81-4-605. Expenses, how paid -- disposition of proceeds of sale. (1) Expenses for collecting, holding, advertising, and selling of the estray, including but not limited to labor, feed, supplies, and veterinary services, shall be paid out of the gross proceeds of the sale of the estray, and the balance of the proceeds of the sale shall be forwarded to the department to be advertised as estray funds in the manner provided by law. The proceeds are subject to claim by the owner of the animal for a period of 2 years from the date of the sale. If the owner of the estray claims the animal before the sale of the animal, the expense incurred by the stock inspector to that time shall be paid by the owner.

(2) The department may adopt rules and establish fees for the handling of estrays.