Fence Laws
Another legal strategy in Missouri (and probably in most states) to get neighbors to better control their livestock from getting out and coming onto your land would be to explore your options under Missouri's Animal Neglect and/or Abuse Act, found at Chapter 578.005 to 578.023 (enacted in l983). Click on this highlighted link to go to Chapter 578. Basically, this statute makes it a criminal offense (either a misdemeanor or a felony) for any animal owner or keeper to fail (either negligently or intentionally) to provide adequate control and/or adequate care for their animals. Any law enforcement official, animal control official, or public health official may impound any animal found outside of the owned or rented property of the owner or custodian of such animal when such animal shows evidence of neglect or abuse (Chapter 578.016).