1. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, “Department” means the State Department of Agriculture.

2. Any cattle, horses or mules found by the Department or an authorized representative of the Department to be in the possession of any person who does not have satisfactory evidence of the ownership or right to possession thereof may be impounded by the Department or its representative without liability at the expense of the owner, until the ownership of the animal is established.

3. After the expiration of 10 days after the date the animal is impounded, if the Department cannot with reasonable diligence determine the lawful owner thereof, the animal may be sold by the Department in the manner provided in chapter 569 of NRS. All expenses incurred by the Department in the keeping of the animal and in the sale thereof must be paid out of the proceeds of the sale.

4. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, the net proceeds of any such sale must be held for 1 year, subject to the claim of any person who can establish legal title to any animal concerned. All money remaining unclaimed must be deposited in the Livestock Inspection Account after 1 year. The Department may disallow all claims if it deems the claims illegal or if satisfactory evidence of title is not shown.

5. If the animal is consigned to a public livestock market for sale at that market, the proceeds of the sale must be kept by the Department or, if the Department deems it advisable, by the public livestock market, for 30 days, to permit the consignor to prove his or her legal ownership or the consignor’s right to sell the animal. If the consignor is unable to prove his or her ownership to or the consignor’s right to sell the animal, the proceeds must be disposed of in the manner provided in subsection 4.

(Added to NRS by 1960, 376; A 1961, 556; 1991, 1796; 1993, 1760; 1999, 3700)