Corcoran Municipal Code Art. D General Provisions

It is unlawful for any person to suffer or permit any dog owned, harbored, or controlled by him/her to be on any public street, alley, lane, park or place of whatever nature open to and used by the public in any area of the city unless such dog is securely leashed and the leash is held continuously in the hands of a responsible person capable of controlling such dog, or unless the dog is securely confined in a vehicle. It is unlawful for any person to permit any dog owned, harbored, or controlled by him/her to be on any private property in any area of the city without the permission of the person owning or occupying said private property. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having possession of any animal to permit it to be at large, without reasonable control or to be pastured or kept upon any street or other public place or upon any private property against the wishes of the owner or occupant thereof or in any manner or place to the injury of the owner or occupant of any other property. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

It is unlawful for any person owning, harboring, or controlling any livestock to permit such livestock to run at large upon the private property of another without the permission of the person owning or occupying said private property, or upon the streets or public places in the city. The animal control officer is authorized whenever he/she deems it necessary, to deputize individuals, who are properly equipped, to capture and transport livestock which is running at large in violation of this chapter. Each animal captured or transported pursuant hereto shall be impounded at the risk of the owner and the owner or keeper of such animal is liable for all fees set forth in section 5-4C-11 of this chapter. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

Upon approval of the animal control officer, a stallion may be kept, when authorized by land use regulations, in a substantial corral of wood or other construction six feet (6') in height and under conditions to prevent escape and protect people or other animals. A "minimum substantial corral" is defined as being constructed of four inch by four inch (4" x 4") posts, eight feet (8') on center, anchored twenty four inches (24") in Portland cement with two inch by six inch (2" x 6") rails set two inches (2") apart. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

Any animal found under conditions or in areas prohibited by section 5-4D-1 or 5-4D-2 of this article shall be taken by the animal control officer and impounded, provided that no such animal is staked or tied for the purpose of grazing upon private property, and no fowl at large upon private property shall be impounded except upon complaint of the owner, occupant, or person in charge of said property who claims to be injured thereby. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

The animal control officer is authorized, whenever he/she deems it necessary, to temporarily impound animals within an enclosure other than the city animal shelter and such an enclosure shall constitute a temporary animal shelter.

Notice that an enclosure is an animal shelter shall be given by placing a sign to that effect on the gate or other entrance thereto. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

An animal control officer shall immediately notify the owner or person entitled to possession of such animal or fowl, other than livestock, of the impounding thereof, if known, or if unknown by posting a notice of impounding containing a description of the animal, and the time and place of apprehension for three (3) days at the animal pound. After the expiration of this period, any unredeemed animal or fowl mentioned in such notice may be disposed of as provided for in this chapter. Upon the impounding of any livestock, the animal control officer shall notify the owner thereof, if the name of such owner is known to him/her, of such impounding. If the name of the owner is not known, the animal control officer shall publish a notice once in one or more newspapers published in the city describing the animal, stating that it has been impounded, and if not reclaimed it will be sold to the highest bidder at the time and place therein fixed, not less than ten (10), nor more than fifteen (15) days after the publication of such notice. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

A. The animal control officer shall feed and care for any dog impounded as provided in this chapter until it is disposed of as provided by law. If such dog is not a "diseased or injured dog" and is not suspected of having rabies, the person owning such impounded dog may redeem it at any time within five (5) business days if the dog wears a current license tag or within three (3) business days for impounded dogs not wearing license tags, after it is taken up by describing it, proving ownership to the satisfaction of the animal control officer, by paying all applicable fees and by obtaining any necessary license.

B. The five (5) days for redemption shall begin when written notice of such impoundment is given as provided in section 5-4D-7 of this article. However, an owner may waive the five (5) day redemption period in writing. If the impounded dog wears a license tag at the time of impounding issued under the provisions of this chapter, such notice shall be mailed to the address shown on the copy of the receipt for such license on file. If the dog impounded as provided in this article is not so redeemed within the above specified number of days, or if the owner of such dog fails or refuses to comply with any of the requirements of redemption as provided herein, or if the owner has waived the redemption period in writing, the animal control officer shall dispose of such dogs according to the provisions of this section.

