Monterey County Municipal Code Ch. 8.44 Miscellaneous Provisions

Abandonment is defined as an act where an owner, driver, or possessor of any animal intentionally leaves said animal without provision for ongoing care and attention. If such an act occurs in any building, enclosure, lane, street, square, or lot, of the unincorporated area of the County, the person, as defined, shall be in violation of this Title. The penalties for such violation may be a misdemeanor.

(Ord. 3629, 1992)

The Animal Control Officer or his or her designee shall make available humane traps and cages to be used to trap and confine animals running-at-large on the private property of persons. The number and type shall be determined by the Animal Control Officer or his or her designee who shall collect deposits and fees for the use of such traps and cages. The deposits and fees shall be as set forth at Section 8.52.010 of this Title.

(Ord. 3629, 1992)

Dog owners shall at all times prevent their dogs from biting and harassing any person engaged in a lawful act and from interfering with the lawful use of public or private property.

(Ord. 3629, 1992)

1. No person shall give away any live animal, reptile or birds, (excepting those animals usually traded or bartered as parts of transactions conducted by ranchers or commercial livestock and poultry dealers, or youth agricultural programs) as a prize for or as an inducement to enter any contest, lottery, drawing, game, or competition or as an inducement to enter a place of amusement.

A. It is unlawful to offer such animal, reptile, or bird as an incentive to enter into any business agreement where the offer was for the purpose of attracting trade. This does not make unlawful these activities by persons regularly and continuously engaged in the sale or barter of the foregoing from a permanent business location, or privately between individuals, if not for the purpose of amusement.

2. No person shall sell, offer for sale, barter, give away or publicly display baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl or rabbits as pets or novelties which are dyed, colored, stained or otherwise artificially treated.

3. No person shall sell, offer for sale, barter, give away or exchange in a public place (i.e. streets, highways, in front of stores, at swap meets, flea markets, carnivals) any dog, cat, reptile, bird or any other animals.

B. This Section shall not be construed to prohibit the sale or display of natural chicks or ducklings in proper brooder facilities by hatcheries or stores engaged in the business of selling chicks, ducklings, and rabbits or other livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, horses, pigs, to be raised for domestic consumption or commercial purposes.

C. This Section shall not be construed to prohibit the sale or display of any dog, cat or other animal, fish, reptile or bird, by pet stores, humane societies, public animal shelters, commercial livestock breeders or hobby breeders engaged in the business of selling or adopting them.

D. This Section shall not be construed to prohibit the sale or gift of any pet or livestock or its offspring by its owner from the owner's private property. Public auctions are prohibited from selling, offering for sale, bartering or giving away dogs and cats. Exceptions may be allowed by the County Health Officer or his or her designee.

(Ord. 3629, 1992)

If any driver hits a deer, other large wildlife, livestock or a domestic animal of any size with a motorized vehicle, on public property, and the driver becomes aware of the fact of hitting such animal, such driver shall stop to render assistance if it is safe to do so and shall report the incident as soon as possible to County Communications at 9-1-1. Failure to assist when it is safe to do so or to report the incident is a violation of this ordinance.

(Ord. 3629, 1992)

It shall be unlawful for any person to leave an animal unattended in a parked vehicle thereby endangering such animal's health, safety, or well-being as determined by the Animal Control Officer or the Sheriff.

(Ord. 3629, 1992)