Ceres Municipal Code Ch. 05 Animal Nuisances

The keeping or harboring of any dog, cat or other animal or fowl, whether licensed or not, which by its bodily waste odor, unsanitary condition or habitual howling, yelping, barking or other noise disturbs the comfort, peace or quiet of nearby property or which would cause annoyance or discomfort to a reasonable person of normal sensitivity in the area is declared to be a public nuisance and is hereby prohibited.

(Ord. No. 2019-1054, § 1, 12-9-2019)

The provisions contained in this chapter shall not apply to:

A. Any dog while utilized by any police department or any law enforcement officer in the performance of police work;

B. Any guide dog for the blind or physically disabled while performing its duties and to the extent that the physical disability of the owners precludes the owner of ensuring that the dog complies with the requirements of this chapter;

C. Any animal shelter owned, operated, or maintained by the Animal Control Officer; or

D. Any licensed kennel, humane society shelter, animal control facility or veterinarian.

(Ord. No. 2019-1054, § 1, 12-9-2019)

The keeping of an animal defined as dangerous under this title shall be declared a public nuisance and shall be abated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The procedure for abatement set forth in this title shall not be exclusive and shall not in any manner limit or restrict the City from enforcing other City ordinances or abating public nuisances in any other manner provided by law including, but not limited to, Civil Code section 3342.5.

Further, this chapter shall not preempt or preclude a person from filing a private lawsuit seeking to abate as a private nuisance an animal that is dangerous.

(Ord. No. 2019-1054, § 1, 12-9-2019)

Violation of this title shall constitute a public nuisance subject to enforcement under the animal control ordinance of the County of Stanislaus as specifically described in title 7, of the Ordinance Code of Stanislaus County.

(Ord. No. 2019-1054, § 1, 12-9-2019)