For the purpose of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
ANIMAL
Any live, vertebrate creature, domestic or wild.
ANIMAL SHELTER
Any facility operated by humane society or municipal agency, or its authorized agents for the purpose of impounding or caring for animals held under the authority of this ordinance or state law.
AT LARGE
An animal off the premises of its owner and not under restraint by leash.
AUCTIONS
Any place or facility where animals are regularly bought, sold, or traded except for those facilities defined in this ordinance.
COMMERCIAL ANIMAL ESTABLISHMENT
Any pet, grooming shop, auction, riding school or stable, animal exhibition or kennel.
DANGEROUS DOG
Any dog, except one assisting a peace officer engaged in law enforcement duties, which demonstrates any of the following behavior, is presumed dangerous.
(a) 
An attack which requires a defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury or property damage when such person is conducting himself or herself peacefully and lawfully.
(b) 
An attack which results in property damage or in an injury to a person when such a person is conducting himself or herself peacefully and lawfully.
(c) 
An attack on another animal, livestock, or poultry which occurs on property other than that of the owner of the attacking dog.
(d) 
Any behavior which constitutes a threat of bodily harm to a person when such person is conducting himself or herself peacefully and lawfully.
For the purpose of this section, a person is conducting himself or herself peacefully and lawfully upon the private property of an owner or possessor of the dog when he or she is on such property in the performance of any duty imposed on such person by state or local law or by the laws of postage regulations of the United States, or when he or she is on such property upon invitation, either expressed or implied.
(e) 
A history of three dog bites to human beings not members of the immediate family of the owner of the dog.
DOG LICENSE
A license tag required to be obtained annually for each individual dog.
GROOMING SHOP
A commercial establishment where animals are bathed, clipped, plucked, or otherwise groomed.
IMPOUNDMENT
The taking up and confining of an animal by the direction in the manner consistent with recognized standards of humane treatment.
KENNEL
A place where four or more dogs of four months of age or older are kept or any premises wherein any person or persons engage in the business of boarding, breeding, buying, letting for hire, training for a fee, or selling of dogs or cats.
LIVESTOCK
Any domesticated cattle, goats, swine, sheep, and equine which are kept in captivity or under the control or ownership of any person for any purpose.
OWNER
Any person who possesses, has title to or an interest in, harbors or has control, custody or possession of an animal and the verb forms of "to own" include all these shades of meanings. An animal shall be deemed to be harbored if it is fed or sheltered for five consecutive days or more.
QUARANTINE
The strict confinement of an animal upon the premises of the owner or the Oakdale City Animal Shelter or elsewhere as approved by the chief of police or animal control officer.
PET SHOP
Any shop, partnership, or corporation, whether operated separately or in connection with another business enterprise except for a licensed kennel, that buys, sells, or boards any species of animals, reptiles or fish.
PUBLIC NUISANCE
Any animal or animals which:
(a) 
Attacks any person, passing bicycle, motorcycle or vehicle.
(b) 
Attacks other animals.
(c) 
Trespasses on school grounds.
(d) 
Is repeatedly at large.
(e) 
Damages private or public property.
(f) 
Barks, whines, or howls in an excessive or continuous manner.
(g) 
Defecates on private property (other than the property of the animal owner), sidewalks, street, alleyway, or in any public park, or other public place.
RIDING SCHOOL OR STABLE
Any place which has available for hire, boarding, and/or riding instructions, any horse, pony, mule or burro.
TRANQUILIZER OR CAPTURE GUN
Any rifle/pistol used to immobilize any animal, with a substance approved by the Federal Drug Administration.
VACCINATION
The inoculation of an animal against rabies with vaccine approved by, and in the manner prescribed by, the State Department of Public Health.
WILD ANIMAL
Any of the following:
(a) 
Following members of the Class Aves:
(1) 
Order Falconiformes (such as, but not limited to, hawks, eagles and vultures which are not kept pursuant to federal or state permit); and
(2) 
Subdivision Ratitae (such as, but not limited to, ostriches, rheas, cassowaries, emus).
