La Verne Municipal Code Ch. 6.04 Administration

The city may enter into a written agreement with any duly organized humane society or societies to enforce the provisions of this chapter and maintain and operate a shelter. Upon such agreement becoming effective, the officers and employees of such humane society, state humane officers and their deputies, shall thenceforth become the humane officer of the city and assume the duties prescribed in this chapter.

(Prior code § 4702)

A. The humane officer shall be responsible to the chief of police in all matters of enforcing the provisions of this chapter. The humane officer shall be in charge of the city animal shelter and keep a record of all animals impounded, redeemed, disposed of or sold.

B. The humane officer shall not issue a license tag and a license for any dog unless the applicant:

1. Exhibits a certificate signed by a veterinarian licensed by the state of California, or any other state to practice veterinary medicine that:

a. Such dog has been vaccinated with phenolized tissue vaccine less than one year prior to the date of application or the first day of the license period, whichever is later,

b. Such dog has been vaccinated with chick embryo vaccine less than two years prior to the date of application or the first day of the license period, whichever is later; or

2. Shows to the satisfaction of the humane officer that such dog is less than four months of age on the date of application or first day of the license period, whichever is later.

C. Citation Authority.

1. The humane officer and his or her deputies and assistants shall have the authority to issue administrative citations for violations of any of the provisions of Title 6 hereof. Pursuant to the agreement in place between the city and the Inland Valley Humane Society, any fines or penalties due under citations issued by the Humane Society shall be payable to and collected by the Inland Valley Humane Society.

2. The humane officer and his or her deputies and assistants shall have the authority to issue notices to appear in court, pursuant to the Penal Code, for violations of the state and city animal control laws. This authority is granted pursuant to Section 14503 of the Corporation Code.

(Prior code § 4705; Ord. 1044 § 4, 2014)

The humane officer may enter upon any premises, public or private, excluding those buildings or portions of buildings which are obviously designed for human occupancy, upon which any animal is kept or harbored, or upon which property he or she has reason to believe an animal is kept or harbored, for the purpose of enforcement of provisions of this chapter. Such entry may only be made with the consent of the owner or legal occupant of the premises, or pursuant to warrant obtained from a magistrate, unless there appears to be a threat of imminent danger to life.

(Prior code § 4705.01; Ord. 713 § 2, 1986)

Any person who rescues, or attempts to rescue any animal, domestic or otherwise, from the possession of the humane officer engaged in the conveyance of the same to the city animal shelter, or any such animal confined in the animal shelter, or who interferes in any manner whatsoever with the humane officer or a police officer, or other officer deputized by the chief of police while carrying out any provision of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Prior code § 4705.02)