Article VII — Impoundment

Any animal control officer may seize and impound, or cause to be seized and impounded, an animal for a violation of any provision of this chapter. Where the need for immediate seizure or impoundment is not present, the animal control officer shall provide the owner or keeper of the animal with an opportunity for a hearing prior to seizure or impoundment of the animal, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Penal Code Section 597.1 as then in effect. Where the animal control officer has reasonable cause to believe that the immediate seizure or impoundment of an animal is necessary in order to: (a) protect public safety and welfare; (b) protect an animal which is injured, sick or starving; (c) protect an animal from injury which has strayed onto public property or a public right-of-way; (d) protect a domestic animal from imminent risk of harm; or (e) safeguard an animal which is at large off its owner's property, then the animal control officer shall provide the owner or keeper of the animal with an opportunity for a post-seizure or impoundment hearing, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Penal Code Section 597.1 as then in effect.

(Ord. No. 423, § 1, 10-29-2024)

The owner or other person in custody, control or possession of any animal that bites a human being, or otherwise exhibits any symptoms or acts that would lead a reasonable person to suspect that the animal has rabies, shall immediately notify the city police department and/or county animal control, giving the name and address of the person bitten, if known to him/her, or the acts or symptoms of the animal, and shall obey any quarantine instructions given by the city police department and/or county animal control officer. The animal control officer may, in his/her discretion, order the animal quarantined and may impose such reasonable conditions thereon as may be required.

If any person fails or refuses to obey any lawful order for the quarantine of an animal for observation of rabies, the animal control officer may impound or cause the impoundment of the animal.

(Ord. No. 423, § 1, 10-29-2024)

Any person who apprehends or picks up a stray or apparently lost animal shall report the same to the Colusa County Animal Shelter within twenty-four hours and shall release such animal to the owner or to the Colusa County Animal Shelter upon demand. The person shall provide the Colusa County Animal Shelter with a complete description of the animal, where it was found, current location of the animal, photographs of the animal and contact information for person keeping the animal.

(Ord. No. 423, § 1, 10-29-2024)

No liability shall be incurred by the city or county for causing the impoundment, redemption or disposition of an animal pursuant to this chapter.

(Ord. No. 423, § 1, 10-29-2024)