(b) 
Following members of the Class Mammalia:
(1) 
Order Carnivora, expressly excepting the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) and the domestic cat (Felis catus), but including, but not limited to, the family Felidea (such as ocelots, margays, tigers, jaguars, leopards and cougars), the family Canidae (such as wolves, wolf hybrids, dingos, coyotes and jackals); and
(2) 
Order Marsupialia (such as kangaroos and opossums); and
(3) 
Order Chiroptera (bats); and
(4) 
Order Edentata (such as sloths, anteaters and armadillos); and
(5) 
Order Proboscidea (elephants); and
(6) 
Order Primata (including, but not limited to, monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas); and
(7) 
Order Ungulata (expressly excluding any animal which would be included within the definition of "domestic animal," camels and llamas), including, but not limited to, antelope, deer and bison.
(c) 
Any nondomestic species when kept, maintained or harbored in such numbers or in such a manner as to constitute the likelihood of danger to the animals themselves, to human beings or to the property of human beings.
[Ord. No. 1000, § 1.]
[Ord. No. 1000, § 1.]
The provisions of this article relating to licensing requirements shall not apply to any dog owned by or in charge of any person who is not a resident of the City and who is traveling through the City, or temporarily staying therein, for a period not to exceed thirty days, if the dog is not permitted to run at large; nor to any dog brought into the City and kept therein for not to exceed thirty days for the exclusive purpose of entering the dog in any dog show, dog exhibition, field trials or competition, if the dog is not permitted to run at large; nor to any dog brought or sent into the City from any point outside thereof for the exclusive purpose of receiving veterinary care in any dog hospital, if the dog is not permitted to run at large; nor to any dog trained to lead the blind and owned by a blind person, if the dog is not permitted to run at large.
(a) 
Dog license required. Every person who owns, controls, harbors, possesses or keeps in the City any dog, shall obtain a dog license with the director of finance. The City of Oakdale may provide for the issuance of serially numbered metallic dog licenses pursuant to this section. Said license fee shall be first due when the animal reaches four months of age and before it attains five months or within thirty days after the dog is acquired, and due on the anniversary date of the original purchase date each year thereafter. New residents shall have thirty days in which to acquire such license. Persons renewing their license shall have thirty days following their due date before being delinquent and having to pay a late penalty. The fee and penalties for such license shall be set forth in § 4-7(b) OCC.
(1) 
In addition to the authority provided in Subsection (a), a license may be issued, as provided by this section, by the City Council for a period not to exceed three years for dogs that have attained the age of twelve months, or older, and who have been vaccinated against rabies.
The person to whom the license is to be issued pursuant to this section may choose a license period as established by the City Council of up to one, two or three years. However, when issuing a license pursuant to this subdivision, the license period shall not extend beyond the remaining period of validity for the current rabies vaccination. The fee for such license shall be set forth from time to time by resolution of the City Council.
A license shall be obtained, but no license fee shall be payable for the licensing of any dog which is trained for guide or hearing purposes by a resident of the City, or any dog currently being used by a local law enforcement agency for the purposes of crime prevention or control.
The fee paid for a dog license is not refundable.
(b) 
Fees and penalties. The annual license fee for keeping the dog within the City shall be set from time to time by resolution of the City Council. Any dog owner who fails to procure such dog license shall, in addition to any other penalty provided in this Code be subject to a penalty of ten dollars and shall be collected herewith.
(c) 
Disposition of revenue. Funds collected for dog licenses under this chapter shall be available for the payment of expenditures in accordance with the provisions of Division 3, Chapter 3, Sections 1900 to 2000, of the California Health and Safety Code and Chapter 4, Subchapter 1, Sections 2604 and 2060.6, of the California Administrative Code, Title 17, Public Health.
[Ord. No. 1000, § 1; Ord. No. 1045, § 2.]
[Ord. No. 1000, § 1.]
