For purposes of this title, "city animal shelter" refers to
the City of Laguna Beach Animal Shelter, located at 20612 Laguna Canyon
Road, Laguna Beach, California, unless provided otherwise by resolution.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1036 § 4, 1983)
The animal services manager or his designee is authorized to take into custody and impound any animal found in violation of this title, and shall place all such animals taken into custody in the city animal shelter if the owner cannot be, upon initial contact, identified and contacted and the animal returned home. Unregistered dogs impounded will be placed in the city animal shelter and may be redeemed as specified in Section 6.10.100.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1158 § 13, 1988)
All animals taken into custody shall be humanely transported
in specifically designed ventilated and properly maintained vehicles.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978)
No person shall take possession of any animal found running
at large without notifying the animal services manager within twelve
hours after receiving possession, giving a full description of the
animal and the address and phone number of the place where the animal
may be found. Such person, upon the request of the animal services
manager or his designee, shall surrender such animal.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978)
It shall be unlawful for any person to remove any impounded
animal from the animal shelter without consent of the animal services
manager or designee.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978)
(a)
Animals
wearing current valid registration tags, impounded pursuant to this
chapter, shall be held for redemption by the owner for a period of
seven calendar days.
(c)
Animals bearing or wearing identification of any type shall be deemed registered for the purpose of a seven calendar day redemption period, and all efforts shall be made to locate and notify the owners as specified in Section 6.10.080.
(d)
At
the end of the seven-calendar-day period, animals not claimed by their
owners may be placed for adoption.
(e)
At
the end of a ten-calendar-day period, animals not claimed by their
owners may be euthanized in a humane manner. A shorter holding period
may be deemed necessary by a committee created under city council
policy.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1158 § 8, 1988)
(a)
Impounded
animals not bearing identification of any type may be deemed unregistered
and if not claimed shall be held in custody a period of:
(b)
Unregistered
animals impounded shall be declared abandoned after being held a minimum
of seventy-two hours and when in need of medical attention.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1158 § 9, 1988)
The animal services manager or his designee will attempt to
locate owners of lost or impounded registered dogs or cats for a period
of five working days, and unregistered dogs and cats for five working
days through public notice, private communication where owner is known,
or, when a tattoo is found, notification of the tattoo registry, allowing
for additional reasonable time for such registry to attempt to locate
the owner.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978)
Registered animals may be redeemed by the owner or his authorized
agent upon payment of the impound fees and care and feeding charges,
as set by resolution of the city council, and any veterinary costs.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1158 § 10, 1988)
Unregistered animals may be redeemed by the owner upon payment
of the registration fee, impound fee and care and feeding charges,
as set by resolution of the city council, and any veterinary costs,
and upon proof of rabies vaccination. Any person claiming ownership
of any unregistered impounded animal shall be required to present
proof of ownership satisfactory to the animal services manager or
his designee.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1158 § 11, 1988)
Any impounded and unredeemed dog or cat eight weeks or older
not suffering from any infections or communicable disease may be placed
in a suitable home upon payment of a placement fee, as set by resolution
of the city council, and a rabies vaccination fee and dog license
fee, if applicable. Except as otherwise provided by state law or by
this chapter, any other animal eight weeks or older which has not
been redeemed within three days shall be deemed abandoned and may
be placed upon payment of a placement fee as set by resolution of
the city council.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1158 § 12, 1988)
The animals services manager shall keep a record of each animal
impounded, the date of receipt of such animal, the date and manner
of its disposal and, if redeemed, reclaimed or adopted, the name of
the person by whom redeemed, reclaimed or adopted, the address and
telephone number of such person, and the amounts of all fees received
or collected for or because of the impounding, reclaiming or adoption
thereof, together with the number of any tag, and the date of any
registration issued upon the redemption or adoption of such animal.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978)
The city animal services program has a pro-life oriented philosophy
with a strong emphasis of placing all unredeemed animals in suitable
homes. Animals that are not adopted within a reasonable period of
time may be euthanized in a humane manner as prescribed by law and
under standards set by the city council.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978; Ord. 921 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1036 § 5, 1983; Ord. 1158 § 14, 1988)
No animal may be donated or sold for the purpose of research
or vivisection.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1977)
Under special provisions, specific breed clubs and humane organizations
approved by the pet responsibility committee shall have the option
of adopting available animals for purposes of placement from the city
shelter.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1977)
Specific animal clubs and humane organizations approved by the
animal services manager, or his or her designee, and the animal shelter
volunteer employee committee may be allowed to assume the responsibility
of caring for lost and stray animals, providing they have facilities
for proper confinement, shelter and care of such animals. Such organizations
shall notify the animal services manager within four hours after obtaining
any animal so sheltered, giving a full description and any identification.
Such organizations shall assume responsibility for placement of such
animals in homes after sheltering them for a minimum of fourteen days,
during which time they will make every attempt to locate and notify
the owner.
(Ord. 918 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1036 § 6, 1983)
