Chapter 6.20
IMPOUNDMENT OF DOGS*
Sections:
6.20.010 Authority to kill dogs under certain circumstances.
6.20.020 Place of impoundment.
6.20.050 Abandonment by owner.
6.20.070 Disposal of abandoned dog.
* For statutory provisions on impounding, see Food and Agricultural Code § 31101 et seq.
6.20.010 Authority to kill dogs under certain circumstances.
Any person may kill any dog found in the act of killing, wounding, or persistently pursuing or worrying livestock or poultry on land or premises not owned or possessed by the owner of the dog, if he has observed the dog engaged in killing or wounding livestock or poultry on land or premises not owned or possessed by his owner, and no action, civil or criminal, shall be maintained for killing such dog. (Ord. 76-362 § 16).
6.20.020 Place of impoundment.
When any dog has been impounded, the dog will be transported to the Humboldt County Animal Control Shelter. The owner of the dog will be responsible for applicable fees set by the county prior to the release of the dog. (Ord. 76-362 § 17).
6.20.030 Record of impound.
When any dog has been impounded, the animal control officer shall keep a record, within which he shall enter the time of day, description of the dog, and license tag number, if any license tag is upon the dog when it is found by the animal control officer. (Ord. 76-362 § 18).
6.20.040 Notice to owner.
If any dog impounded by the animal control officer has a license tag attached when it is found by the animal control officer, the animal control officer shall ascertain the name and address of the owner of record of such dog from the licensing authority issuing such dog tag and mail or telephone such person a notice containing the information within the animal control officer’s record concerning such dog. (Ord. 76-362 § 19).
6.20.050 Abandonment by owner.
The refusal or failure of the owner of any such dog to pay fees and charges within a period of 72 hours from the time it was impounded constitutes abandonment of the dog by its owner. (Ord. 76- 362 § 20).
6.20.060 Presumptive notice.
Whereas this chapter requires all dogs to be confined to the owner’s premises at all times, excepting when the dog is under the custody and control of its owner, it is expressly provided that an owner of any dog which has strayed from the premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer is on notice that such dog may be impounded in an animal control center, and may, therefore, be humanely destroyed 72 hours after he has strayed from the premises of its owner. The purpose of this section is to serve constructive notice on owners of dogs which have no license tag attached or other means of identifying the dog’s owner at the time when the dog is found by the animal control officer. (Ord. 76-362 § 21).
6.20.070 Disposal of abandoned dog.
A. The animal control officer may give any abandoned dog, as defined under this title, to any person who he believes will provide a suitable home for such dog. The new owner of the dog shall pay a total fee set by resolution of the city council. The official license receipt therefor shall show the license fee set by resolution of the city council and a fee set by the Humboldt County Animal Shelter for abandoned dogs.
B. Forty-eight hours shall be allowed for the new owner to have the dog vaccinated for rabies. Upon presentation of a valid rabies certificate, the dog will be licensed according to the provisions of Chapter 6.16 FMC. (Ord. 76-362 § 22).