The inspector making the sale of an estray shall return the proceeds of the sale to the board. The board shall pay the expenses incurred in the impounding, publishing of notice and selling of the animal and place the balance in the fund of the board, making a record of the same showing the marks and brands and other means of identification of the livestock and giving the amount realized from the sale. The record shall be open to the inspection of the public. Should the lawful owner of an estray that has been sold be found within two years after the sale of the livestock, the net amount received from the sale of the estray less the sum prescribed by law for office handling fees shall be paid to the owner upon his proving ownership to the satisfaction of the board.

History: Laws 1907, ch. 80, § 6; Code 1915, § 162; C.S. 1929, § 4-1506; 1941 Comp., § 49-1506; 1953 Comp., § 47-14-6; Laws 1977, ch. 165, § 5; 1981, ch. 357, § 13; 1999, ch. 282, § 84.

The 1999 amendment, effective July 1, 1999, made stylistic changes throughout the section.

The 1981 amendment substituted "prescribed by law" for "of five dollars ($5.00)" in the second sentence.

The 1977 amendment substituted "livestock inspector" for "brand inspector" near the beginning of this section, substituted "New Mexico livestock board" for "cattle sanitary board" in two places, substituted "five dollars ($5.00) for office handling fees" for "one dollar ($1.00) for each estray, to be retained by the cattle sanitary board" in the second sentence and made other minor changes.