It is the duty of the department director, shelter director, any duly authorized animal compliance officer and any other person authorized by this title, by the city manager, by resolution of the city council, and/or by contract to enforce the provisions of this title and any resolution of the city council consistent with this chapter.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
No person may take an impounded animal from an animal shelter as defined in Chapter 6.04 of this title, or willfully resist, delay, or obstruct the department director, shelter director, hearing officer, animal compliance officer, or any other person designated in Section 6.12.010 in the discharge of, or attempts to discharge, any duty of their office under this title.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
Any animal found under conditions or in areas prohibited by Section 6.08.040 or 6.08.050 of this title shall be seized by an animal compliance officer or other enforcement authority and impounded in the animal shelter, except as follows:
A. 
If any animal is lawfully at large upon private property. However, the animal will be impounded if the owner, occupant or person in charge of the property makes a complaint to the city claiming to be injured by the animal;
B. 
If an infraction/misdemeanor citation is issued to the person who owns, harbors, or keeps the animal; and, in the opinion of the citing officer, the person or animal is unlikely to violate any provision of this title prior to the citation appearance date;
C. 
If animal compliance officer deems it to be in the best interests of the city to issue a verbal warning for information and educational purposes.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
Except as provided in Section 6.12.080, the animal compliance officer that impounds any animal shall immediately attempt to notify the owner of the impounded animal or fowl as required by law. If the owner is known and resides in the city, a notice shall be posted at the owner's address. If the owner is unknown, the notice of impounding shall be posted at the animal shelter where the animal is impounded. A notice of impound shall contain a description of the animal, and the time and place of apprehension.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
A. 
The shelter director shall feed and care for any animal impounded as provided in this title until it is disposed of as provided by law.
B. 
If such animal is not a "diseased or injured animal" as defined in this title and is not being isolated pursuant to Chapter 6.20, the person owning such impounded animal may redeem it at any time after it is taken up by describing it, proving ownership to the satisfaction of the shelter director, paying all applicable fees, and obtaining, when necessary, the dog license required by Section 6.16.010 or any other license required by this title. If an impounded dog bears a license tag issued under the provisions of this title, notice of impoundment shall be mailed to the address shown on the copy of the receipt for such license tag on file in any animal regulation department office.
C. 
If any animal impounded as provided in this title is not so redeemed, or if the owner of such animal is unknown to the shelter director, or fails, or refuses to comply with any of the requirements of redemption as provided herein, or if the owner has waived the redemption period in writing, such animal shall be deemed to be abandoned and the shelter director shall dispose of such animal according to the provisions of applicable state law. In disposing of an impounded animal, the shelter director may, in his or her discretion, adopt such animal to any qualified and approved person who will provide the animal a legal, safe, humane home, may transfer such animal to a municipal shelter, approved 501(c)(3) rescue organization, humane society, or society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or euthanize the animal in a humane manner. The fee to be charged for any animal adopted as a pet or transferred shall be as prescribed by resolution of the city council.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
A. 
The shelter director shall determine whether an impounded animal is diseased or injured.
B. 
If the animal is determined to be diseased or injured, the shelter director is authorized to procure any necessary emergency medical treatment for such animal and shall, without undue delay, exercise reasonable diligence in locating and notifying the owner of the location and condition of the animal. When reasonable effort fails to locate the owner or when an owner, after having been located, refuses to accept responsibility for further medical treatment of a diseased or injured animal, the shelter director may euthanize such animal in a humane manner.
C. 
Private practice veterinary animals. When a licensed community-based veterinarian determines that a stray or wildlife diseased or injured animal is in severe pain and not likely to survive even though provided medical treatment, it may be humanely euthanized. The veterinarian shall first exercise reasonable diligence to identify and notify the owner that the animal was injured and should be euthanized. If a diseased or injured animal is not euthanized and the owner was not identified, the veterinarian shall notify the animal regulation department, and the director shall dispose of such animal, as otherwise provided in this code.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
A. 
It is unlawful for any person owning, harboring, or controlling any livestock to permit the livestock to run at large upon the private property of another without the permission of the person owning or occupying said private property, or upon the streets or public places of the city.
B. 
Whenever it is deemed necessary by the shelter director, or such other person authorized by the city manager, by resolution of the city council, or by contract, properly equipped individuals may be authorized to capture and transport livestock that are running at large in violation of this title.
C. 
Each animal captured or transported pursuant to this title is impounded at the risk of the owner, and the owner or keeper of such animal is liable for all fees set forth in this title.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
Upon the impounding of any livestock, other than bovine animals, the shelter director shall notify the owner thereof, if the name of such owner is known to him or her, of such impounding. If the name of the owner is not known, or the owner fails or refuses to comply with any of the requirements of redemption, or if the owner has waived the redemption period in writing, such animal shall be deemed to be abandoned and the shelter director shall dispose of such animal as he or she sees fit. Any impounded bovine animal not redeemed by the owner shall be delivered to the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture pursuant to Food and Agricultural Code Section 17003. All impounded livestock, including bovine animals, may be redeemed by the owner thereof at any time prior to their sale, disposal or delivery to the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture by the director upon:
A. 
Furnishing proof of ownership satisfactory to the director, and
B. 
Paying the fee set forth in Section 6.12.090 as adopted by resolution of the city council or otherwise applicable to recovery of the impoundment of livestock.
C. 
The sale of any animal by the director in conformity with the provisions of this chapter shall vest title thereof in the purchaser.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
If any impounded livestock is redeemed, the shelter director shall collect all applicable fees before delivering the animal to the person redeeming it. Such fees shall be in such amounts as may be prescribed by resolution of the city council.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
All animals specified in this title that may be impounded shall be kept at the risk of the owner. The city, its officers, agents, or employees are not liable to the owner of any impounded animal for the delivery in good faith to a person claiming to be, but not in fact being, entitled to reclaim the impounded animal. The city, and its officers, agents, or employees are not liable for the death of or injury or disease to any animal incurred while the animal is being captured, transported or impounded.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
The shelter director is authorized, whenever it is deemed necessary, to temporarily impound animals within an enclosure other than the designated animal shelter and that enclosure constitutes a temporary animal shelter. Notice that an enclosure is an animal shelter shall be given by placing a sign with wording to that effect on the gate or other entrance of the enclosure. The placement, size and wording of the sign are subject to the approval of the shelter director.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
A. 
It is recognized that pursuant to county ordinance the name and contact information for any person who adopts an animal from a County of Ventura animal shelter shall be held confidential by the animal services division of the County of Ventura. Under said county ordinance, if the division receives a request from a former animal owner or other entity to contact a person who has adopted an animal from an animal shelter after expiration of the applicable animal holding period prescribed by state law, the division will make such a request known to the adopting party; however, the division will only reveal the adopting party's name and contact information to the person or entity requesting such information if the adopting party provides prior written consent for such disclosure.
B. 
Except as otherwise required by law, if the city receives a request for name and contact information for any person who adopts an animal from a County of Ventura animal shelter, the adopting party's name and contact information shall be kept confidential by the city, unless the adopting party provides prior written consent for disclosure.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)