Calexico Municipal Code Ch. 6.08 Animal Control

It is unlawful for any person entitled to the possession or having charge, custody or control of any horse, mare, mule, colt, burro, cow, ox, steer, bull, calf, sheep, goat or hog to suffer the same to run at large in or upon any street, lane, alley, park or public place or upon any unenclosed lot or land, or to stake out, herd or graze any of the animals mentioned in this section in or upon any street, lane, alley, park or public place, or to stake out any such animals upon any unenclosed lot or land in such manner that the rope or other attachment to which the same is tethered may permit it to be or go beyond the boundaries of such lot or land.

(Ord. 1039 § 1 (part), 2006)

Any dog running at large within the corporate limits of the city may be declared to be a nuisance by the chief of police, whether the same is licensed or unlicensed, and he may order the same seized by any police officer of the city or by the dogcatcher.

(Ord. 1039 § 1 (part), 2006)

A. In any prosecution involving an animal charging a violation of Sections 6.08.030 and 6.08.035 of this code, proof by the people of the state of California that the particular animal described in the complaint was found in violation of any provision of said sections, together with proof that the defendant named in the complaint was at the time of the alleged violation the owner of the animal, shall constitute prima facie evidence that the owner of the animal was the person responsible for the violation of said provisions involving said animal. However, for the purpose of this section, proof that a person is the owner of said animal is not prima facie evidence that he/she has violated any other provision of law.

B. The presumption created by this section shall be nullified when the person charged has made a bona fide sale or transfer prior to the date of the alleged violations and has provided proof to the court of the name and address of the purchaser, and the date of sale.

(Ord. 1039 § 1 (part), 2006)

A. Any person owning or having custody or control of a dog shall at all times prevent the dog from being "At Large," and from being in violation of other provisions of law. However, dogs may be unrestrained by a "Leash" while assisting their owners in legal hunting, in the herding of livestock as permitted by law, or on public property with the written permission of, and for purposes authorized by, the agency responsible for regulating the use of such property; so long as such dogs are under direct and effective voice control to ensure that they are not in violation of any other provision of law. This section does not apply to dogs assisting peace officers while performing law enforcement duties. Any person who violates any provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor.

B. "At large" means being on any private property without permission of the person who owns or has a right to possess or use the property; or unrestrained by a "Leash" on either public property, unless expressly permitted by law, or private property open to the public; or in any place or manner which presents substantial risk of imminent interference with animal or public health, safety or welfare.

C. "Leash" means any rope, leather strap, chain or other material not exceeding six feet in length, being held in the hand of a person capable of controlling and actually controlling the animal to which it is attached.

(Ord. 1039 § 1 (part), 2006)

Any person owning or having custody or control of a dog shall at all times prevent the dog from attacking, biting, or otherwise causing injury to any person engaged in a lawful act; from interfering with the lawful use of public or private property; or from damaging personal property which is lawfully upon public property, or upon private property with the permission of the person who owns or has the right to possess or use the private property. Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. 1039 § 1 (part), 2006)

A. Permitting Noise Prohibited. It is unlawful for any person having charge, care, custody or control of any dog to permit such dog to emit any excessive noise which is disturbing or offensive after the animal control officer has issued a written notice directing said owner or custodian to abate the disturbing or offensive noise.

B. Enforcement Procedure. The animal control officer shall enforce this section as follows:

1. Complaints by at least two persons must be submitted in writing and shall include the name, address and telephone number of complainants as well as the address of the dog owner and description of the noise.

2. Upon receiving a written complaint involving a whining, barking, howling or similar dog noise, the animal control officer shall cause the following to be performed:

a. Issue a notice of noise complaint to the dog owner or custodian of the dog advising such person of the alleged noise and requesting immediate steps be taken to abate the barking noise;

b. The notice shall adequately describe the noise complaint to assist the dog owner in recognizing and correcting the problem.

3. If a second complaint is received, the animal control officer shall issue a notice apprising the same to abate the barking dog noise. Said notice shall contain a provision that within five days of receipt thereof, the dog owner or custodian may request a meeting with a department representative to discuss the notice of abatement and the department shall request the complainant to appear at such meeting to discuss and, if possible, resolve the problem.

4. Should the problem remain unresolved, the department of animal control shall conduct an investigation to determine whether said excessive dog noise has been abated and, if it has not, each additional occurrence thereof shall constitute a violation of this section.

5. There will be no fine for the first violation. The fine for the second violation of this section shall be ten dollars. The fine for the third violation of this section shall be fifteen dollars.

(Ord. 1039 § 1 (part), 2006)

A. Residence Defined. For the purposes of this section, "one residence" means the place of abode of a single unit, such as an individual or a family or group sharing the same living quarters.

B. Number of Dogs Restricted. It is unlawful to keep more than three dogs over three months of age at any one residence.

C. Number of Cats Restricted. It is unlawful to keep more than three cats over the age of three months at any one residence.

D. Restricted Animals. It is unlawful to keep or maintain any horse, cow, steer, bull, calf, swine, sheep, goat, rabbit, mules, bees, chickens, pigeons, geese, ducks or other fowl or poultry within the city limits.

E. Violation. A violation of any provision of this section constitutes a misdemeanor and, in addition thereto, constitutes a public nuisance which may be abated by a civil proceeding.

(Ord. 1039 § 1 (part), 2006)

It is unlawful for any person to interfere with, oppose or resist any police officer or special officer of the city, or the city dogcatcher, or the health officer or his representative, while engaged in the performance of the duties prescribed by the provisions of this title.

(Ord. 1039 § 1 (part), 2006)

No person shall allow a dog in his custody to defecate on public property or any improved private property other than that of the owner or person having control of the animal. It shall be the duty of all persons having control of a dog to curb such dog in order to carry out the intent of this section. If a violation of the above occurs, such person shall immediately remove any feces to a proper receptacle. Unsighted persons while relying on a guide dog shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.

(Ord. 1039 § 1 (part), 2006)