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MM COY' M AND bilr-MESSION OF ir)i8I..................The City Couaeil of the City of Palm Des...
DOES HSREB7 ORDIAN as follows:
SXCTION 1. Generally. Whenever, in this ordinance,
the following terms are used, they shall have the meaning
ascribed to them in this section unless it is apparent from
the context thereof that some other meaning is intended.
(a) Administration. The city council shall appoint a
person or shall contract for service with the County of
Riverside for the health officer to supervise the adminis-
tration and enforcement of the provisions of this eretinance
and of the laws of the State of California pertaining to the
control of dogs, and who shall have charge of pound employees
and facilities.
(b) Commercial kennel. "Commercial kenno)." means any
place where five or more dogs are kept for the: purpose of
boarding, breeding, training, marketing, or kept for hire.
(e) Impounded. "Impounded" means having been received
Into the custody of any pound authorized under the provisions
of this ordinance.
(d) Owner. Any person keeping or harboring, or having
custody or control over any dog for thirty consecutive days
shall be deemed to be the owner of such dog within the
meaning of this chapter: except a veterinarian duly licensed
mA practicing as such and having in his possession or
control a dog or dogs for the purpose of treatment or care.
(e) Person. "Person" includes a firm, partnership,
corporation, truat or any association of persons.
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At
PC ni�mant.er. "Poundmanter" meanp Rny person
of any duly authorized agent of any such person in charge
of any pound.
(g) Unlicensed dog. "Unlicensed dog" means any dog
for which the license for the current year has not been
paid, or to which tho license tag for the current year
In not attached.
(h) Vaccination. "Vaccination" and "vaccination
against rabies" mean the inoculation of a dog at four months
of age or older with canine chick -embryo origin modified
live -virus rabies vaccine or canine nerve tissue killed -
virus rabies vaccine in a manner prescribed by the California
State Department of Public :;ealth, or any other vaccine
for such purpose prescribed by such department.
(i) Vicious dog. "Vicious dog" means any dog which
has bitten a person or animal without provocation or which
has a disposition or propensity to attack or bite any person
or animal.
SECTION 2. Required. It is •inlawful for any person
to own, harbor, or maintain any dog over the age of four
months within the incorporated area of the city for a period
longer than thirty days, unless there is attached to such
dog a current license tag obtained from the authorized
person or agency designated by the city council by contract.
SECTION 2.1 Fees. A license for each dog shall be
issued upon the payment of a fee of four dollars per spayed
male or female animal and a fee of eight dollars per unspayed
male or female animal. A license shall be effective until
the first day of October following issuance and shall be
renewed within thirty days after each first of October.
Every dog attaining the age of four months shall be immediately
subject to all of the provisions of this chapter.
If an application is made more than thirty days after
the date such license is required, the applicant shall pay
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an additional fee of two dollars. It is the intention of
this city council that the authorized person or agency
designated by the city coma :l may waive such additional fee
during the month, to encourage vaccination as a measure to
prevent the spread of rabies.
In the event that a dog is brought into the incorporated
area of the city after October 1, or in the event that a dog
becomes four months of age following such date, the license
fee shall be calculated on a pro rats basis by quarters.
If a license tag for an individual dog is lost or ;
destroyed, a duplicate thereof may be procured from the
authorized person or agency designated by the city council,
upon submission of proof of loss, and upon the payment of
the sum of one dollar.
No fee shall be required for a licese for any dcg being
reared, trained or used as a guide dog for the blind if the
dog is in the possession and under contr;l of a blind person_
or a bona fide organization having as its primary purpose
the furnishing and training of guide dogs for the blind.
SECTION 2.2. Requirement for issuance. The authorized
person or agency designated by the city council shall issue
a dog license or a renewal thereof and tag only upon presen-
tation of a valid certificate of vaccination, or other
satisfactory evidence, indicating that the period of time
elapsing from the date of vaccination to the date of expiration
of the license being issued or renewed does not exceed
thirty months in the case of vaccination with chick -embryo
rabies vaccine or eighteen months in the case of vaccination
with nerve -tissue rabies vaccine.
SECTION 2.3. Vaccination compulsory. It is unlawful
for any person to keep or harbor a dog which has not been
vaccinated for rabies, am '.he authorised person or agency
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designated by the city council shall capture and impound any
dog over four months of age Pound within the incorporated
area of the city which is not wearing both a current vacci-
nation tag issued by a licensed veterinarian and a city
license tag. Every person in the incorporated area of the
city who owns or harbors any dog or dogs over four months of
age for periods in excess of periods provided herein shall
have such dog"or dogs vaccinated against rabies as provided
in this section by a duly licensed veterinarian of his
choic:4, and such vaccination shall be renewed at intervals
of twelve months from the date of the last vaccination if
nerve -tissue vaccine is used or twenty-four months from the
date of the last vaccination if chick -embryo vaccine is
used.
SECTION 2.4. Duty of person performing vaccination.
