This law is called the Equine Protection Act of 1991, which establishes regulations and protections related to horses.

This section defines key terms used in the chapter. It clarifies that 'animal' refers to horses, ponies, mules, or burros. The term 'program' pertains to the equine protection and identification initiative led by the department. 'Slaughter' is defined as the act of killing an animal to prepare it for consumption by humans or animals.

The California Department has a program dedicated to protecting and identifying horses, known as equine protection and identification.

When someone reports a lost or stolen animal, the sheriff or the officer in charge must send a detailed report to the Bureau of Livestock Identification quickly. This report must include a detailed description of the animal, such as its age, size, breed, and any identifying marks or brands. It should also state where and when the animal went missing, the report's number, and contact information for the law enforcement agency and the officer investigating the case.

This section requires the Bureau of Livestock Identification to create a report based on information they get as per another specific regulation (Section 24104). They must then quickly share this report with all county sheriffs' departments.

This law specifies that investigators from a certain program or employees of the department are not required to handle investigations related to animal theft. Instead, the law enforcement agency that initially reported the animal theft is responsible for conducting the investigation. However, program investigators are allowed to assist the law enforcement agency in their investigation if needed.

This law requires that before an animal is sold at an auction, the auction operator must check if the animal has an identifying microchip, tattoo, or brand. If found, details must be posted online for at least 24 hours. Additionally, a written bill of sale, including detailed information about the animal and the identities of the buyer and seller, must be provided during the sale.

Buyers must sign a statement under penalty of perjury, agreeing to follow certain Penal Code sections. Auction operators must keep records for at least a year and make them available upon request by authorities. Violating this law can result in fines of $1,000 for the first offense and $2,000 for subsequent offenses.

If you operate an auction yard or are a dealer managing animals headed for slaughter, you must keep written records of all transactions, like sales and purchases, for at least two years.

These records must be available for inspection by any program investigator or law enforcement officer upon request.

If you're planning to ship, transport, or deliver any animal for slaughter in California, the animal must first be inspected by a program inspector. This applies to all animals, regardless of whether they have a brand or not.

The person responsible must also provide the inspector with a valid bill of sale, which includes specific information outlined in another section (Section 24106) for each animal.

If someone doesn't have a valid bill of sale with the details required by law for their animal, an inspector has the authority to take possession of that animal.

This law makes it illegal for anyone to take an animal away from an inspector if the animal has been seized or is in the inspector's custody unless there is a specific rule in this chapter that says otherwise.

If an animal is taken by an inspector and has a brand, the director must look up in the brand records to find out who owns it.

This law states that if a brand or mark is officially recorded, the director must promptly send a written notification to the person who owns the brand or mark.

If an animal's owner cannot be found, the director must post a notice of the animal's seizure for 14 days at each Bureau of Livestock Identification office. This notice should also be shared in a widely-read horse publication in California, detailing the animal's description as outlined in another section. The notices must include when and where the animal will be sold.

If someone claims they own an animal, they have up to 14 days from when a notice is first posted to submit evidence of their ownership to the director. The director will then evaluate the claim to decide if it's valid.

If someone can prove they own an animal that has been handled by authorities, they can get the animal back by paying any costs incurred during its care.

If an animal, while being handled by an inspector, needs to be disposed of urgently, the director can take action to do so. After covering any handling expenses, any extra money made from salvaging the animal will be given to the owner, once they prove ownership.

If nobody proves ownership of an animal within 14 days after the first notice is posted, or if the owner doesn't pay related expenses, the animal can be sold by the director. The buyer gets a clear and valid ownership of the animal.

When an animal is sold, the money earned from the sale goes into the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund. This fund is also used to cover any costs related to holding the animal, advertising the sale, conducting the sale, and other related expenses.

If you can prove that an animal sold within the last year was yours, the director will ensure you receive the money made from its sale, after expenses.

If an inspector finds that someone rightfully owns the animal they are presenting, the inspector will give them a certificate to confirm the inspection.

This law explains that a certificate of inspection for animals must be signed by the inspector and include detailed information about the inspection. It must note the location and date of inspection, the number of animals, and descriptions including sex, breed, color, and identifying marks. If the animals are being transported, it must list the shipper, consignee, origin, and destination. It also needs to state the time required for the transportation according to the inspector's judgment based on provided information. The certificate is only valid for the duration specified by the inspector for transport purposes.

This law makes it illegal for an inspector to give a certificate of inspection unless they personally conduct the inspection during daylight hours, specifically between sunrise and sunset.

When shipping animals, you have to include a copy of the inspection certificate with the shipment.

If you transport animals for slaughter, you must carry and show a certificate of inspection if asked by an investigator or peace officer. Not having this certificate or refusing to show it can lead to a fine of up to $50 per animal.

This law forbids anyone from swapping, adding, or transporting animals from a group that has a certification, without written permission from the inspector. Breaking this law is a minor crime called a misdemeanor.

(a) If a dealer ships 15 or more animals for slaughter at once, they must pay a $25 fee plus up to $10 per animal for inspection within 24 hours of transportation. (b) For fewer than 15 animals, the dealer pays for the actual inspection cost, which happens just before loading. (c) Fees are paid at inspection, and the money goes into a special fund for agricultural expenses, with legislative oversight on spending and required financial transparency in the budget.

This law requires inspectors to document detailed information about each animal they inspect. This includes the animal's number, sex, breed, color, height, weight, age, and any natural or identifying marks like brands or tattoos, as well as their exact location on the animal. Inspectors must also note the names of the owner, claimant, consignor, or consignee.

Additionally, the inspector must keep this record for at least two years following the inspection.

This law requires the department to keep records of inspection certificates for five years. These records must show how many animals were inspected.

If you are in the business of buying or selling animals on consignment at a salesyard, you must keep a certificate after each sale. This certificate should include the consignor's name and address, a detailed description of each animal sold (such as its sex, breed, and identifying marks), proof of ownership, the license numbers of any vehicles or trailers used for transport, and the consignor's signature.

If you're involved with a consignment sale under the rules of Section 24130, you must keep the certificate of consignment for at least two years after the sale. If a peace officer or program agent asks to see it, you have to show it to them.

This law states that if someone takes, possesses, harbors, transports, or slaughters someone else's animal without permission, they can be sued for four times the animal's value. They will also owe interest on this amount, attorney fees, and compensation for efforts made by the owner to recover the animal.

This liability covers animals taken without consent or through deceit. It applies whether or not the ownership of the animal is still in dispute, but only when the animal was wrongfully taken, possessed, or transported for slaughter.

The law also clarifies that even if there is a criminal case for stealing the animal, it does not stop the owner from also bringing a civil lawsuit for these damages.

If someone takes an animal out of the state pretending it's for a reason other than slaughter to dodge an inspection, they're committing a misdemeanor. The penalty for this is a $500 fine for each animal involved.

If someone alters or fabricates any document or record required by the laws or regulations related to this chapter, they will face a civil penalty of up to $500 per incident. The money collected from these penalties goes into the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund and is used, as approved by the Legislature, to support the purposes of the chapter.