Article 4. Disposal And Sale of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 9. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 7. >> Article 4.

If the animal at any time while in the possession of an inspector is in a condition which requires immediate disposal, the animal may be disposed of by the director. The proceeds from the salvage, if any, in excess of expenses which were incurred in the handling of the animal shall be paid to the person proving ownership pursuant to Section 17096.

If after 14 days from the date of the first posting of notice no satisfactory proof of ownership of the animal has been made, or if the owner fails or refuses to pay all expenses which were incurred, the director shall sell the animal at public sale. All sales which are made pursuant to this chapter convey a good and valid title to the purchaser. The former owner of the animal so sold is thereafter barred from all right to recover it.

In lieu of public sale, the director may sell the animal at private sale at a price not less than the appraised value of the animal. The appraisal shall be made by a board of three stockmen who are qualified to make the appraisal, to be selected as follows:
  (a) One to be named by the director.
  (b) One by the person from whose possession the estray animal was taken.
  (c) One selected jointly by the stockmen who are selected pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) of this section.

Any carcass or portion of a carcass may be sold by the director at any time at the market price which prevails at the time of sale.

The proceeds from the sale of any animal shall be paid into, and the expenses of holding, advertising, sale, and other incidental expenses shall be paid from, the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund. For the keeping and care of the estray animal, the taker-up is entitled to a per day payment based on the prevailing rates charged by commercial enterprises that feed livestock on a custom basis.

If any person shall, within one year after the date of the sale, prove to the satisfaction of the director his ownership of an animal which was sold pursuant to this article, the director shall order the net proceeds of the sale of the animal to be paid to such person.