Earlier editions: 2026-09
Title 10 — ANIMALS›Division 1 — ANIMAL CONTROL, WELFARE AND LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
Laguna Niguel Municipal Code Art. 7 Animal Impoundment
Laguna Niguel Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Laguna Niguel
Cite as: Laguna Niguel Municipal Code Article 7 · Text as of 2026-10-04
Sec. 10-1-105. - Animals subject to impoundment.¶
(a) The director or his deputies may take into custody:
(1) Any animal kept or maintained contrary to the provisions of this Code or any regulation adopted thereunder, or any state statute.
(2) Animals running at large contrary to the provisions of this division or any statute.
(3) Sick, injured, stray or unwanted animals for which the owner or custodian cannot be found or is unable or unwilling to provide proper care.
(4) Animals quarantined for which no other place of quarantine is acceptable to the director.
(5) Animals delivered or requested to be impounded by a peace officer or public officer or employee as defined in Penal Code § 836.5.
(6) Any wild animal found to be at large upon any public property, or, upon request of the owner or tenant, found to be at large upon private property.
(7) Animals impounded pursuant to section 10-1-95.
(8) Any other animal authorized to be impounded under this division.
(b) The director may place animals which he takes into custody in the animal shelter or other facility designated by him, except that animals impounded pursuant to subsection (a)(6) of this section may be summarily destroyed.
(Ord. No. 2022-215, § 3, 6-7-22)
Sec. 10-1-106. - Retention of animals to be reported to director.¶
No person shall, without the consent of the owner, hold or retain possession of any animal for more than 24 hours without first reporting the possession of such animal to the director, giving his name and address and a true description of the animal, and then surrendering such animal to the director upon demand.
(Ord. No. 2022-215, § 3, 6-7-22)
Sec. 10-1-107. - Unauthorized removal of animals from official custody.¶
No person shall remove any animal from the custody of the director or from the animal shelter without permission from the director to do so.
(Ord. No. 2022-215, § 3, 6-7-22)
Sec. 10-1-108. - Redemption of animals from animal shelter.¶
(a) Except as otherwise provided by state law or article 8 of this division, when any animal, other than an animal abandoned by its owner, is impounded pursuant to this division, the director shall, within 12 working hours after impounding such animal, notify the owner, if known, of the location of such animal. The notification shall be by mail, with postage fully prepaid thereon.
(b) Any impounded animal may be redeemed by the owner upon payment of the fees established by resolution of the city council. The owner must also demonstrate to the satisfaction of the director that he is the owner of the animal, and that he can keep such animal in conformance with the requirements of this division,
(c) If a licensed animal is not redeemed within seven days of impoundment, excluding holidays and the day of impoundment, or three days for unlicensed animals, it shall be deemed abandoned and the director may sell, release or destroy the animal.
(Ord. No. 2022-215, § 3, 6-7-22)
Sec. 10-1-109. - Sale of unredeemed impounded animals.¶
(a) Except as otherwise provided by state law or by this division, any unredeemed animal may be sold by the director upon payment of the fees established by resolution of the city council.
(b) An unredeemed female dog which has not been neutered shall not be sold or given away, other than for approved medical research, unless the deposit specified in section 10-1-111 has been received.
(Ord. No. 2022-215, § 3, 6-7-22)
Sec. 10-1-110. - Disposition of impounded animals by euthanasia.¶
Any impounded animal which has not been redeemed or sold may be disposed of by euthanasia. Euthanasia may also be performed at the request of the owner of the animal. A fee may be charged if provided for by resolution of the city council.
(Ord. No. 2022-215, § 3, 6-7-22)
Sec. 10-1-111. - Neutering of impounded animals.¶
No humane shelter or shelter operated by a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shall adopt or give away, dog or cat which has not been neutered or spayed, unless a spay/neuter deposit is made at the time of adoption or give away. The deposit will be refunded to the person adopting or receiving the dog or cat when a notice is received by the shelter from a licensed veterinarian that the spay or neuter has been completed.
(Ord. No. 2022-215, § 3, 6-7-22)
Sec. 10-1-112. - Unauthorized disposition of impounded animals.¶
No person shall sell, barter or give away nor shall any person buy, accept or take possession of any animal on premises upon which the animal shelter is located, including adjacent parking areas, without the written permission of the director. The director may define the premises covered by this section and cause those areas to be posted so as to advise persons of the provisions of this section.
(Ord. No. 2022-215, § 3, 6-7-22)
Secs. 10-1-113—10-1-126. - Reserved.¶
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