can be delivered to its owner, bailee or custodian, they shall be given notice thereof, in writing. In case the owner, bailee or custodian of the livestock cannot be located because their identity or domicile are unknown, the owner or holder of the premises on which the livestock was found and taken into custody shall be notified. The notice shall include the facts and place where the cattle was taken into custody, the place where it was treated and is still in custody, besides a claim for the payment of the Secretary’s costs, within five (5) days following the delivery of such notice.
History —May 15, 1936, No. 106, p. 542, § 8; May 6, 1988, No. 24, p. 96, § 8.