2009 California Food and Agricultural Code - Section 17061-17069 :: Article 3. Possession By Inspector

17061.  Upon demand of any authorized inspector, the taker-up shall
deliver possession of the animal to the inspector.

17062.  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.

17063.  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.

17064.  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.

17065.  (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.

17066.  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.

17067.  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.

17068.  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.

17069.  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.