Camarillo Municipal Code Ch. 7.02 General Provisions

For purposes of this title, the following words and phrases are defined as follows:

"Animal shelter" means any animal shelter, temporary animal shelter or animal services owned or operated by the County of Ventura.

"Citee" means any person to whom an enforcement officer has issued an administrative citation that assesses a civil penalty in the manner provided by CMC Title 7.

"County Health Officer" means the Ventura County Health Officer and any duly appointed deputy thereof including the animal services director and his or her deputies.

"Day" means calendar and not business day.

"Director" means the director of the animal services division of the County of Ventura. "Division" means the animal services division of the County of Ventura.

"Enclosure" means a fence or structure suitable to prevent the entry of young children, and which is suitable to prevent the dog from escaping. The dog must be housed pursuant to Penal Code Section 597t.

"Harboring an animal" means when a person feeds or shelters an animal.

"Hearing Officer" means a person who has been designated or retained to conduct a hearing by the division.

"Impounded" means taken into custody of the animal services division of the County of Ventura. "Law Enforcement" means the Ventura County Sheriff, any person authorized to act on behalf of the

Ventura County Sheriff in the enforcement of the provisions of Title 7, or any peace officer.

"Livestock" includes animals, including but not limited to fowl, horses, mules, burros, asses, cattle, sheep, goats, llamas, emu, ostriches, swine or other farm animals, excluding dogs and cats.

"Livestock running at large" means when upon property without the permission of the person owning or occupying the property, or when upon public property and not under the immediate control of a responsible person capable of controlling such animal.

"Maintain an animal" means owning, harboring or keeping an animal regulated under this title for more than thirty consecutive days.

"Owner" means a person that owns an animal, has legal title to the animal, has the legal right to possession and use of the animal within the meaning of Civil Code Section 654, or is deemed to be the owner because that person has been the finder and keeper of a stray domestic animal that has not been claimed within thirty days..

"Peace Officer" means a peace officer as that term is defined in Penal Code section 830.1.

"Person" means any natural person, firm, corporation, organization, company, association, business, trust, joint-stock organization, partnership, joint venture, or club, or the agent, servant, manager, officer, employee or lessee of any of them.

"Potentially dangerous dog" means any dog which, when unprovoked, on two separate occasions within the prior thirty-six-month period, engages in any behavior requiring a defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury when the person and dog are off the property of the owner or keeper of the dog; any dog which, when unprovoked, bites a person causing a less than severe injury; and any dog which, when unprovoked, on two separate occasions within the prior thirty-six-month period, has killed, seriously bitten, inflicted injury, or otherwise caused injury attacking a domestic animal off the property of the owner or keeper of the dog.

"Resolution" means a resolution adopted by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors establishing the amount of civil penalties, rates, and/or fees, unless the City Council has, by resolution, specifically adopted any different civil penalties, rates and/or fees for the provisions of Title 7 after the date of the effective date of city ordinance, which case, the term "resolution" shall mean such resolution adopted by the City Council.

"Review Officer" means a neutral and impartial person who has been designated or retained to conduct an initial administrative review of the issued citation.

"Severe injury" means any physical injury to a human being that results in muscle tears or disfiguring lacerations or requires multiple sutures or corrective cosmetic surgery.

"Vicious dog" means any dog that inflicts severe injury on or kills a human being without provocation and in an aggressive manner; and any dog previously determined to be and now listed as potentially dangerous dog that continues to demonstrated potentially dangerous dog behavior after its owner or keeper has been advised of this determination.

(Ord. No. 1193, § 3(Exh. A), 6-22-2022)

All rates and fees provided for in this title will be the applicable amounts established by resolution of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors or the city council, as applicable.

(Ord. No. 1193, § 3(Exh. A), 6-22-2022)

The director, and any deputies he or she so designates, shall be vested with the powers and duties of a deputy health officer of the county and shall have the power and it shall be his or her duty to enforce all laws and regulations of the county and the state relating to the capture, isolation, quarantine or destruction of animals.

(Ord. No. 1193, § 3(Exh. A), 6-22-2022)

Any person that breaks open an animal shelter, temporary shelter, or animal services vehicle, or who willfully resists, delays, or obstructs the director or his or her designee in the discharge of, or attempt to discharge, any duty of such official under this title, will be charged with a misdemeanor/infraction. An animal control officer may issue an administrative citation assessing a civil penalty to that person, and the person will be subject to the administrative provisions of Title 7.

(Ord. No. 1193, § 3(Exh. A), 6-22-2022)

All areas used for maintaining animals within the city must be kept in a clean and sanitary condition at all times and may not cause or be detrimental or injurious to the public health, safety, or general welfare.

(Ord. No. 1193, § 3(Exh. A), 6-22-2022)

Any violation of the provisions of this chapter constitutes an infraction, unless otherwise designated as a misdemeanor/infraction.

(Ord. No. 1193, § 3(Exh. A), 6-22-2022)