C. In disposing of an impounded dog, the animal control officer may, in his/her discretion, euthanize the dog in a humane manner, or he/she may deliver such dog for a pet to any person who redeems the dog as otherwise required by this article, together with signing a written agreement to feed the dog and provide it with a good home, or he/she may sell such dog to a state chartered humane society. When a dog is returned to the pound within ten (10) days of such delivery as a pet, the person returning the dog shall not be given the discretion to determine what disposition shall be made of the dog. There shall be no refunds for any redemption and other fees or charges. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

All livestock impounded may be reclaimed by the owner thereof at any time prior to its disposal by the animal control officer, upon:

A. Furnishing proof of ownership satisfactory to the animal control officer, and

B. Paying the fees set forth in section 5-4C-11 of this chapter.

Any animal not reclaimed may be sold at the time set forth in the notice given pursuant to section 5-4D-7 of this article. At such sale, the animal control officer may bid, on behalf of the city, the amount required to reclaim, and if such be the highest bid the animal control officer shall direct the manner of disposal. The sale of any animal by the animal control officer in conformity with the provisions of this article shall vest title thereof in the purchaser. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

The animal control officer shall charge, receive and collect all fees, fines and charges as set by the city council on impounded animals provided, however, no fees whatsoever shall be charged or collected for or on account of any animal which has been unlawfully taken up or impounded. When requested by the owner or person entitled to custody of the animal, a hearing shall be held as soon as practicable after such seizure upon the question of whether the animal has been legally taken up or impounded. Any animal found to have been unlawfully taken up or impounded shall be immediately delivered to the owner or person entitled to the custody thereof. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

The animal control officer shall, at the time of impounding any animal, determine whether it is a "diseased or injured animal" as defined herein. When a diseased or injured animal is impounded, the animal control officer is required to procure any necessary emergency medical treatment or dispose of such animal in accordance with section 597(f) of the California Penal Code. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

The keeping or harboring of any animal which is by reason of vicious disposition a menace to persons or other animals or which is a continual hazard or annoyance to persons or vehicles passing by the premises where it is kept, shall be an infraction and such animal shall be deemed a nuisance. Any person may file a complaint with the animal control officer in writing, signed by, and bearing the address of, the person complaining. The complaint shall state the place where such nuisance exists, describe such animal and its conduct and give the name and address of its owner or keeper, if known. The animal control officer upon complaint or his/her own knowledge shall investigate and if a violation exists, may cause notice of abatement to be issued, make an arrest in accordance with section 5-4-7 of this chapter, or take such other action as is reasonably necessary. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

Any dog running at large which is, by reason of its vicious disposition, imminently dangerous to persons, livestock or poultry may be shot by any peace officer or animal control officer or shall be taken up and euthanized in a humane manner by the animal control officer. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

Any person who keeps or permits to remain upon any property under his/her ownership or control, other than in an appropriately zoned and licensed kennel or animal hospital, any dog or other animal which by continuous barking, whining, or other noise unreasonably disturbs the peace, comfort, or quiet of any resident of the neighborhood shall be guilty of an infraction. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

ARTICLE E. WILD ANIMAL CONTROL

SECTION:

No person shall have, keep or maintain any wild animal or reptile unless adequate provisions are made for its confinement and control to ensure the maintenance of public peace, health and safety. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

A wild animal is an animal or reptile which is wild by nature and not customarily domesticated in Kings County. This definition does not include birds, small rodents or small, nonpoisonous reptiles commonly used for educational or experimental purposes or for pets. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

Any person keeping or maintaining a wild animal that escapes from its confinement shall immediately notify the animal control officer of such escape. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

A. Wild animals found running loose may be impounded in accordance with the provisions of section 5-4D-3 of this chapter. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, wild animals, when found to be at large and injuring, damaging or threatening to injure or damage any person or property, may be summarily euthanized without liability resulting to the city, its officers, agents or employees.

B. A wild animal injuring, damaging or threatening to injure or damage any property, may not be summarily destroyed if the animal control officer has reason to believe that such animal is a member of a species formally declared by the United States fish and game service to be an endangered species and in fact such animal is so declared. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)

No person, organization, society, association or corporation shall import or release into the city any wild animal, whether indigenous to the city or not, without a permit from the animal control officer. The animal released shall be identified by an indelible number tattooed on the animal and filed with the animal control officer, and the person, organization, society, association or corporation shall be responsible for damage inflicted by said animal. (Ord. 610, 7-20-2009)