For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall be in effect:
"County of Inyo"
means all the territory within the boundaries of the county of Inyo, state of California, and includes all incorporated cities.
"Sheriff'
means the sheriff of the county of Inyo or his/her designated representative.
"Kennel"
means any lot, building, structure, enclosure or premises whereon or wherein five or more dogs five months of age or older are kept or maintained for the purpose of breeding and raising dogs for sale, excepting duly licensed veterinary hospitals or pet shops.
"Own"
means own, keep or harbor.
"Person"
means any person, firm, corporation or association.
"Stray dog"
means any dog within the county over the age of four months, excepting that dog which wears a collar bearing the proper official identification tag as described in this chapter.
"Wild dog"
means any dog living in the wild state away from human habitation.
"Animal control officer"
means the animal control officer of Inyo County or any of his deputies.
(Ord. 235 § II, 1973; Ord. 500 § 1, 1983; Ord. 1079 § 4(C), 2004)
It is unlawful for any person residing in the county, to own or maintain within the county, any dog over the age of four months unless said dog has been licensed according to the terms of this chapter. Immunization against rabies shall be a prerequisite of licensing. Said immunization shall be performed by a duly qualified veterinarian, within two years with any vaccine approved by the state, excepting that in every case where the date of expiration of vaccination occurs less than six months after the licensing date, said dog shall be re-vaccinated prior to licensing. Written proof of anti-rabies vaccination shall be presented to the sheriff's department or other duly authorized representative at the time of licensing, and shall be a prerequisite of licensing. Dogs brought into the county after January 1 of each year must be licensed and vaccinated within fourteen days or have a current valid license and proof of vaccination from another jurisdiction. Said dogs, while awaiting licensure, dogs under the age of four months and unlicensed dogs belonging to nonresidents of the county shall at all times be under restraint by leash or held confined within a secure enclosure.
(Ord. 235 § III, 1973; Ord. 1079 § 4(D), 2004)
License fees shall be set by resolution of the board of supervisors. License fees shall be due and payable on the first day of January, and shall be delinquent after the first Monday in February at which time a delinquent fee of fifty percent of the base license fee shall be added to the base fee and the total shall become due and payable. Excepting that any dog under four months of age shall be exempt from the requirements of this section and Section 8.20.040 and shall be licensed within thirty days after reaching the age of four months.
(Ord. 235 § IV(1), 1973)
A kennel license may be issued to any person, firm, or corporation that owns five dogs or more and is engaged in the business of breeding and raising dogs for sale. A kennel license may be issued only after prior approval by the sheriff's department. Said department shall determine the adequacy and purpose of the kennel facilities. The kennel license fee and the delinquency fee shall be set by resolution of the board of supervisors. Payment of a kennel license fee shall entitle said applicant to an official identification tag for each dog over the age of four months for which proof of rabies vaccination is submitted. A kennel license is not transferable. Any person who purchases a dog from a kennel shall obtain a new individual license for said dog within fourteen days after date of purchase.
(Ord. 235 § IV(2), 1973; Ord. 1079 § 4(E), 2004)
For each dog an official identification tag shall be furnished by the county upon payment of the license fee. This tag must be securely fastened to a collar, which collar must be worn at all times by every dog, and it is unlawful to attach an official identification tag to any dog not licensed as herein provided. A lost identification tag may be replaced for a fee set by resolution of the board of supervisors.
(Ord. 235 § V, 1973)
All moneys collected in the execution of this chapter shall be placed in the county treasury in the general fund, and all expenses incurred in carrying out or enforcing the provisions of this chapter shall be paid out of the general fund.
(Ord. 235 § VI, 1973)
A. 
Anyone employed by the sheriff's department with the title of animal control officer is authorized and empowered to capture and impound any dog not wearing a valid, current license, and at the expiration of at least seventy-two hours from the time of capture, to kill, destroy, or release the dog to a new owner; excepting that the owner of the dog may reclaim the dog upon compliance with the terms of this chapter, and upon payment of the expenses of capturing and impounding the dog; and excepting that any person may claim any stray dog that has been impounded by the county for a period of more than seventy-two hours and which has not been otherwise claimed; provided, that the person complies with the terms of this chapter and pays the expenses of capturing and impounding the dog. Dogs claimed by a new owner must be vaccinated and licensed immediately following release from the pound. Any dog bearing a valid dog license that has been captured and impounded and which is not redeemed within a period of ten days from the time of capture may be destroyed in a humane manner.
B. 
