Mendocino County Municipal Code Ch. 10.08 Prohibitions

(A) It shall be unlawful for any person who owns, harbors or keeps any dog:

(1) To permit or cause such dog to run at large, roam or run astray.

(2) To fail to keep the dog under physical control when the dog is upon any public property or private property without the express permission of the owner or the custodian of such property.

(3) To allow a dog on public property without a leash not exceeding six (6) feet in length. To comply with this section, the person in charge of the dog must have physical control of the leash.

(a) Dogs may be permitted to run without a leash in designated areas which, from time to time, may be set aside by the County for the specific purpose of exercising a dog, so long as the owner or keeper of the dog maintains control of the dog at all times and does not permit the dog to go beyond the boundaries of the designated area and subject to the following restrictions:

(i) No person shall keep a noisy, vicious or dangerous dog or animal or one which is disturbing other persons or animals who are in the designated areas and remain therein after the owners have been asked by County personnel or law enforcement to leave;

(ii) No person shall leave or deposit dogs, cats, or other animals, fowl or fish within the boundaries of the designated areas;

(iii) No person shall bring a dog into, permit a dog to enter or remain, or possess a dog in the designated areas unless the person is able to present proof upon request that the dog has a valid rabies inoculation and the person presents a valid license for the dog.

(b) The following activities are permitted and excepted herefrom, provided the dog does not present a hazard to the public safety and welfare, does not trespass upon private property, cause a nuisance or violate any other provisions of this Title or State law:

(i) Lawful hunting;

(ii) Livestock herding and control;

(iii) Organized field trials;

(iv) Tracking, obedience training/or show and other recognized work activities when under the direct control of the owner or handler or assistance dogs for the physically handicapped when performing their duties.

(4) To permit the dog to defecate upon public property, including, but not limited to, any public sidewalk or public area commonly occupied or traversed on foot by members of the public, unless the person immediately removes the feces and properly disposes of it. Visually handicapped persons who use assistance dogs are exempt from this law.

(5) To permit any dog to be unlicensed.

(6) To permit any dog to remain unrestrained without an appropriate fence, chain or enclosure.

(7) To permit or take any dog into a restaurant, grocery store, meat market, supermarket, fruit store or any place where food is sold, dispensed or served to members of the public. Exempted from this law are service animals under the immediate control of their owners.

(8) To keep, possess, maintain or harbor any vicious dog (as defined in section 10.04.104 of this Code) or potentially dangerous dog (as defined in Section 10.04.092 of this Code) or dangerous exotic animal (as defined in section 10.04.068 of this Code) unless the animal(s) is registered under an annual permit with Animal Care Services.

(Ord. No. 4421, 12-18-2018)

(A) It shall be unlawful and an infraction for any person who owns or harbors or keeps any cat:

(1) To permit a cat to damage property, public or private, real or personal, or to bite, scratch, or claw any human being or other animal which is on the property of another.

(2) To take a cat into any of the places set forth in Section 10.08.010(7).

It shall be unlawful and an infraction for any person to maintain a feral cat colony, unless that colony is registered with Animal Care Services or a Community Animal Rescue Partner and that person abides by any guidelines established by the Director of Animal Care Services.

(Ord. No. 4421, 12-18-2018)

(A) It is unlawful and a misdemeanor to abandon any animal in Mendocino County.

(B) With the exception of livestock at recognized auctions, fairs or expositions, it shall be unlawful and an infraction for any person to display for sale, offer for sale, exchange, barter or give away any animal except in the following places:

(1) Pet shop, commercial kennel, private kennel, nonprofit incorporated pet adoption agency, pet grooming parlor, animal shelter, humane society facility, horse establishment, which have a valid permit or license as may be required by this Title, may on occasion be permitted by Animal Care Services to temporarily display animals at specialized locations other than their normal place of business, provided such animals are at all times under physical control and restrained, have adequate water, food and shelter;

(2) Private residence; or

(3) Veterinary clinic.

(C) Any person who reports to Animal Control or Animal Care Services any false information regarding animals, or causes any such report to be made, knowing that the report is false and with the intent to deceive, which false information causes Animal Control to actively and substantially respond to such report is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. No. 4421, 12-18-2018)

Any Animal Control Officer or peace officer may impound any dog or cat for violations of this Title, or when deemed necessary to preserve public health and safety or to prevent needless suffering of animals. Impoundments shall be governed by Chapter 10.24 of this Title.

(Ord. No. 4421, 12-18-2018)