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68-15. Term "livestock" defined
The word "livestock" in this Chapter shall include, but shall not be limited to, equine animals, bovine animals, sheep, goats and swine.
68-16. Allowing livestock to run at large forbidden
If any person shall allow his livestock to run at large, he shall be guilty of a Class 3
misdemeanor.
68-17. Impounding livestock at large; right to recover costs and damages
Any person may take up any livestock running at large or straying and impound the same;
and such impounder may recover from the owner the reasonable costs of impounding and
maintaining the livestock as well as damages to the impounder caused by such livestock,
and may retain the livestock, with the right to use with proper care until such recovery
is had. Reasonable costs of impounding shall include any fees paid pursuant to G.S.
68-18.1 in order to locate the owner.
68-18. Notice and demand when owner known
If the owner of impounded livestock is or becomes known to the impounder, actual notice of
the whereabouts of the impounded livestock must be immediately given to the owner and the
impounder must then make demand upon the owner of the livestock for the costs of
impoundment and the damages to the impounder, if any, caused by such livestock.
68-18.1. Notice when owner not known
If the owner of the impounded livestock is not known or cannot be found, the impounder
shall inform the register of deeds that he has impounded the livestock and provide the
register of deeds with a description of the livestock. The register of deeds shall record
the information in a book kept for that purpose, and shall charge the impounder a fee of
ten dollars ($10.00). The register of deeds shall immediately publish a notice of the
impoundment of the animal by posting a notice on the courthouse door. The notice on the
courthouse door shall be posted for 30 days, and shall contain a full description of the
livestock impounded, including all marks or brands on the livestock, and shall state when
and where the animal was taken up. The impounder shall publish once, in some newspaper
published and distributed in the county, a notice containing the same information as the
notice posted by the register of deeds. The fees for publishing the notice shall be paid
by the impounder.
68-19. Determination of damages by selected landowners or by referee
If the owner and impounder cannot agree as to the cost of impounding and maintaining such
livestock, as well as damages to the impounder caused by such livestock running at large,
then such costs and damages shall be determined by three disinterested landowners, one to
be selected by the owner of the livestock, one to be selected by the impounder and a third
to be selected by the first two. If within 10 days a majority of the landowners so
selected cannot agree, or if the owner of the livestock or the impounder fails to make his
selection, or if the two selected fail to select a third, then the clerk of superior court
of the county where the livestock is impounded shall select a referee. The determination
of such costs and damages by the landowners or by the referee shall be final.
68-20. Notice of sale and sale where owner fails to redeem or is unknown;
application of proceeds
If the owner fails to redeem his livestock within three days after the notice and demand
as provided in G.S. 68-18 is received or within three days after the determination of the
costs and damages as provided in G.S. 68-19, then, upon written notice fully describing
the livestock, stating the place, date, and hour of sale posted at the courthouse door and
three or more public places in the township where the owner resides, and after 10 days
from such posting, the impounder shall sell the livestock at public auction. If the owner
of the livestock remains unknown to the impounder, then, 30 days after publication of the
notice required by G.S. 68-18.1, the impounder shall post at the courthouse door and three
public places in the township where the livestock is impounded a written notice fully
describing the livestock, and stating the place, date, and hour of sale. After 20 days
from such posting, the impounder shall sell the livestock at public auction. The proceeds
of any such public sale shall be applied to pay the reasonable costs of impounding and
maintaining the livestock and the damages to the impounder caused by the livestock.
Reasonable costs of impounding shall include any fees paid pursuant to G.S. 68- 18.1 in an
attempt to locate the owner of the livestock. The balance, if any, shall be paid to the
owner of the livestock, if known, or, if the owner is not known, then to the school fund
of the county where the livestock was impounded.
68-21. Illegally releasing or receiving impounded livestock misdemeanor
If any person willfully releases any lawfully impounded livestock without the permission
of the impounder or receives such livestock knowing that it was unlawfully released, he
shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
68-22. Impounded livestock to be fed and watered
If any person shall impound or cause to be impounded any livestock and shall fail to
supply to the livestock during the confinement a reasonably adequate quantity of good and
wholesome feed and water, he shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
68-23. Right to feed impounded livestock; owner liable
When any livestock is impounded under the provisions of this Chapter and remains without
reasonably adequate feed and water for more than 24 hours, any person may lawfully enter
the area of impoundment to supply the livestock with feed and water. Such person shall not
be liable in trespass for such entry and may recover of the owner or, if the owner is
unknown, of the impounder of the livestock, the reasonable costs of the feed and water.
68-24. Penalties for violation of this Article
A violation of G.S. 68-16, 68-21 or 68-22 is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Reviewed by AAHS in December 2001.
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