Chapter 6.20
ANIMAL CONTROL REGULATIONS

Sections:

6.20.010    Keeping noisy animals—Prohibited.

6.20.020    Keeping of noisy animals—Complaints—Abatement.

6.20.030    Disposition of dead animals—Owners responsibility.

6.20.040    Disposition of dead animals—By poundmaster upon request.

6.20.050    Leash law.

6.20.060    Animals showing rabies symptoms—Responsibility of person having custody.

6.20.010 Keeping noisy animals—Prohibited.

No person shall keep, maintain or permit on any lot or parcel of land, any dogs, animals, poultry or household pets, which by any sound or cry shall disturb the peace and comfort of any neighborhood, or interfere with any person in the reasonable and comfortable enjoyment of life or property. (Prior code § 400 l)

6.20.020 Keeping of noisy animals—Complaints—Abatement.

Whenever it shall be affirmed in writing by three or more persons having separate residences or regularly employed in the neighborhood that any dog, animal, poultry or household pet is a habitual nuisance by reason of howling, barking or other noise, or is in any other manner causing undue annoyance, the poundmaster, if he or she finds such nuisance to exist, shall serve notice upon the owner or custodian that such nuisance shall be abated or the animal shall be impounded. If such nuisance and annoyance cannot be successfully abated and the poundmaster determines it necessary to impound such dog, animal, poultry or household pet, he or she shall not permit the reclaiming or redemption of such to the owner or custodian unless adequate arrangements have been made by the owner or custodian to ensure abatement of the annoyance or nuisance. (Prior code § 4001.1)

6.20.030 Disposition of dead animals—Owners responsibility.

It is unlawful for any owner or person who, having had the possession or control of any animal, dog, poultry and household pet while alive to place the body of such animal, dog, poultry and household pet, after its death, or cause to permit it to be placed or to knowingly allow or permit the same to remain, in or upon any public road, highway, street, alley, square, park, school ground or other public place, or in or upon any lot, premises or property of another. (Prior code § 4002.2)

6.20.040 Disposition of dead animals—By poundmaster upon request.

It shall be the duty of the poundmaster upon the request of any owner of any dead animal, dog, poultry or household pet which was kept or maintained in the city immediately prior to its death, or upon the request of any person or persons discovering a dead animal, dog, poultry or household pet upon his or her premises or upon any public road, highway, street, alley, square, park, school ground or other public place, or in or upon any lot or premises, to bury or dispose of the same in such manner as maybe prescribed by the health officer. The poundmaster may charge and collect such fees as have been approved by the city council for the transportation and disposal of such animal, dog, poultry or household pet from the owner or person having had the possession or control of such if same can be ascertained. (Prior code § 4002.1)

6.20.050 Leash law.

A. It is unlawful [or any person to suffer or permit any dog owned, harbored or controlled by him or her to be on any public street, alley, lane, park or place of whatever nature open to and used by the public in the incorporated area of the city unless such dog is securely leashed and the leash is held continuously in the hand of a responsible person capable of controlling such dog, or unless the dog is securely confined in a vehicle, or unless the dog is at “heel” beside a competent person and obedient to that person’s command.

B. Dogs used on farms and ranches for the primary purpose of herding livestock are not required to be leashed or at “heel” beside their owner or person controlling the use of the dogs while on a public street, alley, lane or place of whatever nature open to and used by the public in the incorporated area of the city while trading such livestock and as long as the dogs are obedient to the commands of the person controlling their use for this purpose.

C. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, no person shall allow any dog, whether on a leash or not, to be on any public street, alley, lane, sidewalk or other place open to and used by the public and for which an encroachment, sidewalk or street closure, or similar permit has been issued and the person(s) holding said permit have given reasonable notice that the presence of any dogs would interfere with the purposes for which the permit was issued. This prohibition shall not apply to guide or seeing-eye dogs. (Ord. 1121 § 1, 1988; prior code § 4111.0)

6.20.060 Animals showing rabies symptoms—Responsibility of person having custody.

A. Whenever the owner or person having the custody or possession of an animal shall observe or learn that such animal shows symptoms of rabies, or acts in a manner which would lead to a reasonable suspicion that it may have rabies, such owner or person having the custody or possession of such animal shall immediately notify the county health officer. The county health officer shall make or cause an inspection or examination of such animal to be made by a licensed veterinarian until the existence of or nonexistence of rabies in such animal is established by such veterinarian. Such animal shall be kept isolated in a pound, veterinary hospital, or other adequate facility in a manner approved by the county health officer and shall not be killed or released for at least ten days after the onset of symptoms suggestive of rabies, after which time such animal may be released by the county health officer.

B. The county health officer or his or her duly authorized representative is authorized and empowered to enter upon private property where any dog or other animal is kept, or believed by him or her to be kept, for the purpose of ascertaining whether such dog or other animal is afflicted or infected with rabies or other contagious disease. (Prior code § 4114.0)