There shall be provided a suitable enclosure or place for the purpose of keeping and safely holding animals impounded, which shall be designated as the animal shelter; provided, that one or more suitable enclosures or places may be provided for the purpose of keeping and safely holding animals impounded, which places shall be designated as branches of the city animal shelter and shall be included within the meanings of the words "animal shelter" wherever the name may appear in this title.
(Ord. 647 § 3, 2001)
Whenever in this title the words "director" or "director of animal shelter" are used, they shall mean the director of the animal regulation division of the city of Long Beach, or his or her designee.
(Ord. 647 § 3, 2001)
The director shall take up, impound and safely keep any and all of the animals enumerated in this chapter and found running at large, pastured, herded, staked or tied in any street, park, or other public place, or upon any private property, in violation of any of the provisions of this title.
(Ord. 647 § 3, 2001)
It shall be the duty of the director and of every police officer to take up and deliver to the animal shelter any dog found upon any public or private property within the city in violation of any of the provisions of this title.
(Ord. 647 § 3, 2001)
The director shall safely keep all dogs, or other animals impounded at the animal shelter and shall furnish the same all necessary food and water, and shall give the same ordinary attention as may appear to be reasonably required for the welfare of such animals.
(Ord. 647 § 3, 2001)
The owner of a dog or cat may, with the consent of the director, place the custody of such animal with said official for the purpose of obtaining his assistance in procuring a new owner for the animal under such terms and conditions as that official, in his sole and absolute discretion, shall determine. The act of the owner in so placing the custody of the animal with the director shall, in no event and under no circumstances, obligate that official of the city to procure a new owner for the animal and, in the event such official so determines, the animal may be destroyed and disposition made of the carcass. The owner of any other small animal may, with the consent of the director, place the custody of such animal with said official for the purpose of disposing of the animal as that official so determines. By placing the animal in the custody of the director in accordance with this section, the owner thereof relinquishes and conveys to the city all his right, title and interest in and to the animal and to the proceeds of any sale of the animal thereafter made, and neither the city nor the official shall be required to make an accounting for any such proceeds. If the director elects to accept the custody of the animal, he shall require the owner thereof to evidence in writing his knowledge and acceptance of the provisions of this section. Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, in the event the director has not procured a new owner for the animal and the same has not been destroyed, the person so placing the animal in custody may redeem and reclaim it from the custody of the city upon the payment of a fee therefor established by the city council by resolution. The owner of the unwanted animal may deliver the animal to the director at the animal shelter without charge or, at the owner's request, that official will pick up the animal at a fee established therefor by the city council by resolution.
(Ord. 647 § 3, 2001)
Upon the impounding of any stray dog, or other animal, the director shall immediately notify the owner thereof, if known, to redeem the dog or other animal within five days; and unless sooner redeemed, the director shall sell the dog or other animal at public or private sale, at such price as he may deem reasonable. At the time of sale of any dog or cat, a spay and neuter deposit shall be required from the purchaser. Such deposit shall be as established by contract with the city of Long Beach or as otherwise set by resolution of the city council. All such deposits shall be deposited in the city of Long Beach animal control program unclaimed altering deposits trust fund. A purchased dog or cat under six months of age at the time it is sold shall be spayed or neutered within six months or the deposit shall be deemed unclaimed and forfeited to the city. Any dog or cat six months of age or over, at the time it is sold, shall be spayed or neutered within sixty days or the deposit shall be deemed unclaimed and forfeited to the city. If a written statement is obtained by the purchaser from a veterinarian that the dog or cat is not suitable for surgery the deposits shall not be deemed forfeited. All unclaimed and forfeited deposits shall be used by the city only for those specific purposes set out in Sections 30503 of the California Food and Agricultural Code. In the event a purchaser cannot be obtained for any dog or cat or any other animal, the director shall destroy such animal and dispose of the carcass. The director may, without waiting for such five-day period to elapse, cause any impounded animal to be destroyed when that official reasonably determines that such animal is unfit for further use by reason of its having been injured, having become infected with a dangerous or communicable disease, having become incurably crippled or having become infirmed on account of advanced age. Such official may likewise so destroy any impounded animal upon receiving the written report of a duly licensed veterinarian that such animal is afflicted with a painful and incurable disease.
(Ord. 647 § 3, 2001)
The owner or person entitled to the possession of any impounded dog or other animal shall have the right to redeem and have the possession of the same at any time prior to the sale or destruction thereof upon payment to the director of the costs and charges incident to the impounding, taking and keeping thereof, upon satisfactory proof of the ownership and right to possession of the dog or other animal being made to the director and, if sold, to receive all of the net proceeds of such sale in excess of the costs and charges for the taking, impounding, keeping and expenses of sale thereof. As an incident to the redemption of any dog, the owner or other person shall also pay the license tax, plus any penalty, for any dog for which a license tag has not been issued for the current year. The person redeeming the dog shall also provide satisfactory evidence of compliance with Section 6.12.110.
(Ord. 647 § 3, 2001)
No person shall conceal or attempt to conceal, rescue, or attempt to rescue any dog or any of the animals mentioned in this title from the director, or from any other officer authorized to enforce any of the provisions of this title, while engaged in the capture or in conveying to the animal shelter any such dog or animal, or to interfere in any manner with said persons in the performance of any duty incident to their office, or to rescue or attempt to rescue any dog or other animal which has been impounded in the animal shelter.
(Ord. 647 § 3, 2001)