Imperial County Municipal Code Ch. 6.04 General Provisions, Administration and Enforcement

This title shall be known and may be referred to in all proceedings as "The Imperial County Rabies and Predatory Animal Control Law".

(Prior code § 54100)

The following words and phrases when used in any provision of this title, shall be construed to have the following meaning:

"County" means the county of Imperial, state of California, and its duly authorized officers and agents.

"Leash" means any rope, strap, chain, or other material not exceeding six feet in length, held in the hand of a person capable of controlling the dog to which it is attached.

"Owner" and the verb "to own" includes the legal owner, keeper, harborer, or one having charge, care, control, custody, or possession.

"Person" means any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, estate, trust or organization of any kind.

"Quarantine" means the strict confinement and restraint of any animal in such a way as to make it impossible for the animal to bite any other animal or person.

An animal which "runs at large" is one which is neither effectively confined by a building, structure, or enclosure nor restrained by a rope, strap, chain or other material.

Words used in the present tense include the future, except where the natural construction of this title otherwise indicates. Words in the singular number include the plural, and words in the plural shall include the singular; words in the male gender shall include the feminine and neuter; and the word "shall" is mandatory and not directory.

(Prior code § 54101)

When the county responds to a request to take possession of dogs and cats for adoption or euthanasia, the fee shall be eight dollars ($8.00) per dog or cat for each dog or cat over four months of age, and there shall be no charge for pups or kittens under four months of age.

(Prior code § 54308)

Any person may rent one or more traps from the department of health for a weekly rental of five dollars ($5.00) per cat trap or a dog trap for ten dollars ($10.00) per trap. A deposit of twenty dollars ($20.00) per cat trap shall be paid to the department upon rental of the cat trap and one hundred dollars ($100.00) for dog trap. The deposit, less all amounts due, including any rents and the costs of necessary repairs, shall be refunded upon return of trap. Should county delivery or pick-up of any trap be required, a charge of ten dollars ($10.00) per trap will be made, and a charge of fifteen dollars ($15.00) per trap will be made if pick-up is made during non-business hours or on holidays.

(Prior code § 54309)

The county of Imperial establishes the following animal control fees:

(Prior code § 54310)

The county health officer or the county veterinarian may post such notices throughout the county as is deemed necessary for the enforcement of this title or any section thereof. Any person removing, mutilating or defacing such notice without consent of the county health officer or the county veterinarian shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Prior code § 54403)

A rabies control council is created, members of which shall consist of the county health officer, the county veterinarian, the agricultural commissioner and two members from the general public, one representing the sporting dog groups and one representing the livestock industry. The chairperson of the council shall be chosen from the members thereof, and shall be appointed by the board of supervisors. he or she shall serve for whatever period the board may prescribe. At least two meetings yearly shall be called by the council chairperson, one of the meetings to be called on or before December 15th of the year preceding the rabies control period and one of the meetings to be called on or before March 1st of the year of the rabies control period. The purposes of the meeting shall be to plan and conduct a program outlining the procedures to be employed in the implementation of the quarantine period, and to review the current year round measures taken to prevent or control an outbreak of rabies in Imperial County. If the council determines that the current year's program has for any reason been inadequate, it shall make a recommendation to the board of supervisors to amend this title in order to conduct more effectively the rabies and predatory animal control program. The rabies control council shall make an annual report to the board of supervisors concerning the rabies control period. This council may appoint a citizens' action committee for the purpose of conducting an annual publicity and educational program, the campaign to begin not later than December 16th of the preceding year, and to terminate on March 1st of each year, in order to acquaint the public with the provisions of this title, and to seek public cooperation. Funds for the campaign shall be provided according to the provisions of Section 6.12.100, and in such other way as the board of supervisors shall determine. In the event of a threatened outbreak of rabies in Imperial County the council shall have the power to take any emergency steps subject to the approval of the board, which may be necessary to protect the public health and safety.

(Prior code § 54500)

A. It is made the duty of all peace officers of the county of Imperial, the county health officer, the county veterinarian, the deputies of either officer, each sheltermaster, and every person employed or appointed by the board of supervisors for that purpose to assist in the enforcement and the carrying out of the provisions of this title, and all such officers and persons are empowered to do so. It is made the duty of all such officers and persons to capture and hold for further action by the county health officer or the county veterinarian all dogs or cats found running at large upon the public highways, lands, places or streets in the unincorporated territory of the county of Imperial in violation of the provisions of this title; and said officers and persons hereinabove mentioned are authorized and empowered to kill and destroy such dogs or cats as in the judgement of the officers and persons might be necessary for the preservation of the public health and safety.

B. During the period of county-wide quarantine all stray dogs and cats captured by the proper authorities shall be destroyed or sheltered according to the provisions of Sections 6.12.130 and 6.08.090.

(Prior code § 54501)

The animal control officer shall also be known as the sheltermaster.

(Prior code § 54502)

The county health officer, the county veterinarian, the sheriff or any constable, or the deputies of such officers or the sheltermaster and his or her assistants, are empowered to enter upon any private property for the purpose of ascertaining whether any animal present, kept or harbored thereon is afflicted with rabies, or whether or not a vaccination certificate and license tag has been secured for any dog.

(Prior code § 54503)

Officers or persons capturing an animal which is suspected of being infected with rabies, may separately confine such animal in some safe place and report the capture to the county health officer or the county veterinarian and submit such animal to examination by such officer, and it shall be the duty of such officer when called upon, to examine or have examined such animal and to ascertain whether or not such animal is infected with rabies.

(Prior code § 54504)

If it shall appear to the county health officer or the county veterinarian that any animal is unusually dangerous, the officer may cause such animal to be confined in a suitable place or be destroyed forthwith. The officers are empowered to destroy forthwith any animal which is known to have bitten persons or other animals on three separate occasions.

(Prior code § 54405.5)

A. It is unlawful for any person to interfere with, oppose or resist, or fail or refuse to cooperate with, any officer while the officer is engaged in the performance of any of the duties prescribed by the provisions of this title.

B. It is unlawful for any owner of a dog, or any person who has charge, care, control, custody or possession of a dog, to fail or refuse to cooperate with any officer while the officer is engaged in the performance of any of the duties prescribed in this title. Any such owner or person who fails or refuses to cooperate with, or who refuses to provide requested relevant information to, any such officer shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Prior code § 54407)

It is unlawful for any person to violate any of the provisions of this title.

(Prior code § 54406)