The Department of Animal Care and Control, under the administrative management of the Executive Director and the office of the Executive Director, is established.
(Prior code § 6-3.1; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)
The Executive Director shall be vested with the necessary powers and duties of a police officer for the exclusive purpose of enforcing the provisions of this title, and it shall be his or her duty to make arrests and issue citations for violations of any of the provisions of this title. The Executive Director shall enforce all of the laws of the City, the County of Los Angeles and the State of California relating to the care, treatment and impounding of animals and to the prevention of cruelty to animals.
(Prior code § 6-3.2; amended during 1999 codification; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)
No person shall remove or attempt to remove any animal mentioned in this title from the possession of the Executive Director or his or her deputies acting in the performance of their official duties.
(Prior code § 6-3.3; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)
The Executive Director or his or her deputies or any police officer are authorized to enter upon any premises upon which an animal is kept, for the purpose of ascertaining whether such animal is licensed as provided in this title, or determining whether any regulation or law of the State of California relating to the care, treatment or impounding of animals or to the prevention of cruelty to animals is being violated, and may take up, seize or impound any animal found running at large, or staked, herded or grazing thereon contrary to the provisions of this title; provided that, except in cases of emergency or where necessary to complete a pursuit initiated outside the premises, such entry shall be performed pursuant to a valid inspection warrant issued pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 1822.50, et seq.
(Prior code § 6-3.4; amended during 1999 codification; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)
It shall be the duty of the Executive Director to enforce those sections of the California Penal Code pertaining to the inhumane treatment of animals, and to take possession of animals so abandoned or neglected, and care for or dispose of such animals as provided for in the California Penal Code or this title.
(Prior code § 6-3.5; amended during 1999 codification; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)
The Executive Director may establish a clinic at which members of the public may have dogs and cats spayed or neutered in a humane manner upon payment of the fees established by the Executive Director.
A person submitting a dog or cat for the above operation shall sign a consent form certifying, under penalty of perjury, that he or she is the owner of such animal or setting forth facts showing that he or she is otherwise authorized to present the animal for such operation, and such person may be required to furnish proof of such ownership or authority. Such consent shall contain a waiver of any and all liability of the City, the Department and any employees of the City for any injury or death to an animal arising out of such operation or any services provided incidental to such operation.
The Department shall establish a return date by which a person submitting an animal for the above operation shall pick up such animal or be subject to a reasonable board and care fee to commence the day after the return date. Failure to pick up an animal within 15 days of the return date shall be deemed abandonment of such animal and the Executive Director may dispose of it by sale or destruction.
(Prior code § 6-3.6; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)
The Executive Director shall not sell or give away any female cat more than six months of age that has not been spayed, or any male cat more than six months of age that has not been altered. The Executive Director shall not sell or give away any cat less than six months of age unless the cost of spaying or altering such cat has been deposited in trust with the Executive Director for payment to a veterinarian or a spaying or altering clinic designated by the person purchasing or receiving the cat. The deposit shall be refunded to the owner upon proof of sterilization of the animal.
(Prior code § 6-9.1; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)