La Quinta Municipal Code Title 10 Animals

Footnotes:

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Prior ordinance history—Ords. 10, 52, 82, 107 and 137.

Title 6, Animals, of the Riverside County Code of Ordinances, as it may be amended from time to time, is adopted by this reference, subject to revisions and deletions as provided in this Title 10. Title 6 of the Riverside County Code of Ordinances, as modified by the revisions and deletions in this Title 10, may be referred to as the "city of La Quinta Animal Control Ordinance." All provisions in this Title 10 shall be subject to applicable revisions in California law.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)

For the purposes of this title, unless it is plainly evident from the context that a different meaning is intended, the terms used in this title shall have the following meanings. Terms not otherwise defined in this title shall have the meaning ascribed to them in Title 6 of the Riverside County Code of Ordinances.

"Animal control officer" means all persons designated by the city as an animal control officer or such other person(s) designated by the city as deputies or as the animal control officer has designated to perform the duties of the position, or such person with whom the city has contracted to perform such duties, or such person who is otherwise obligated by law to perform such duties.

"Attack" by an animal means an animal that charges or pursues a person or other animal and causes injury due to a bite, fall, strain or other documented injury.

"Backyard breeding" is the breeding, selling, transferring or giving away of all or part of any litter of dogs that were bred and reared on a residentially zoned property.

"Cat" means a mammal of the species Felis Catus.

"Cattery" means any residence, structure, or premises, whether indoors or outdoors, which houses, contains, maintains or provides shelter or sustenance for five (5) or more cats of four (4) months old or older.

"City manager" means the city manager for the city of La Quinta, or authorized designee of the city manager.

"Community" means any public entity which is authorized by law to regulate and control dogs or cats or both.

"Department" means the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, or successor department of office of said county.

"Dog" means any member of the canine family.

"Exotic animal" means any animal which is not normally domesticated in the United States including, but not limited to any lion, tiger, bear, non-human primate (monkey, chimpanzee, etc.), wolf, coyote, cougar, bobcat, ocelot, wildcat, skunk, boa, python, reptile, amphibian, bird, or venomous snake, irrespective of its actual or asserted state of docility, tameness or domesticity.

"Livestock" means any animal commonly considered a "barnyard" animal or animals raised for food production, including, but not limited to, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, pigs, rabbits, alpacas, llamas, emus, and ostriches.

"Owner" means any person who is the legal owner, keeper, harborer, possessor or the actual custodian of any animal. Ownership is established by a: (1) person registering as the owner on a license or other legal document; (2) person claiming ownership and taking possession of an animal; or (3) by being in possession of an animal for thirty (30) days or more. If more than one (1) person claims ownership of an animal, the person who is identified on the license as the owner of the animal shall be considered the owner. If more than one (1) person is identified on the license as owner or if the animal is not licensed, the presumption will be that the animal belongs to the occupant of the residence where the dog resides the majority of the time unless proven otherwise.

"Person" means any individual, firm, business, partnership, joint venture, corporation, limited liability company, profit or non-profit association, club or organization.

"Title 6 of the Riverside County Code" means Title 6, Animals, of the Riverside County Code of Ordinances, as it may be amended from time to time.

"Veterinarian" means a person holding a current valid license to practice veterinary medicine issued by the state of California pursuant to Chapter 11 of the California Business and Professions Code.

"Vicious dog/vicious cat" means any dog or cat which has bitten a person or animal without provocation or direction or which has a disposition or propensity to attack or bite any person or animal without provocation or direction.

"Wild animal" means any animal not ordinarily and customarily domesticated, but of a species, breed or kind which is wild by nature and not generally and commonly propagated and raised by man or woman in this state for use as a household pet or domestic or domesticated animal or which, because of its size, disposition, nature, or other characteristics could constitute a danger to human life or property. The definition of "wild animal" shall include feral animals.

"Wildlife" means any creature, whether or not raised in captivity, normally found in a wild state.

(Ord. 633 § 1, 4-21-2026)