The owner of a dog obtaining a dog license shall attach the license tag to the collar, harness or other device of the dog for which the license was obtained and keep the license on such dog at all times while such license is in force. In the event that any dog license shall have been lost or destroyed, the owner of such dog shall immediately apply for and procure, from the finance director of the City, a duplicate license for such dog. A fee as set from time to time by the Oakdale City Council shall be charged for such duplicate license.
[Ord. No. 1000, § 1.]
The owner of any dog kept or harbored in the City shall upon the request of any police officer of the City exhibit to him the license of such dog. The police officers are each authorized and directed, in order to carry out the provisions of this article and of the laws of this state insofar as they are applicable to such police officers, to enter upon any premises upon which any dog is kept or harbored or upon which the police officers have reason to believe any dog is kept or harbored, and to demand the exhibition to any such officer by the person owning, harboring, keeping or having charge or control of any such dog, of any dog license provided for by this article for the current year.
[Ord. No. 1000, § 1.]
It shall be unlawful for any person to imitate or counterfeit the dog license provided for in this article or to have in his possession in the City any imitation or counterfeit dog license.
(a) 
The City clerk is hereby authorized and directed to procure the necessary supplies required for the administration of the duties assigned to him by the provisions of this article and by the provisions of the Agricultural Code of the State of California, including application blanks, serially numbered dog licenses to be issued to the owner or owners of the dogs, and to issue the same to such owners in accordance with the provisions of this article and of sections of the Agricultural Code, upon the payment to him of the fees or penalties fixed by this article; provided, that before the City clerk shall issue any license, he shall require a certificate from a doctor of veterinary medicine, certifying that the dog for which a license is applied has been vaccinated with an approved rabies vaccine.
(b) 
Dog vaccination required. Every person owning or harboring a dog four months of age or older, for fifteen days or more, shall have such dog vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian with a vaccine approved by the California Department of Health, unless such dog is currently vaccinated. By obtaining an anti-rabies deferment from a licensed veterinarian, upon approval of the health officer, dogs that are ill may be given temporary deferment from rabies vaccination. Old age of the dog, however, shall not be a basis for such deferment. Such a deferred dog shall be vaccinated within fifteen days from the conclusion of the deferment period.
(c) 
Proof of vaccination. No person who owns or harbors any dog shall fail or refuse to exhibit his copy of the rabies vaccination form, anti-rabies inoculation deferment form, or health certificate upon demand by any person charged with the enforcement of this chapter.
[Ord. No. 1000, § 1.]
It shall be the duty of all animal control officers and all police officers of the City to take up and impound any dog found running at large in the City in violation of the provisions of this article or sections of the Agricultural Code of the state.
If the owner of any dog so impounded is unknown, such dog will be cared for at the City Animal Shelter for a period of seventy-two hours, and shall upon the expiration of such time, if not claimed by its owner, the dog shall be humanely destroyed by the animal control department. If the owner of any such dog so impounded is known such dog shall not be destroyed until actual written notice shall have been given to such owner and such owner has failed or refused for five days thereafter, to pay all fees, penalties and charges due under the provisions of this article. The notice required by this section may be served either:
(a) 
By delivery of a copy to the owner of the dog personally;
(b) 
If he is absent from his usual place of residence or from his usual place of business, by leaving a copy with some person of suitable age and discretion at either place and sending a copy through the mail, addressed to the owner of the dog at his place of residence.
(c) 
If such place of residence or business cannot be ascertained, or a person of suitable age and discretion cannot be there found, then by sending a copy of the notice through the mail addressed to the owner of the dog at the last known address of the owner.
In lieu of destroying any dog, such dog may be adopted by any person other than the owner, or member of the owner's immediate household who will pay the director of finance a fee, to be set from time to time by resolution of the City Council, plus the license fee or a license deposit. In the event a dog is adopted without rabies vaccination, a license will be issued upon receipt by the director of finance of the proper certificate of rabies vaccination.
[Ord. No. 1000, § 1.]
