ORS 607.304
Delivery of estray animal to department or owner

  • payment of costs to person taking up animal
  • arbitration of costs
  • fee

(1)

If the owner of an estray animal does not appear in response to the notice given under ORS 607.303 (Owner or lessee of property taking up estray animal) (2), the person taking up the animal shall deliver the animal to the State Department of Agriculture, at a place designated by the department, at least 48 hours in advance of the date of sale. The time of sale may not be less than 30 days and not more than 45 days after the date of taking up the animal. The State Department of Agriculture shall sell the animal in accordance with ORS 607.328 (Procedure for sale of estray animal).

(2)

If the owner of the animal does appear, the person taking up the animal shall deliver the animal to the owner or agent if the owner pays to the person, before the date of sale:

(a)

The cost of taking up the animal;

(b)

The cost of giving notice;

(c)

The cost of keeping the animal; and

(d)

The cost of repairing any damage done by the animal to the property of the person.

(3)

The person taking up the animal, upon delivering the animal to the owner, shall notify the department of the delivery.

(4)

If the owner is unable to agree with the person taking up the animal as to the amount of the costs payable to the person, no later than five days after the owner is advised of the amount of the payable costs, the owner shall:

(a)

Pay an arbitration fee of $150 to the department; and

(b)

Give written notice to the department and the person taking up the animal that the owner disagrees with the amount of the costs, desires arbitration of the disagreement and desires that the department furnish a list of arbitrators.

(5)

Upon receiving the notice of the owner described in subsection (4) of this section, the department shall furnish to the owner and the person taking up the animal the names of five arbitrators selected from the list of qualified persons maintained in accordance with subsection (10) of this section. No later than five days after receiving the list of arbitrators, the owner shall give written notice to the department and the person taking up the animal of the name of the arbitrator appointed by the owner from the list. No later than five days after receiving the list of arbitrators, the person taking up the animal shall give written notice to the department and to the owner of the name of the arbitrator appointed by the person from the list.

(6)

Upon receiving the notices of appointment of arbitrators, as provided in subsection (5) of this section, the department shall give written notice to each appointed arbitrator of the arbitrator’s appointment.

(7)

Upon receiving notice as provided in subsection (6) of this section, each of the two arbitrators shall notify the department in writing whether the arbitrator accepts the appointment. Upon acceptance of appointment by an arbitrator appointed by the owner and an arbitrator appointed by the person taking up the animal, the department shall appoint a third arbitrator. An acceptance of appointment by the third arbitrator must be in writing. The department shall pay each appointed arbitrator $50 from the money paid to the department under subsection (4) of this section for arbitration services. The three arbitrators shall act as a board of arbitration and may hear witnesses, take testimony, inspect documents, the animal and premises and may issue a decision as to the amount allowable as costs. The decision shall be by majority vote and conclusive as to the owner and person taking up the animal upon receipt of the decision by the department. Written notice of the decision shall be given to the department, the owner and the person taking up the animal no later than 30 days after the appointment of the third arbitrator.

(8)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

If the owner gives the notice to the department and the person taking up the animal that the owner disagrees with the amount of the costs, but does not indicate in the notice a desire to arbitrate or a desire to have a list of arbitrators furnished to the owner, the owner’s right to arbitration is waived and the person taking up the animal shall deliver the animal to the department at a place designated by the department. The department shall then sell the animal in accordance with ORS 607.328 (Procedure for sale of estray animal).

(b)

If the person taking up the animal fails to give a notice of appointment required under subsection (5) of this section, the person waives the right to arbitration and the animal may not be sold. The owner shall be entitled to the immediate possession of the animal without payment of any of the costs described in subsection (2) of this section.

(9)

At any time during the arbitration provided for in this section, the owner of the animal may give written notice to the department and the person taking up the animal of the owner’s desire to regain immediate possession and custody of the animal. If the owner gives such notice, and at the same time deposits with the department a cash deposit in an amount equal to the accrued costs claimed by the person taking up the animal as of the date the notice is given, the animal shall be released to the owner or agent within 48 hours after the giving of notice and cash deposit. The department is authorized to pay the costs determined by the arbitrators under subsection (7) of this section to the person taking up the animal and return the balance, if any, to the owner.

(10)

The department shall establish and maintain a list of persons qualified by experience and knowledge to act as arbitrators in accordance with subsection (7) of this section. In furnishing the names of five arbitrators, as provided in subsection (5) of this section, the department shall first determine that none of the listed persons:

(a)

Is related to either the owner or person taking up the animal;

(b)

Is, or has been, an agent, employee or business associate of the owner or the person taking up the animal; or

(c)

Has for any reason bias or prejudice toward the owner or the person taking up the animal.

(11)

If the owner or the person taking up the animal intentionally fails to disclose to the department that any of the five arbitrators on the list provided under subsection (5) of this section does not meet the criteria described in subsection (10) of this section, the department shall upon determining an intentional failure to disclose:

(a)

Declare the arbitrator disqualified and any arbitration decision previously rendered void and of no effect;

(b)

Select a person from the department’s list to replace the disqualified arbitrator; and

(c)

Direct that the arbitration be undertaken with the newly appointed arbitrator as a member of the board of arbitration. [1957 c.604 §25; 1971 c.579 §6; 1975 c.65 §1; 1981 c.413 §1; 2009 c.336 §4]

Source: Section 607.304 — Delivery of estray animal to department or owner; payment of costs to person taking up animal; arbitration of costs; fee, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors607.­html.

607.005
Definitions
607.007
“Adequate fence,” “estray animal,” “taking up” defined
607.008
Incorporated cities are livestock districts
607.018
Livestock district creation or annexation
607.021
Livestock district characteristics
607.024
Action on livestock district application
607.028
Livestock district withdrawals or dissolution
607.032
Publication of county governing body declarations
607.044
Civil liability for livestock at large in livestock district
607.045
Livestock at large in livestock districts
607.051
Status of districts designated by order of State Department of Agriculture
607.055
Application of livestock confinement laws to federal lands
607.080
Bison at large in livestock district prohibited
607.085
Civil liability for bison running at large on land
607.261
Stock running at large on open range
607.300
Determining adequacy of fences
607.303
Owner or lessee of property taking up estray animal
607.304
Delivery of estray animal to department or owner
607.308
Alternative procedure for person taking up estray animal
607.311
Taking up estray animal
607.313
Notice to department by persons taking up estray animal
607.321
Investigation by department upon receipt of notice
607.328
Procedure for sale of estray animal
607.332
Claim by owner before sale
607.336
Title of purchaser at sale
607.337
Use of proceeds from sale to pay department costs
607.338
Use of proceeds from sale to pay person taking up animal
607.339
Liability of department
607.341
Jurisdiction of courts
607.344
“Freshly branded” defined for ORS 607.345 to 607.360
607.345
Interfering with calves and colts on open range
607.350
Producing, on demand, the mothers of calves or colts
607.355
Disposal of calves and colts wrongfully held
607.360
Applicability of statutes regulating handling of calves and colts
607.365
Driving domestic animals from range
607.505
Stock running at large and grazing on Klamath Falls-Malin Highway
607.510
Stock running at large and grazing on certain state highways
607.515
Stock at large or grazing on highway from Canyonville to Umpqua National Forest
607.520
Stock running at large on highways in Washington County
607.527
Stock herded or grazed on interstate and defense highways
607.992
Penalties
Green check means up to date. Up to date