A.
It is unlawful for the owner or harborer of any dog to permit such dog, within the city limits, to run at large upon any of the city streets, alleys or public grounds of the city, or to run or trespass upon the private grounds of other citizens or residents of the city.
B.
Any dog found running at large within the city limits may be picked up and/or impounded by authorized city officials including the code enforcement officer or police officers. If impounded dog has a metallic license tag or other form of owner identification attached thereto, the owner shall be notified.
C.
In order to redeem an impounded dog, it shall be necessary. For the owner and harborer to pay the impound fees to the city of Valley Center and any veterinarian boarding fees incurred. See current fee policy.
D.
In the event that the dog is not redeemed within a minimum of three full business days of custody, not including the day the animal arrives, the dog may be adopted, placed in a foster home, shelter transfer or euthanized in a manner determined by the director of community development or code enforcement officer.
E.
Further, a dog shall not be considered to be running at large when it is unleashed inside a dog park owned or operated by the city of Valley Center. Designation of dog parks shall be made by the city council upon recommendation of the city administrator.
F.
If the dog is in the physical presence of its owner and on its owner's property and under the demonstrated direct and immediate voice control of its owner, it shall be considered confined to the residential property of its owner and will not be considered to be at large.
G.
Dogs may be confined to the premises of the residential property of their owner, keeper, or harborer by an electronic fence or an electronic collar. An electronic fence or electronic collar is defined as a fence or a collar that controls the movement of a dog by emitting an electrical shock when the animal wearing the collar nears the boundary of the owner, keeper or harborer's property. The collar may be controlled manually by a person or automatically in a predetermined manner. Dogs confined to residential property of the owner, keeper, or harborer by an electronic fence or an electronic collar shall not be permitted to be nearer than ten (10) feet from any public sidewalk or property line that is contiguous to neighboring property. In addition, dogs are prohibited from being confined by an electronic fence or an electronic collar in the front yards of an owner, keeper or harborer's property. No dog having been found a dangerous animal by the city shall be confined by an electronic fence or an electronic collar.
H.
Failure to contain a dog from running at large is a class C violation.
(Ord. 1281, § 1, 11-4-2014; Ord. 1335, § 4, 11-5-2019)