County officials would document stray equines and post notices

County judges or executives would arrange for a veterinarian to document stray equines, keep records, and send them to the State Veterinarian's office for posting. The veterinary record would include the equine's identifying features and the results of a microchip scan. A county judge or executive may contract with an animal sheltering service to perform these duties only with county fiscal court approval. The State Veterinarian's office would post a notice with one front-view photo showing the head and feet, and one side-view photo from muzzle to tail.

The person who takes up a stray would post the county official's certificate, and the holding period would begin after required records are filed and posted. This process applies to a stray equine taken up by a person. The text says the person must post the certificate immediately; the holding period begins after all required filing and posting.

County officials or their designees would try to identify and notify an owner when an equine's identifiers point to one. The search and notice duty applies when identifiers such as lip tattoos, freeze brands, or microchips point to an owner. An owner or claimant who claims the equine would repay the veterinary assessment cost under the contracted agreement. If there is a dispute about ownership, claims, value, or itemized costs, the parties may bring a court case in the county where the equine was taken up; filing the case pauses the holding period for ownership to pass. Officials would make the search and give notice before the holding period expires.

The person who takes up a stray equine could sterilize it only after the holding period ends, ownership passes under state law, and related court cases are resolved. This limit applies to a person who takes up a stray equine. All three conditions must be met before sterilization. The 15-day period must have expired, and any pending court cases about the equine must be resolved.