Blythe Municipal Code Ch. 6.04 General Provisions

It is unlawful for any steer, calf, ox, bull, cow, horse, colt, jack, mule, burro, sheep, goat, hog or fowl to run at large in the city or to be pastured or herded, stabled or tied in any of the streets, lanes, alleys, public squares, parks, parkways or other public places that are under the control of the city, or in such a way as to trespass in any manner upon the public places, or upon any private property other than that of the person owning or having charge of such animal unless such owner or person having charge of such animal has consent of the owner or occupier of the private property. The above enumerated animals shall be collectively referred to as domestic animals in this title.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

Whenever, in this title, the following terms are used, they shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section unless it is apparent from the context that some other meaning is intended:

A. Administration. The animal control officer shall supervise the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this title and of the laws of the state pertaining to the control of dogs.

B. Animal-control Officer. "Animal-control officer" or "AC" means the employee of the city who is charged with enforcement of the provisions of this title and his regularly appointed deputies.

C. At large. "At large" means off the premises of the owner and not under physical restraint by the owner. A dog securely leashed 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.

D. Impounded. "Impounded" means having been received into the custody of any pound authorized under the provisions of this title.

E. Kennel, dog, and pet shop. "Dog kennel" or "pet shop," whether used in the singular or plural, means any building, structure, enclosure or premises whereupon or within which five or more dogs are kept or maintained for any purpose or reason whatsoever. The term does not include, nor is this section applicable to, dogs under one hundred twenty days of age.

F. 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 title; except a veterinarian duly licensed and practicing as such and having in his possession or control a dog or dogs for the purpose of treatment or care.

G. Person. "Person" includes a firm, partnership, corporation, trust or any association of persons.

H. Poundmaster. "Poundmaster" means any person, or any duly authorized agent of any such person, in charge of any pound.

I. Unlicensed Dog. "Unlicensed dog" means any dog for which the license for the current year has not been paid, or to which the license tag for the current year is not attached.

J. 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 Health or any other vaccine for such purpose prescribed by such department.

K. 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.

L. Wild animal. "Wild animal" means any animal not ordinarily and customarily domesticated, but under human control.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

A. The animal control officer, his assistants and deputies are not peace officers, but may exercise the powers of arrest of a peace officer as designated in Section 836 of the California Penal Code and the power to serve warrants as specified in Sections 1523 and 1530 of the Penal Code during the course and within the scope of their employment, if they receive a course in the exercise of those powers pursuant to Penal Code Section 832. That part of the training course specified in Penal Code 832 pertaining to the carrying and use of firearms shall not be required, if the chief of police does not authorize the use of firearms.

B. For the purposes of subsection A of this section, the term "firearms" includes capture guns, blow guns, carbon dioxide operated rifles and pistols, air guns, hand guns, rifles and shotguns.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

It shall be the duty of the AC to take up, impound and safely keep any domestic animal found running at large, staked, tied or herded or being pastured on any street, lane, alley, park, parkway or other place belonging to or under the control of the city contrary to the provisions of this title.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

It shall be the duty of the AC to safely keep all domestic animals impounded by him and to give same the necessary food, water and ordinary attention necessary for the welfare of such animals.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

It is unlawful for any person to interfere with, oppose or resist the animal control or other person charged with the enforcement of this title, while such AC or such other person may be engaged in the performance of their duties under this title.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

The city shall provide or may contract for suitable enclosure to keep safely all animals enumerated in this title and subject to impoundment. It shall be known and designated as the city animal control center unless contracted for with another agency.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

When a domestic animal is found by the AC, acting under the authority of this title and is impounded, he shall immediately notify the owner thereof, if known to him, either by mail or personal notice.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

The owner of any domestic animal impounded by the AC, acting under the authority of this title, shall have the right to reclaim the same at any time prior to the sale, adoption or destruction, upon payment to the contracting animal shelter agency of the costs and charges of transporting and maintaining the animal while impounded.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

The contracting animal center or the AC shall collect from the owner or any person seeking to reclaim any domestic animal impounded by him under the authority of this title, the fees established by city council resolutions and/or by the contracting animal center's current fees schedules.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

If any domestic animal impounded by the AC under the provisions of this title has not been redeemed or sold within the time and in the manner specified in this title, it shall be euthanised and disposed of by the AC or the contracting animal control agency in a humane manner and in no other way.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)