A horse, cow, goat, or other livestock not claimed and released upon required payment shall at the expiration of 48 hours be sold at a public auction upon five days’ notice. The notice shall be published in the city’s official newspaper and shall state the time and place of the public auction, and the name of the owner, if known, and if the name of the owner is not known, a statement to that effect. A copy of the notice shall be served upon the owner, if the identity of the owner is known to the animal control authority and the owner can be found in the city, at least one day prior to the public auction. The animal control authority shall deduct from the proceeds of sale all expenses of feeding and caring for the animal and all expenses of advertising and selling the animal, and shall retain the balance in reserve for six months from the date of the sale. If the balance is unclaimed at the expiration of six months, the balance shall revert to the animal control authority for operation of the animal shelter. No such money shall be paid any claimant except upon proof satisfactory to the animal control authority that the claimant is entitled to the same. As an alternative to selling the animal at public auction, the animal control authority may give or adopt the animal to an animal welfare organization, animal shelter, or qualified person or, alternatively, may euthanize the animal.
(Ord. 91-41 § 4, 1991; Ord. 2019-13 § 18, 2019)