Humboldt County Municipal Code Ch. 5 Regulating Domestic

Sections: Application; Enforcement. Prohibitions. Owner to Provide Care. Impounding. Duration of Impound. Redemption. Fees and Charges. Disposition. Liability of County Employees. Penalties. 545-1. Application; Enforcement. This chapter does not apply to dogs, the regulation of which is governed by the provisions of Division 4 of Title V of the Code and amendments thereto. This chapter does not apply to bovine animals or sheep on public roads where the roads are in or border a Timber Preserve Zone or an Agriculture Preserve. This chapter does not apply to bovine animals or sheep where the owner has confined the animals with a good and sufficient fence and said fence has been broken, allowing the animals confined there to escape, and no notice of said broken fence has been given to owner. The enforcement of provisions of this chapter shall be the responsibility of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department. (Ord. 1316, § 1, 3/13/1979; Ord. 1408, § 1, 6/17/1980)

545-2. Prohibitions. No owners of any domestic animal, except the domestic cat, shall permit or suffer the animal to do any of the following: (a) Run at large. (b) Trespass upon public property, or upon any private property without the consent of the owner of the property. As used herein, domestic animals shall be limited to members of the bovine, caprine, equine, ovine and suine genera and mules. (Ord. 1316, § 1, 3/13/1979) 545-3. Owner to Provide Care. The owner of any such animal shall provide proper and adequate food, water, shelter, care and attention for such animal, and no owner shall suffer or allow any animal to go without adequate food or water or to be left in a filthy or diseased or neglected condition. (Ord. 1316, § 1, 3/13/1979) 545-4. Impounding. Any animal which is engaged in an activity or existing in a condition prohibited by this chapter shall be taken and impounded at such place and places as may be approved by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department. (Ord. 1316, § 1, 3/13/1979) 545-5. Duration of Impound. Any impounded animal subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be kept at the impounded location for at least seventy-two (72) hours or, where the animal is a bovine, horse, mule or burro, five (5) days, unless redeemed within such period. Said seventy-two (72) hour or five (5) day period shall commence after notice of impound has been given to the owner of the animal if he/she can be found, or from the commencement of the impound if the owner cannot be found after diligent search. Notice of the impound, as used herein, means actual notice to the owner, whether by telephone, personal conversation or service of a written notice, either in person or by mail. The notice period, if mailed, shall commence upon the mailing of the notice. (Ord. 1316, § 1, 3/13/1979) 545-6. Redemption. The owner of any animal impounded may at any time before disposition of said animal, redeem the animal by paying all proper fees and charges accrued as provided in this chapter, or by any other provision of law. If the animal is not redeemed within the time specified, and the animal is disposed of as provided in Section 545-8 hereof, the owner, if he be ascertained, shall be and remain liable for all fees, costs and charges arising out of the care, impoundment, transportation and disposition of such animal. If the animal has been sold, the amount received by the County shall be a credit in favor of the owner, but he/she shall be and remain liable for the balance. The collection of such amounts shall be accomplished as other County collections are accomplished. (Ord. 1316, § 1, 3/13/1979) 545-7. Fees and Charges. At the time of redemption, the owner shall be charged and shall pay to the County the actual cost incurred in connection with the impoundment of the animal including, but not limited to, the cost of rental of equipment, hiring of personnel to operate equipment, staff costs, transportation costs, and the cost of food and care for the animal. The County shall maintain records of the costs incurred and, upon request of the owner, shall make such records available to the owner. (Ord. 2215, 6/20/2000) 545-8. Disposition. An impounded animal which is not redeemed as provided in Section 545-6 hereof, at the expiration of the time limit set forth in Section 545-5, shall be sold, humanely destroyed or otherwise disposed of, including disposition to the Director of Food and Agriculture of the State of California. (Ord. 1316, § 1, 3/13/1979) 545-9. Liability of County Employees. No liability shall be incurred by any County employee for the care, impoundment, transportation or disposition of any animal pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 1316, § 1, 3/13/1979) 545-10. Penalties. Any violation of the provisions of Section 545-2 or 545-3 of this Code is hereby declared to be an infraction punishable as follows: for a first conviction, by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00); for a second conviction, by a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00); for a third or subsequent conviction, by a fine not to exceed Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($250.00). (Ord. 2215, 6/20/2000)