Legal Definitions - estray

Definition: An estray is a valuable domesticated animal that is found wandering without an owner. In the past, it belonged to the Crown or the lord of the manor, but now it is usually held in trust by the state for the true owner to reclaim by proving ownership.

For an animal to be considered an estray, it must have escaped from its owner and be wandering around without any supervision. However, if the animal is on the range where it was raised and allowed to run free by its owner, it cannot be considered an estray. Additionally, if the owner is known to the person who finds the animal, it cannot be considered an estray.

Examples:

• A horse that has escaped from its pasture and is found wandering on the side of the road is considered an estray.
• A cow that has wandered away from its farm and is found in a nearby field without an owner is also an estray.
• However, a horse that is allowed to roam free on a large ranch and is found by a neighboring rancher cannot be considered an estray.

The examples illustrate that an animal must be domesticated and have escaped from its owner to be considered an estray. It also shows that an animal cannot be an estray if it is allowed to roam free by its owner or if the owner is known to the person who finds the animal.