It shall be the duty of the animal control officer to within three days of capturing the dog bearing a valid license, mail a notice of such capture and impoundment in a certified letter with a return receipt requested directed to the licensee at the address shown by the application therefor on file with the license collector.
(Ord. 235 § 7, 1973; Ord. 352 § 1, 1978; Ord. 500 § 2, 1983; Ord. 1079 § 4(F), 2004)
It is unlawful for the owner or person having control of any dog to suffer or permit said dog to run at large on the lands of another whereon livestock or domestic fowl are kept without the consent of the owner or person entitled to the use or possession of such lands.
(Ord. 235 § VIII, 1973)
It shall be the duty of the person that owns any dog to report immediately to the county sheriff's department any case where said dog bites any human being.
(Ord. 235 § IX, 1973; Ord. 500 § 3, 1983; Ord. 1079 § 4(G), 2004)
Any animal which bites or otherwise exposes any human being to disease shall be isolated at owner's expense in strict confinement in a place and manner and for a period of time specified by the animal control officer. Said animal shall not be removed from the place of confinement without prior consent of the animal control officer.
(Ord. 235 § X, 1973; Ord. 500 § 4, 1983; Ord. 1079 § 4(H), 2004)
Any rabid animal, or any suspected rabid animal, or any animal of a species subject to rabies which has been bitten by or in intimate contact with a known or suspected rabid animal shall be isolated at owner's expense in strict confinement in a place and manner and for a period of time specified by the animal control officer.
(Ord. 235 § XI, 1973; Ord. 500 § 5, 1983; Ord. 1079 § 4(I), 2004)
When, in the judgment of the animal control officer, any dog has become a wild dog and is a menace to the public health and well-being, said dog may be killed or destroyed, by anyone employed for that purpose, without being impounded and held for a period of seventy-two hours.
(Ord. 235 § XII, 1973; Ord. 500 § 6, 1973)
When, in the opinion of the animal control officer, a dog has behaved in such a manner that because of his temper and ferocity said dog is a vicious dog and a menace to the public, the animal control officer may declare said dog a vicious dog and require that the owner shall thereafter at all times keep said dog securely fastened by chain or securely confined within the private property of owner in such a manner as to prevent the dog from having the opportunity to bite the public. In addition, the animal control officer shall require that the premises wherein the dog be kept be posted with conspicuous sign stating that a vicious dog is present on the premises.
(Ord. 235 § XIII, 1973; Ord. 500 § 7, 1983)
The animal control officer is empowered to enter upon any private property for the purpose of ascertaining whether any dog or any other animal kept or harbored therein is afflicted with rabies or whether or not a license tag has been secured for said dog. In the event that the consent of the owner of the property is not first obtained, the animal control officer shall procure an inspection warrant as provided by Part 3, Title 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure commencing with Section 1822.50 thereof, and said title with all amendments thereto is hereby made a part of this chapter.
(Ord. 235 § XIV, 1973; Ord. 244 § 1, 1973; Ord. 500 § 8, 1983)
In the performance of his duties, the animal control officer shall have the authority to employ the use of the tranquilizer gun and all other animal control equipment commonly used by other animal control agencies located within the state.
(Ord. 235 § XV, 1973; Ord. 500 § 9, 1983)
For the purpose of controlling dogs in the more densely populated areas of the county, the following additional regulations shall apply:
A. 
No owner of any animal, wild or domestic, except the domestic cat shall permit or suffer said animal to do any of the following:
1. 
Run at large, i.e., shall not be off the premises of the owner unless under restraint by leash; maximum leash length to be six feet;
2. 
Trespass upon public property or any private property without the consent of the owner of the property;
3. 
Habitually make loud noises or act in such other manner so as to constitute a public nuisance.
B. 
The areas of the county to which these additional requirements apply shall be precisely defined by resolution of the board of supervisors.
(Ord. 235 § XVIII, 1973; Ord. 500 § 11, 1983)
Any person in violation of Section 8.20.180 is guilty of an infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to the procedure set forth in Penal Code § 19(c) and shall further be subject to fine as set forth by the board of supervisors by resolution. No penalty assessment shall be levied for such infraction unless otherwise mandated by state law.
(Ord. 235 § XIX, 1973; Ord. 244 § II, 1973)
Any person in violation of any section of this chapter is guilty of an infraction and will be punished by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars. No penalty assessment shall be levied unless otherwise mandated by applicable state law.
(Ord. 235 § XX, 1973; Ord. 244 § III, 1973)
Any person making a complaint shall furnish their name, address, and telephone number and shall indicate a willingness to sign a complaint and provide such testimony in the appropriate court as may be required.
(Ord. 235 § XXI, 1973)