This chapter shall be known as, and may be cited and referred to as the "animal control law."
(Prior code § 3.30)
As used in this chapter:
means any domesticated animal, including canines, felines, horses, donkeys, mules, burros, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, birds or any other animal kept as a pet or for commercial purposes.
means a person employed by the county and duly authorized by the director of animal services and the state of California to enforce laws dealing with animals existing within the unincorporated territories of the county and those incorporated areas which may, from time to time, contract with the county for services.
mean that section of the county government which is specifically charged with the regulation of, and the enforcement of laws dealing with animals existing within the unincorporated territories of the county and incorporated areas thereof which may, from time to time, contract with the county for such services. Animal services is a division of the county department of health and human services.
means the facilities provided by the county for impounding of animals.
means an animal off the premises of its owner and not under restraint by lead, leash or adequate enclosure. The following exceptions shall apply to the provisions of this definition:
A dog shall not be considered to be at large if it is assisting its owner or person in charge of livestock in herding, guarding or controlling livestock;
A dog shall not be considered at large if it is assisting a peace officer engaged in law enforcement duties;
A dog shall not be considered at large if it is enrolled in and actually participating in a dog training or obedience class, exhibition or competition conducted by an organization on private or public property with the permission of the owner or operator of the grounds or facility;
A dog shall not be considered at large when it is accompanying and under the direction of a person engaged in legal hunting activities.
For animals other than dogs, it also means any unattended animal not confined by an adequate fence or restrained in a manner appropriate for the species of animal. An adequate fence is any fence which is good, strong, substantial and sufficient to prevent the ingress and egress of livestock. |
means the person designated by the county director of health and human services as the director of animal services or animal services manager for the county of Placer and duly authorized animal control officers.
means the director of the department of health and human services of the county.
means the department of health and human services for the county.
means the public health officer of the county and any health department employee or other person duly authorized by the health officer to act on his or her behalf.
means the taking up and confining of an animal by the director of animal services in a manner consistent with recognized standards of humane treatment.
means any enclosure, building, or structure where dogs of at least four months of age are kept, harbored or maintained, in a confined manner for commercial or noncommercial purposes. A kennel license shall be issued to individuals who breed or offer for sale more than two litters of dogs per year or board and/or train dogs.
means a person who possesses, has title to or an interest in, harbors, or has control, custody or possession of an animal, and the verb form of "to own" includes all these shades of meaning.
means fictional entities such as corporations, estates, associations, partnerships and trusts, as well as one or more individual human beings.
means the inoculation of a dog with a vaccine approved by and in the manner prescribed by the State Department of Public Health.
means a person licensed by the state of California to practice veterinary medicine.
(Ord. 5653-B § 1, 2011)
The animal services center, the director of animal services and other related personnel shall be under the direction and supervision of the director of health services.
(Prior code § 3.32; Ord. 5653-B § 2, 2011)
No liability shall be incurred for the disposition of any animal made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(Prior code § 3.34)
The director of animal services is responsible for the enforcement of this law, and all laws of the state of California pertaining to the control of dogs and other animals and the humane treatment of animals, and his or her duties shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
A.
To administer the animal services center and keep such records as may be required by the board of supervisors and director of health services.
B.
To take up and impound animals which are in violation of this chapter.
C.
To remove and dispose of the carcass of any animal found on any public highway, street, alley or other public place.
D.
To quarantine animals and to cooperate with the county health officer.
E.
To administer licensing programs as provided for herein.
F.
To assure that rabies vaccination clinics are available.
(Prior code § 3.40; Ord. 5653-B § 3, 2011)
The director of animal services may kill any dog found in the act of killing, wounding or persistently pursuing or worrying livestock or poultry on land or premises which are not owned or possessed by the owner of the dog.
(Prior code § 3.42; Ord. 5653-B § 4, 2011)
The director of animal services may formulate rules and regulations in conformity with, and for the purposes of carrying out the intent of this chapter and compliance with such rules and regulations shall be prerequisite to the issuance and continued validity of any license or permit provided.
(Prior code § 3.44; Ord. 5653-B § 5, 2011)
The director of animal services and such animal control officers as he or she may specifically designate in writing are authorized to carry firearms when acting in the course and scope of their employment pursuant to Section 12031 of the Penal Code of the state of California.
(Prior code § 3.46; Ord. 5653-B § 6, 2011)
A.
Any public officer or employee charged with the responsibility for enforcement of the provisions of this chapter may arrest a person without a warrant whenever such officer or employee has reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed a misdemeanor in his or her presence which is in violation of this chapter.
B.
In any case in which a person arrested, pursuant to subsection A of this section, does not demand to be taken before a magistrate, such public officer or employee making the arrest shall prepare a written notice to appear and release the person on his or her promise to appear, as prescribed by Chapter 5C (commencing with Section 853.6) of the Penal Code. The provisions of such chapter shall thereafter apply with reference to any proceeding based upon the issuance of a written notice to appear pursuant to this authority.
(Prior code § 3.48)
In performance of his or her duties the director of animal services shall have the authority to employ the use of the tranquilizer gun and all animal control devices in common use within the state.
(Prior code § 3.50; Ord. 5653-B § 7, 2011)
The director of animal services may, in the performance of his or her duties, enter upon any property pursuant to law to ascertain if any of the provisions of this chapter are being violated.
(Prior code § 3.52; Ord. 5653-B § 8, 2011)
In the performance of his or her duties, the director of animal services shall have the authority, when in pursuit of an animal which is in violation of a provision of this chapter, to go on the property of the owner or that of a third person for the purpose of impounding the animal, provided that in the course of such pursuit the director shall exercise reasonable care to avoid causing damage to the property.
(Prior code § 3.53; Ord. 5653-B § 9, 2011)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, if, in the judgment of the director of animal services, an animal found to be at large is unfit, dangerous, injured, or ill and should be destroyed, the director of animal services may, at any time, in a humane manner, destroy such animal.
(Prior code § 3.54; Ord. 5653-B § 10, 2011)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the director of health services or designee shall have the power to waive all or any portion of the fees prescribed in this chapter and in Section 2.116.110 of this code when the shelter is at over 80% capacity in order to encourage and promote pet adoptions as needed in order to maintain acceptable numbers of animals within the county shelters, or when necessary to encourage and promote adoptions of medically fragile or elderly pets.
(Ord. 5653-B § 11, 2011; Ord. 5741-B § 7, 2014)