§ 36-14-20 — Duty of overseer of highways when carcass of dead animal is found - Fees - Recovery of expense

Recovery of expense.
If the owner or person in charge of a dead animal fails to comply with the provisions of
section 36-14-19, the overseer of highways shall comply with the provisions of section 36-14-19
for the owner or person. If burial of the animal is permitted, the burial may be made upon the
premises of the owner or person in charge of the animal at any place more than one thousand
feet [304.8 meters] from any dwelling house or barn. The board of county commissioners shall
allow in payment a sum for disposal services as it deems to be reasonable, and the sum must
be paid as other moneys are paid for services rendered to the county. The owner of the animal
is liable to the county for any amount paid out for disposal services. If the owner does not pay
that amount within thirty days after written demand for payment is made upon the owner by the
county auditor, the sum may be recovered in a civil action, and the judgment must include the
costs of the suit and a reasonable attorney's fee to be fixed by the court. No property except
absolute exemptions is exempt from sale for the payment of any such judgment. Any attorney's
fee allowed by the court must be paid to the county if the action is brought by the state's
attorney.