ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] Re: lost/stolen horses
[endurance] Re: lost/stolen horses
navion@lightspeed.net
Thu, 07 Dec 1995 20:37:00 PST
Patricia, Some thoughts on the subject
After your original letter I started checking into brand and estray law here
in Calif. This is available by reviewing sections 17000 to 24134 in the Food &
Agricultural code. This is available to all of us at
www.leginfo.ca.gov/index.html
These laws in all western states came from the time when cattle and horses
ranged much freer than today. If no brand was found by the inspector then the
animal is advertised for 14 days. If the owner does not come forward, the
animal is sold at auction and the proceeds held for one year for the owner. I
can see why this would be the best protection in a time frame when cattle and
horses were for profit. In California you wouldn't be allowed to adopt the
horse since no money would be saved for the owner. However you could purchase
him at the auction. Calif. law requires the brand inspector to be notified
within 5 days of finding an estray animal. The inspector is trying to follow
the law he is sworn to uphold.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, Calif law says if the animal should escape or die
while in your control, you have no liability. There are other interesting
items in the law but I won't go into them here.
Sorry you got yourself in this mess. Hopefully the owner will show. If not
sometimes the press can be your best friend in a case like this. Politicians
love publicity and can sometimes make things work for you.
Jim Mitchell
navion@bak2.lightspeed.net
Bakersfield, Calif.