69-14-712. Disposition of carcass and hide of destroyed animals. (1) In all cases where a corporation, association, company, or person kills an animal or injures an animal to such extent that it is necessary to kill the animal, as provided in this part, they shall skin the animal and preserve the whole hide or so much thereof as can be preserved, including the head and ears, and are entitled to the carcass and hide thereof unless the owner or owners thereof claim the animal, in which event the amount of the value thereof shall be deducted from the amount of damages which would otherwise be due. In case such corporation, association, company, or person so entitled thereto takes the carcass and hide, they shall skin the animal as herein provided and shall deposit the hide thereof at the station designated on their line, such station to be designated by the department of livestock, during the space of 60 days, for the inspection of persons claiming to be interested therein. If no person claims the animal, then before the corporation, association, company, or person disposes of the hide, they shall notify the stock inspector of the district within which the animal was killed, who shall inspect the hide for marks and brands, and receive from the stock inspector his authority in writing to dispose of the hide. The stock inspector shall notify all owners of the stock, if known or ascertainable from the inspection, of the death of the animal, and if the owner is unknown, the stock inspector shall notify the department of the death of the animal.
     (2) The corporation, association, company, or person may dispose of the whole animal, including the carcass and hide, to any licensed rendering plant or licensed renderer in the state if the owner or owners do not claim the animal. Upon receiving the animal, the licensed rendering plant or licensed renderer shall skin the animal and shall preserve the hide or so much thereof as can be preserved, including the hide of head and ears, and the hide shall be stored separate and apart from hides received from other sources. Within 5 days after receipt of the hide, the licensed rendering plant or licensed renderer shall notify the department of possession of the hide. The department shall make an inspection thereof within 10 days after being so notified and shall immediately notify the owner thereof, if ownership be ascertainable, of the death of the animal. If no person claims the hide of the animal within 30 days after notice given to the department by the licensed renderer or licensed rendering plant, the department shall give written authorization to the licensed rendering plant or licensed renderer to dispose of the hide. Before making disposition thereof under the written authorization, the licensed rendering plant or licensed renderer shall obtain the consent of the corporation, association, company, or person from which the animal was received.

     History: En. Sec. 726, 5th Div. Comp. Stat. 1887; re-en. Sec. 958, Civ. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 4317, Rev. C. 1907; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 99, L. 1919; re-en. Sec. 6548, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 6548, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 147, L. 1949; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 315, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 72-409.