A public pound is provided, and the same and any branches thereof shall be located and established at such place as is fixed from time to time by the Poundkeeper provided for in Article 6 of this chapter.
(Ord. 2016-14, eff. 7/21/16)
Any animal found trespassing on any private property in the City may be taken up by any person at interest and delivered to the Poundkeeper; any dog found running at large on the lands of another where poultry or livestock are kept, without the permission of the owner or person in charge of such lands may be taken up by any person and delivered to the Poundkeeper.
(Ord. 2016-14, eff. 7/21/16)
Every person taking up any animal under the provisions of this article and every person finding any lost, strayed or stolen animal shall, within 24 hours thereafter, give notice thereof to the Poundkeeper, and every such person and any person in whose custody such animal may, in the meantime, be placed shall thereupon hold and dispose of such animal in the same manner as though such animal had been found running at large and impounded by him.
(Ord. 2016-14, eff. 7/21/16)
All domestic bovine animals, horses, mules, burros, sheep, goats and swine impounded under this article shall, unless claimed by the owner or person entitled to the custody thereof within a reasonable time be released to the Director of Agriculture of the State in accordance with the provisions of Article 7, Chapter 7, Division 9 of the Food and Agriculture Code.
(Ord. 2016-14, eff. 7/21/16)
It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to immediately notify the County of the observation or knowledge of any animal which shows symptoms of rabies or which acts in a manner which would lead a reasonable person to believe that the animal may have rabies. Animal Services shall investigate any report of any animal that shows symptoms of rabies or acts in a manner that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the animal may have rabies. Upon determination by the County of Santa Barbara Health Officer or County Veterinarian or his or her licensed veterinarian designee that an animal may be infected with rabies, the owner or custodian of such animal shall be required to comply with one of the following procedures:
(a)
Surrender the animal to Animal Services or a licensed veterinarian for isolation and impoundment for the period of time determined by the Animal Services Director.
(b)
It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of an animal that may be infected with rabies to fail to comply with the county's requirements set forth in this section.
(c)
If the animal isolated is determined not to be infected with rabies at the end of the period of isolation, it shall be released to the owner or custodian of the animal upon the payment of any fee, charge or penalty including any fee for veterinary services. If such fee, charge or penalty is not paid within five days after notification by the county, such animal may be sold, given away or humanely destroyed.
(d)
Animal Services shall cause any animal isolated pursuant to this Section to be examined by the County Health Officer or County Veterinarian or his licensed designee. If the animal is infected with rabies, the County Health Officer shall order in writing that the animal be humanely destroyed. A copy of this order shall be given to the owner or custodian of the animal.
(Ord. 2016-14, eff. 7/21/16)
The Poundkeeper shall provide all animals in his custody with proper food and water and shall give them all necessary care and attention.
(Ord. 2016-14, eff. 7/21/16)
The owner or person entitled to the custody of any animal so impounded may, at any time before the sale or other disposition thereof, during the office hours of the public pound, reclaim or redeem the same by paying to the Poundkeeper any charges imposed thereon.
(Ord. 2016-14, eff. 7/21/16)
(a)
Except as provided in subdivisions (c), (d), (e) and (g) of this Section:
(1)
any stray cat or dog impounded shall remain so for a period of six business days, not including the day of impoundment, except if the Poundkeeper has made the animal available for owner redemption on one weekday evening until at least 7:00 P.M. or one weekend day, the holding period shall be four business days, not including the day of impoundment. The animal shall be held for owner redemption during the first three days of the holding period, not including the day of impoundment, and shall be available for owner redemption or adoption the remainder of the holding period.
(2)
After the expiration of such four or six day stray holding period set forth in subdivision (a)(1) of this Section, the public pound may continue to hold the animal for adoption or humanely euthanize any animal not reclaimed or adopted. Prior to the euthanasia of that animal for any reason other than irremediable suffering, the Poundkeeper shall release the animal to a nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organization, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, if requested by the organization prior to the scheduled euthanasia of the animal. However, the public pound shall not release either of the following: (i) a dog that has been seized pursuant to Section 5-3.203 for which a Vicious Dog Hearing pursuant to Section 5-3.204 has not yet been held; or (ii) a dog that has been ordered to be euthanized pursuant to Section 5-3.204(c)(1).
