Article 3. Possession By Inspector of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 9. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 7. >> Article 3.

Upon demand of any authorized inspector, the taker-up shall deliver possession of the animal to the inspector.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to remove from the possession of an inspector any animal so delivered to him.

If the animal which is seized or otherwise in the possession of the inspector is branded, the director shall cause a search to be made of the brand records to ascertain the owner.

If the brands or marks are recorded, the director shall immediately, by letter, notify the person in whose name the brands or marks are recorded.

(a) If the owner is not found, and the estimated value of the animal exceeds two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225), the secretary shall cause a notice of the taking up of, and intent to sell the animal to be prepared. The notice may be distributed to the county department of agriculture and to all sales yards in the state. The secretary may limit distribution of the notice, however, to those sales yards that deal in the same type of animal as the animal that is taken up.
  (b) The notice shall be posted for a period of 14 days on a bulletin board in each office of the Bureau of Livestock Identification.
  (c) In addition to posting and distributing the notice, the secretary shall periodically publish a list of the animals for which notice was given pursuant to this section, including the brands and descriptions of the branded animals and descriptions of the unbranded animals in the classified section of a livestock industry publication that is in general circulation throughout the State of California.

If the estimated value of the animal is less than two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225) and a notice is posted for five days on a bulletin board in each office of the Bureau of Livestock Identification, the director may cause the sale of the animal at a public sale and hold the proceeds as provided in Article 4 (commencing with Section 17091) of this chapter.

The notice of the taking up of an animal shall describe the weight, sex, breed, color, marks, and brands, if any, of the animal and shall state the time and place of its proposed sale.

Any person that claims ownership in the animal may, at any time, but not later than 14 days after the first posting of notice, file his or her proofs of ownership with the director and the director shall proceed to hear and determine the claim of ownership.

If ownership is proved to the satisfaction of the director, the animal shall be turned over to the owner upon payment by the owner of all expenses which were incurred in the handling of the animal.