(a) 
Any animal taken up and impounded under the terms of this article may be redeemed by the owner thereof within the period specified in § 4-13, or while the dog is at the City Animal Shelter upon the payment of the license fees and penalty, if any, due under this article to the City, and upon the payment to the director of finance the following necessary costs of impounding and keeping the animal:
(1) 
For taking up and impounding the animal, a fee to be set from time to time by resolution of the City Council;
(2) 
For care and feed for any such animal, a fee to be set from time to time by resolution of the City Council.
(b) 
Any citizen adopting an animal from a City pound or animal shelter shall pay to the City a deposit guaranteeing that said animal will be spayed or neutered, and a further deposit to ensure said animal will receive a rabies vaccination. The deposit shall be refundable to the person making the deposit upon presentation to the City of satisfactory proof showing that the spaying/neutering or vaccinating has been completed. The fees shall be set from time to time by resolution of the City Council.
[Ord. No. 1000, § 1.]
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for the owner or any person having charge, care, custody or control of any dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to suffer, permit or allow the dog to run at large on any public street, alley, or place, or private property held open to the use of the public for parking purposes in the City at any time.
(b) 
Every person owning or having charge, care, custody or control of any dog shall keep such dog exclusively upon his own premises; provided, that such dog may be off such premises if it is under the control of a competent person and restrained by a substantial chain or leash not exceeding six feet in length.
(c) 
It shall be unlawful for the owner or any person having charge, care, custody or control of any dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to allow said dog to remain upon the open bed or area of any truck, trailer or vehicle, without being restrained by a substantial chain or leash that prevents said dog from expending any part of its body past the edge of the bed or open area of such truck, trailer or vehicle. This requirement shall not apply if a dog is confined within the body or cab of a truck, trailer, or vehicle provided such dog cannot attack, bite, scratch or paw passersby.
(d) 
No owner or custodian of any dog shall maintain such dog on private property unless the property is fenced in such a manner as to restrain the dog or the dog is secured within a structure, or the dog is restrained by means of a leash.
(e) 
Each day a separate offense. Every person violating any provision of this title shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each day, or portion thereof, during which such violation continues.
(f) 
Female dogs in season to be confined. Every person owning or having charge of any female dog shall strictly confine such animal during its breeding season (i.e., while it is in heat) in a building or other enclosure adequate to keep such dog confined.
[Ord. No. 1000, § 1.]
[Amended by Ord. No. 1000, § 1; 7-7-2025 by Ord. No. 1294.]
(a) 
In the event that any dog shall bite any person within the City, it shall be the duty of the owner of the dog to deliver such dog at once to the City Animal Shelter or some authorized veterinarian who shall keep and impound such dog for a period of ten days, and in the event that such dog shall be impounded at the City Animal Shelter, the finance director of the City shall be entitled to collect for keeping, feeding, and caring for such dog a fee, which shall be set from time to time by resolution of the City Council.
(1) 
Home quarantine option. At the discretion of the Chief of Police or their designee, this quarantine may be carried out at the residence of the dog's owner, provided that the owner can demonstrate adequate means to securely confine the animal and prevent any potential risk to public safety. The owner must comply with all monitoring requirements set forth by the Chief of Police, including but not limited to daily health checks and inspections by Animal Control personnel. Failure to adhere to these conditions shall result in the immediate transfer of the animal to a designated animal shelter for the remainder of the quarantine period. The following conditions must also be met:
a. 
The dog has current rabies vaccination.
b. 
The biting incident did not involve severe injury to the victim.
c. 
The owner has the means to confine the dog at home during the quarantine period securely.
d. 
Regular checks by Animal Control or a designated official are feasible to ensure compliance with quarantine conditions.
(b) 
Duty to report. Any person having knowledge of the location of an animal suspected of having rabies, or of any person having been bitten or scratched by a warm-blooded mammal, or of any signs of disease or unusual behavior in any animal under quarantine, shall immediately report such facts to the health officer or director of animal control.