(3)
During any period in which an animal is available for both owner redemption and adoption, requests for owner redemption and adoption will be considered in the order in which they are received.
(b)
All other stray animals that are typically impounded by the shelter, and legally allowed as personal property, shall remain impounded for a period of six business days, not including the day of impoundment, except if the shelter has made the animal available for owner redemption on one weekday evening until at least 7:00 P.M. or one weekend day, the holding period shall be four business days, not including the day of impoundment. The animal shall be held for owner redemption during the first three days of the holding period, not including the day of impoundment, and shall be available for owner redemption or adoption the remainder of the holding period. After the expiration of such four or six day holding period, the Poundkeeper may continue to hold the animal for adoption or humanely euthanize any animal not reclaimed or adopted. Prior to the euthanasia of that animal for any reason other than irremediable suffering, the Poundkeeper shall release the animal to a nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organization, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, if requested by the organization prior to the scheduled euthanasia of the animal.
The owner or custodian of any animal impounded may at any time before the adoption, transfer or other disposition of such impounded animal, reclaim such animal during the Public Pound's business hours upon a payment to the Poundkeeper of any charge, fee or penalty due under the provisions of this Chapter, except as otherwise provided in this Chapter or by law.
(c)
If it is determined by a California licensed veterinarian or by the Animal Services Director or designee that any animal impounded is irremediably suffering from a serious illness or severe injury, such animal shall not be held for owner redemption or adoption and may be humanely euthanized. After best efforts by Animal Services to find a rescue partner or foster placement, newborn animals that need maternal care and have been impounded without their mothers may be euthanized without being held for owner redemption or adoption.
(d)
If an apparently feral cat has not been reclaimed by its owner or caretaker within the first three days of the required holding period, shelter personnel qualified to verify the temperament of the animal shall verify whether it is feral or tame by using a standardized protocol. If the cat is determined to be docile or a frightened or difficult tame cat, the cat shall be held for the entire required holding period specified in subdivision (a) of this section for owner redemption and adoption. If the cat is determined to be truly feral, the cat may be euthanized or relinquished to a nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organization as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, that agrees to the spaying or neutering of the cat if it is not already spayed or neutered.
(e)
Except as provided in subdivision (c) of this section, any animal relinquished by the purported owner that is of a species impounded by the shelter, shall be held for two full business days, not including the day of impoundment. The animal shall be available for owner redemption or adoption for the holding period. After the holding period, the animal may be held longer, adopted, euthanized or transferred to a nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organization, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, under the same conditions and circumstances provided for stray animals in subdivision (a) of this section. However, the Poundkeeper shall not be required to release any dog that has a history of vicious or dangerous behavior documented by Animal Services. Such dogs may be made available for immediate euthanasia.
(f)
Except as provided in subdivisions (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (g), the Animal Services Director may establish minimum holding periods and terms and conditions for release, adoption, transfer or euthanasia of other species of animals impounded by the shelter.
(g)
This section shall not apply to any of the following animals:
(h)
The Poundkeeper may not release or transfer title to any impounded live animal to anyone for the intended use of the animal for research or testing, or for use for fur or as food for humans or for other animals.
(i)
The Poundkeeper shall, prior to adoption, transfer or euthanizing any animal, attempt to notify the owner or person entitled to custody and control of such animal. The Poundkeeper shall also provide the owners of lost animals and those who find lost animals with all of the following:
(1)
Ability to list the animals they have lost or found on "Lost and Found" lists maintained by the Poundkeeper;
(2)
Referrals to animals listed that may be the animals the owners or finders have lost or found;
(3)
The telephone numbers and addresses of other pounds and shelters in the same vicinity;
(4)
Advice as to means of publishing and disseminating information regarding lost animals;
(5)
The telephone numbers and addresses of volunteer groups that may be of assistance in locating lost animals.
(Ord. 2016-14, eff. 7/21/16)