Manteca Municipal Code Ch. 6.16 Impoundment

A public animal services shelter is established in the city at a place to be designated by the city manager.

(Prior code § 3-27; Ord. 1077 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)

There is created the office of the animal services officer who shall be appointed by the city manager. The city manager is authorized to employ assistants for the animal services officer as the need arises. The animal services officer and his or her assistants are authorized and directed to enforce all the provisions of Part V of the Health and Sanitation Code. For such purpose they shall have the powers of peace officers. The compensation of the animal services officer and assistants shall be fixed by the city manager and approved by the city council.

(Prior code § 3-28; Ord. 1077 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)

The animal services officer shall report to and be supervised in his or her work by the police chief.

(Prior code § 3-29; Ord. 1077 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)

A. No person owning or having the care, custody, control or possession of any animal set forth in this title shall suffer, allow, or permit any such animal to run, be, or remain at large on any unenclosed lot or ground within the city, or any public street, road, alley, park, public square or other public property or upon any private property other than the property of the owner or custodian of such animal without the consent of the owner of such property. It shall be the duty of the animal services officer to take up and impound as provided in this title, any cow, horse, mule, ass, swine, sheep or goat that may be found in or upon any public street, road, alley, park, public square, unenclosed lot or ground or upon any private property, other than the property of the owner or custodian of such animal, or private property with the consent of the owner of such private property.

B. An animal shall not be considered to be at large if such animal is securely fastened with a tether not exceeding four feet in length if on public grounds, highways or alleys; and if on private property, of such lengths as to prevent their reaching the streets, alleys, or public squares.

(Prior code § 3-30; Ord. 1077 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1182 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)

Any rabid animal, clinically suspected rabid animal, or biting animal, shall be surrendered to the animal services officer or, on request of the owner, placed in a veterinary hospital licensed under the laws of the state. Such animal shall remain impounded or in such a hospital for that period as prescribed by law. During the period it shall be the duty of the district health officer to determine whether or not such animal is suffering from rabies, and by reason of such disease is dangerous to persons, or other animals. If so, he or she shall require that the animal be confined until death ensues. If the district health officer shall determine that such animal is not so diseased, he or she shall notify the animal services officer and the animal services officer shall notify the owner or person having control of the animal that further impounding is unnecessary.

(Prior code § 3-31; Ord. 1077 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)

Any impounded animal listed in Section 6.16.040, may be redeemed and taken away upon the payment of so many of the following fees and charges as may have accrued:

A. For taking up and impounding each large animal, including, but not limited to, a horse, mare, gelding, ox, steer, cow, mule or ass a fee as may be established from time to time by resolution of the council.

B. For taking up and impounding each small animal including, but not limited to, a cat, goat, rabbit, bird and other small animals, a fee as may be established from time to time by resolution of the council, to include separate fees for a first impound, second impound and three or more impounds.

(Prior code § 3-32; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)

A. The animal services officer shall retain any impounded animal listed in Section 6.16.040 for a mandatory holding period as prescribed by law. If the animal is not redeemed within that time, the animal services officer shall be at liberty to dispose of the animal. Any animal, whose value, in the opinion of the animal services officer, will exceed the expense for which the animal may be liable, may be advertised for sale. The advertisement shall be published at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation printed and published in the city and shall contain a complete description of the animal to be sold. Advertisement shall give notice that the sale is to be at public auction to be conducted by the animal control officer, shall give the location, time and date of the sale and set forth that the animal will be sold to pay the charges that have or will have accrued against it, together with advertising costs. The date set for the conduct of the sale shall be not less than two nor more than ten days from the date of the first publication of the advertisement. If the animal has not been redeemed prior to the sale, the animal services officer shall sell the animal for cash to the highest bidder and, upon the payment of the purchase money, he or she shall deliver the animal, together with a bill of sale therefor, to the purchaser.

B. Any owner redeeming an animal after advertisement for sale has begun shall be required to pay the advertising costs which have accrued, in addition to the fees and charges set forth in Section 6.16.060.

C. Whenever any animal has been sold pursuant to this section, the animal services officer shall maintain a record of the date it was sold, the name and address of the party buying the animal, the total cost and expense incurred, specifying each item, and the sale price.

(Prior code § 3-33; Ord. 1077 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)

It is made the duty of the animal services officer to take up and impound, and/or prosecute the owners of, any dogs found or kept in the city in violation of any of the sections of this chapter, including, but not limited to, the license and annual registration sections.

(Prior code § 3-35; Ord. 1077 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)

All animals impounded will be provided with food and water and held for a period as prescribed by law, unless previously redeemed.

(Prior code § 3-36; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)

A. All dogs not claimed or redeemed within the mandatory holding period, shall become the property of the city and may be adopted, euthanized, placed with a rescue organization or otherwise disposed of in a manner prescribed by law.

B. Any person may adopt an unclaimed dog by securing a license and paying both an adoption fee and microchip fee, both of which will be established from time to time by resolution of council.

C. Exception. Any person (purchasing) adopting a dog and who has an out-of-town address will be required to purchase a license from the city/county in which they reside to keep a dog.

(Prior code § 3-37; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)

The owner or person having had control of an unlicensed dog impounded by the animal services officer, may redeem such dog within the mandatory holding period by showing adequate proof of ownership, paying for the license, redemption fee, impound fee, plus a fee per day for each day such dog has been kept by the animal services officer in excess of the mandatory holding period. All such fees will be established from time to time by resolution of the council.

(Prior code § 3-38; Ord. 1077 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)

The owner or person having had control of an out-of-town dog taken up and impounded by the animal services officer, may redeem his or her dog within the mandatory holding period by showing adequate proof of ownership, paying the impound fee, plus a per day fee for each day such dog has been kept by the animal services officer in excess of the mandatory holding period.

(Prior code § 3-39; Ord. 1077 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)

The owner or person having had control of a registered dog found in the city, in violation of this chapter, and impounded by the animal services officer, may redeem the dog within the mandatory holding period upon payment of the appropriate redemption fees as established from time to time by resolution of council.

(Prior code § 3-40; Ord. 1077 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)

It is made the duty of the animal services officer to impound all cats delivered to the city animal control shelter.

(Prior code § 3-41; Ord. 1077 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)

A. All cats not claimed or redeemed within the mandatory holding period, shall become the property of the city and may be adopted, euthanized, placed with a rescue organization or otherwise disposed of in a manner prescribed by law.

B. Any person may adopt an unclaimed cat of more than three months of age that has been neutered or spayed after paying both the adoption fee and microchip fee as established from time to time by resolution of council.

C. Any person may adopt an unclaimed cat less than three months of age upon payment of the adoption fee, cost of neutering/spaying fee, and the microchip fee.

(Prior code § 3-42; Ord. 1077 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)

The owner or person having control of a cat impounded by the animal services officer may redeem such cat within the mandatory holding period by showing adequate proof of ownership and upon payment of the associated redemption fees.

(Prior code § 3-43; Ord. 1077 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1495 § 3, 2011)