Each duly licensed veterinarian after vaccinating any dog
shall sign a certificate in quadruplicate in the form required
by the authorized person or agency designated by the city
council. He shall keep one copy and shall give one copy to
the owner of the vaccinated dog, which owner shall retain a
copy in his possession. He shall file the other copies with
the authorized person or agency designated by the city
council. He shall also deliver to the owner of the dog a
tag as evidence of such vaccination, which tag shall be made
of durable metallic material suitable to be attached to the
colar or harness of the dog and shall state the date of
vaccination thereon. Every owner of a dog shall attach the
tag given him by the veterinarian to the collar or harness
of the vaccinated dog.
SECTION 2.5. When vaccination provisions operative.
The provisions of this ordinance for the control of rabies
shall be operative for all dogs except those currently
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licensed in accordance with section Y and for such licensed
dogs on renewal of the current license, but not later than
October 1, 1974.
SECTXCH 3. Citizen's impounding made unlawful. It is
lawful for any person to take up any dog running at large in
violation of this title and promptly to deliver the same to
the poundmaster.
SECTION 3.1. Disposition of impounded animal.
(a) An impounded dog may be redeemed by payment of the
sum of th.&ee dollars pound fee, plus fifty cents for each
day the dog has been impounded. Any dog over the age of
four months which has been impounded shall not be released
from the pound unless it is licensed in accordance with the
provisions of this title.
(b) Any officer acting under the provisions of this
title, and impounding a licensed dog, shall give notice in
person or by mail to the last known address of the owner,
within ten days from the date of the giving of *uch notice,
the officer having custody of the dog shall dispose of it in
accordance with the provisions of subdivision (e) of this
section, or shall destroy such dog.
(c) Upon impounding an unlicensed dog, the officer
shall give notice to the owner, if known, of the impounding
of such dog. If such dog is not redeemed within five days
after such notice has been given, the officer shall dispose
of such dog in accordance with the provisions of subdivision
(e) of this section, or shall destroy such dog.
(d) The officer having custody of any impounded dog
may; by humane methods, summarily destroy the same ifr
(1) The dog is suffering from any incurable,
dangerous or contagious disease, providing the authorized
person or agency designated by the city council or a licensed
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veterinarian shall certify, in writing, that such dog is so
suffering# or,
(2) It is an unlicensed vicious dog.
(a) Any officer, having in his custody any redeemed
impounded doge, may release the same to any adult person who
will pay the pound fees and charges, or to a humane society,
organized under the laws of the State of California for the
prevention of cruelty to animals, for such disposal as the
humane society may chooses provided, however, that if the
humane society intends to sell or place the dog, the society
shall pay to the impounding officer the pound fee and accumu-
lated charges as are provided in subdivision (a) of this
section.
(f) All of the provisions of this section pertaining
to impounded unlicensed dogs, except the licensing provisions
thereof, shall apply to impounded cats, wild animals and to
domesticated wild animals.
SECTION 4. Certain acts made unlawful. It is unlawful:
(1) For the owner of any vicious dog to fail, neglect,
or refuse to keep posted in a conspicuous place at or near
the entrance to the premises on which said dog is kept, a
sign having letters at least two inches in width and reading
"Beware of Vicious Dog." It is unlwaful for the owner of a
vicious dog to permit such dog to run at large at any time;
(2) For the owner or person in control of any dog to
permit such dog to run at large in any public park or public
building or upon any public school grounds, or near any bus
stop, or to permit a female dog in heat to run at large at
any 'time #
(3) For any person to interfere with, oppose or resist
any officer or person empowered to enforce the provisions of
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this title while such officer or other person is engaged in
the performance of his duties as provided in this title,
(4) For any person to remove any impounded animal from
the city pound without the consent of the officer in charge
thereof$
(5) For any person knowingly to violate any of the
provisions of this titles
(6) For the owner or person in control of any dog,
whether licensed or unlicensed, to permit such dog to stray
or run at large in, or into, any portion of the incorporated
area of the city. A dog securely leashed on a leash not
over twelve feet in length and under the control of the
owner or person in charge thereof and a dog confined within
the property of the owner or person in charge thereof by
means of a fence or other effective enclosure, or within a
vehicle, is not a dog running at large;
(7) For any person to keep or harbor more than four
cats, other than kittens under the age of three months, upon
any residential premises of less than one acre.
SECTION 4.1. Unauthorized tag. It is unlawful for any
person to place upon or attach to a dog, any false, counter-
feit or unauthorized tag for the purpose of evading the
provisions of the title.
SECTION 5. Owner to confine dog upon order --Examination.
Whenever it is shown that any dog has bitten any person, the
owner or persons having the custody or possession thereof
shall, upon order of the authorized person or agency designated
by the city council, quarantine it and keep it tied up or
confined at the owner's expense for a period of fourteen
days and shall allow the person or agency designated to make
an inspection or examination thereof at any time during such
period. Dogs quarantined must not be removed from the
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prhaises without permission of the authorized person or
agency designated by the city council. The person or agency
designated shall have the authority to impound any dog at
the owner's expense, if the owner fails or refuses to confine
the dog.
