It is usually the responsibility of the owner or person in charge of domesticated animals to appropriately dispose of dead animals in accordance with local or state ordinances within 24 hours after knowledge of the death. It can be the responsibility of the municipal to designate appropriate people to dispose of any domestic dead animals whose owner cannot be identified.

Why are dead animals a health concern?
As dead animals decompose, bacteria that may normally be contained within the animal's body can be released, exposing people to potential disease-causing pathogens. Scavengers and rodents may be attracted to the carcasses, so it is important to remove the carcass as soon as possible. Rats in particular may carry some diseases of concern