(1) The state board of stock inspection commissioners shall have the charge and control of all livestock abandoned or neglected by the owners thereof, and any officer or agent of the state board of stock inspection commissioners may take charge of any such stock or animals found abandoned or neglected.
The state board of stock inspection commissioners, upon taking charge of any suchstock or animals, shall forthwith give notice to the owners thereof, if known, and shall care and provide for such stock or animals for a period of ten days from and after the mailing or giving of such notice to the owners of said animals or until the owners take charge of the same within said ten days. The expense of such care and provision shall be a lien upon such stock or animals and shall be paid by the owners to the said state board of stock inspection commissioners before the owners shall be entitled to the possession of the animals.
Upon the owner's failure to pay said expense charges, said stock or animals or such anumber thereof as may be necessary shall be sold to the best advantage by the state board of stock inspection commissioners in its discretion at public or private sale, and the proceeds of such sale shall be paid to the owners, after all expenses incurred for the care and provision of said animals and all costs of said sale are deducted. The purchaser at such sale shall be entitled to a bill of sale from the state board of stock inspection commissioners, by virtue of which the purchaser shall acquire a good and valid title; but no sale shall be made previous to the expiration of ten days from and after the date of said notice to the owners.
Source: L. 13: p. 594, § 1. C.L. § 3222. CSA: C. 160, § 139. CRS 53: § 8-4-12. C.R.S. 1963: § 8-4-12. L. 69: p. 124, § 3.