Chapter 8.56
IMPORTING OF ANIMALS

Sections:

8.56.010    Importing or Transporting Diseased Animals Unlawful—Exceptions.

8.56.020    Importation Permit—Required when—Stockyard and Animal-Care Standards.

8.56.030    Animals for Slaughter—Procedure for Moving and Unloading.

8.56.040    Dairy and Breeding Cattle—Identification and Report Requirements.

8.56.050    Dairy and Breeding Cattle—Holding Period Required—Exception.

8.56.060    Animals Imported Illegally—Quarantine, Examination and Disposal Restrictions.

8.56.010 Importing or Transporting Diseased Animals Unlawful—Exceptions.

It is unlawful for any person to bring into or receive in, or to transport from place to place within, the City of Santa Clarita, except for the purpose of immediate slaughter, any animals affected with any contagious, infectious, or communicable disease, without a permit from the Director of Health Services, except such diseased animals as are specifically permitted to enter the State of California and the City of Santa Clarita under Federal or California State regulations, and only under the conditions and for the purpose prescribed in the federal and state regulations governing movement of animals. (Ord. 91-29, 8/13/91)

8.56.020 Importation Permit—Required when—Stockyard and Animal-Care Standards.

A.    It is unlawful for any person to bring into or receive in the City of Santa Clarita any cattle, sheep, swine, horses or goats, for any purpose other than immediate slaughter, without a permit from the Director of Health Services; provided, however, that when such cattle, sheep, swine, horses or goats, other than cattle imported for dairy or breeding purposes, are unloaded from a vehicle into public stockyards where Federal, State or County inspection is maintained for the inspection of animals for infectious diseases, such permit shall not be required until they are to be removed from such stockyards.

B.    Such stockyards shall be approved by the Director of Health Services and shall be so constructed as to permit humane handling, proper control without inhumane crowding or delay, and thorough inspection, including provisions for restraining individual animals. They shall be so constructed with regard to height and strength of fences and gates as to prevent the escape of animals. They shall permit animals to be fed, rested and watered with sufficient potable water. Proper drainage, and facilities for disinfection (when required by the Director of Health Services), and provisions for the removal of accumulations of manure and the prevention of the formation of mud and wallow, shall be supplied. Such approval may be withdrawn in the event such stockyards at any time fail to comply with the requirements of this section. (Ord. 91-29, 8/13/91)

8.56.030 Animals for Slaughter—Procedure for Moving and Unloading.

All animals entering the City of Santa Clarita for the purpose of immediate slaughter by any method of transportation or by driving on hoof must be moved directly to a public stockyards or to the premises upon which they are to be slaughtered, except that such animals in railroad shipments may be unloaded en route in order to comply with the provisions of what is known as the “28-hour law” of the United States Department of Agriculture. (Ord. 91-29, 8/13/91)

8.56.040 Dairy and Breeding Cattle—Identification and Report Requirements.

Immediately upon arrival of dairy or breeding cattle into the City of Santa Clarita, the fact of such arrival shall be reported to the Director of Health Services. The Director of Health Services shall mark the cattle for identification with tags or otherwise, and make a record showing the date of arrival, description of the cattle, the name of the owner and of the person in charge of the cattle, and the place in which they are to be kept. No person shall remove or tamper with any identification mark placed on an animal by the Director of Health Services for the purpose of identification. (Ord. 91-29, 8/13/91)

8.56.050 Dairy and Breeding Cattle—Holding Period Required—Exception.

No person shall sell or move any dairy or breeding cattle from place to place within a period of 120 days from the date of their arrival, unless such cattle have been released by the Director of Health Services. (Ord. 91-29, 8/13/91)

8.56.060 Animals Imported Illegally—Quarantine, Examination and Disposal Restrictions.

All animals brought into the City of Santa Clarita in violation of any of the provisions of the ordinance codified in this Division 2 shall be subject to quarantine, examination and test, at the expense of the owner, by the Director of Health Services, who may dispose of such animals to comport with the welfare of the county of Los Angeles and the protection of the health of the animals therein. (Ord. 91-29, 8/13/91)