Ceres Municipal Code Ch. 02 Animals and Animal Control

The animal and animal control ordinance of the City shall be the animal control ordinance of the County of Stanislaus as specifically described in title 7, of the ordinance code of Stanislaus County, together with all regulations for administration and implementation thereof, and any subsequent amendments thereto with those exceptions and requirements as listed in title 8, Animals, of the Municipal Code.

(Ord. No. 2019-1054, § 1, 12-9-2019)

The City, while adopting portions of title 7 of the Stanislaus County Code for animals within the City, does also reserve to itself the right to adopt and impose additional animal control regulations which it deems to be necessary for public health and safety reasons, to prevent cruelty to animals, and for the prevention of public nuisances within the City.

(Ord. No. 2019-1054, § 1, 12-9-2019)

Should any provision in the Code of the City of Ceres conflict with that of the Stanislaus County Code, the Code of the City of Ceres shall prevail.

(Ord. No. 2019-1054, § 1, 12-9-2019)

It shall be unlawful to use, train, keep, harbor, own or in any way possess or transport through the City an animal for the purpose of animal fight exhibitions. Scars and wounds are rebuttable evidence of participation in animal fight exhibitions or training. "Fight training" is defined to include, but not limited to:

1. The use or possession of treadmills for fight training;

2. Actions designed to torment, badger or bait any animal for purpose of encouraging said animal for fight exhibitions;

3. The use of weights on the animal for fight training;

4. The use of other animals for blood sport training;

5. Any other activity, the primary purpose of which is the training of animals for aggressive or vicious behavior or animal fight exhibitions.

6. It shall further be unlawful for anyone to knowingly abuse any animal within the City limits.

(Ord. No. 2019-1054, § 1, 12-9-2019)

It is unlawful for any owner of any dog, cat, domestic animal, exotic animal or fowl to permit such animal to discharge his or her solid waste on any public or private property within the City other than the property of such owner, if such owner, having observed such discharge or having been advised of such discharge, does not immediately thereafter remove such animal waste from the public or private property upon which it was deposited. This section shall not apply to any guide dog under the control of a person who is legally blind.

(Ord. No. 2019-1054, § 1, 12-9-2019)

It is unlawful and a misdemeanor:

A. To tie, hitch or fasten any horse, mule, beast of burden, team, cow, bull, ox, goat, or sheep to any tree in front of or adjacent to any public or private lot or square, or to any tree box, post or other structure which may be around or adjacent to such tree for its support or protection;

B. To break maliciously or negligently, or to damage or displace any hitching post in any public street, highway, place or square.

(Ord. No. 2019-1054, § 1, 12-9-2019)