SUCTION 5.1. Special requirements for vicious dog. If
It shall be determined by the authorized parson or agency
designated by the city council, after giving the order of
quarantine mentioned in Section 6, that the dog is a vicious
dog, although not afflicted with rabies, the person or
agency designated shall thereupon order the person who owns
or has the custody of the dog that until further order of
authorized person or agency designated by the city council,
he shall keep the dog securely fastened by chain, or securely
confined within private property, or keep the dog in such
manner as said person or agency designated shall direct to
prevent it from biting or having the opportunity of biting
any person. Failure to do so on the part of the owner or
person having custody of the dog shall constitute a violation
of this title.
SECTION 5.2. Warning sign of quarantine. The authorized
person or agency designated by the city council may, in his
discretion, post or cause to be posted an appropriate sign
on any premises where a dog has been quarantined pursuant to
this ordinance to warn the public of the fact. It is unlwaful
for any person to remove a sign posted pursuant to this
section without permission of the authorized person or
agency designated by the city council.
. SECTION 5.2, Disposition of animal bitten by rabid animal.
Whenever any animal shall be bitten by another animal having
rabies, or shows any symptoms of rabies, the owner or person
having the possession of the animal shall immediately notify
the authorized person or agency designated by the city
page 6.
cinncil• and confine the animal and Beep it confined until
It is established to the satisfaction of the authorized
person or agency designated by the city council, that it
does not have rabies. The person or agency designated shall
have the power to quarantine any such animal, or impound it
at the owner's expense if the owner or person having possession
thereof shall fail to confine such animal immediately, or in
case the owner, or person having the possession thereof is
not readily accessible.
SECTION 5.3. Entry of dog from rabid area denied. No
person shall take a dog into the incorporated area of the
city from any city located in Riverside County in which
rabies exists or has existed within the preceding six months,
not bring a dog into the incorporated area of the city from
any other county or city and county in which rabies exists
or has existed within the preceding six months.
SECTION 5.4. Preventive measures authorized during
threatened or actual rabies epidemic.
Whenenver the authorized person or agency designated by
the city council shall determine that an epidemic of rabies
exists or is threatened, he shall have the authority to take
such measures as may be reasonably necessary to prevent the
spread of the disease, including the declaration of a quaran-
tine against any or all animals in any area in the city as
the authorized person or agency designated by the city
council may determine and define, for a period of not more
than one hundred twenty days. An additional or extended
quarantine period may also be declared if the same shall be
deemed necessary by the person or agency designated, for the
protection and preservation of the public health, peace, and
safety. Any quarantine declared under the provisions of
this section other than as restriced in this section shall
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I
be upon such conditions as the person or agency designated
way determine and declare.
8NCTION 6. Authority. Any officer or employee of the
city has the right to enter upon said property as the right
-of entry is specifically set forth in Chapter 1.12 of this
code, for the purpose of enforcing this chapter.
M=ZON 6.1. butier of officers. It shall be the duty
of all authorised law enforcement officers of the city and
of every authorised person or agency designated by the city
council:
(1) To receive, take up, and impound:
(A) Any dog found running at large in violation
of this title or of any law of the State of California,
(B) Any dog which is molesting any person,
(C) Any dog which is molesting or harassing
animals, birds or pets;
(2) To regularly and adequately feed, water and otherwise
care for all dogs impounded under the provisions of this
title, or to provide for such feeding and watering;
(3) To investigate the condition and behavior of any
dog which he has reason to believe is vicious or dangerous
and if he finds such dog to be vicious in its habits, he
shall report his findings in writing, either in person or by
mail, to the owner of such dog if the name and whereabouts
of the owner are known, and if unknown, then the dog shall
be impounded;
(4) To impound, or humanely destroy and make proper
dispositions of the carcasses of dogs which are injured upon
the highways, when the opinion of the officer, such destruction
is necessary and humane. Should an injured or destroyed dog
be an indentified dog, then the owner of the dog shall be
notifsed of its destruction, either in person or by mail;
page 10.
(5) To do and perform any other acts necessary to
Carry out the provisions of this ordinance and of the laws
Of the State of California relating to dogst
(6) To receive, take up, and impound any sick or
injured cat whose owner is unknown or unidentified; to
humanely destroy any such injured cat when, in the opinion
of the officer, such destruction is necessary and hwunet
and to make proper disposition of dead cats.
SECTION 7. Generally. The city council way enter into
a written agreement or agreements with any veterinarian
licensed by the State of California, or any organized humane
society or association, which will undertake to carry out
the provisions of this ordinance and maintain and operate a
pound and license, take up, impound and dispose of animals.
Any such veterinarian or society or association which shall
enter into an agreement shall carry out all the previsions
of this title in the manner prescribed in this ordinance.
SECTION 8. Failure to license. A charge for failure
to obtain a license for an individual dog shall be dismissed
by the clerk or judge of the court when the person charged
produces in court a valid license procured not more than ten
days after the date of the citation. In the event the
failure continues more than ten days, such violation shall
be punishable by a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars or
by imprisonment in the Riverside County jail for not more
than three days or by both such fine and imprisonment.
SECTION 9. The City Clerk of the City of Palm Desert,
California, is hereby directed to cause this ordinance to
be posted in three public places, in accordance with Resolution
no. 74-17 and Section 36933 of the Government Code of the
State of California.
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