Article 9 — General

It shall be the duty of the Tax Collector or Director to keep, or cause to be kept, accurate and detailed records of:

• (a) All dogs or livestock licensed, impounded, or sold;

• (b) All animal bite cases reported and the results of the investigations thereof; and

• (c) All moneys received.

Such records shall be open to inspection by the public at all reasonable times.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

For the purposes of this chapter, certain words and phrases are defined as follows:

"Animal" shall mean any dog shelter, animal shelter, temporary animal shelter, or shelter vehicle owned or operated by the Director.

"Animal Control Officer" shall include deputies of Director and any person or organization authorized to perform the duties and functions of Director or the agents or employees of any such person or organization.

"County Health Officer" shall mean the County Health Officer and officers, employees, and agents thereof.

"Director" shall mean the Director of Ventura County Animal Services.

“Harbors.” A person "harbors" a dog when he feeds or shelters a dog for a period of 30 days or longer.

"Livestock" shall include horses, ponies, mules, burros, jacks, jennies, cows, bulls, calves, heifers, sheep, goats, swine, hogs, pigs, and all other domestic or domesticated animals other than household pets.

“Runs at large”:

• (1) A dog "runs at large" when it is upon private property without the permission of the person owning or occupying the property or when it is upon public property and is not upon a leash.

• (2) Livestock "runs at large" when upon private property without the permission of the person owning or occupying the property or when upon public property and not under the immediate control of a responsible person capable of controlling such animal.

"Tax Collector" shall mean the County Tax Collector and officers, employees, and agents thereof.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/OJ4979 on 2026-07-07

City of Ojai, CA

SANITATION AND HEALTH

§ 5-4.903

§ 5-4.910

Licenses need not be worn by dogs when dogs are contained within an enclosure, or confined to the premises of an animal hospital or licensed dog kennel or chartered benevolent organization of the State for the care of animals, or participating in or training for sporting events, field trials, obedience classes, or dog shows, or herding livestock provided such dogs are not allowed to run at large.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

A dog license shall be issued free of charge in the following instances:

• (a) When the license is for a dog which will be used as a guide dog for a blind person. An affidavit attesting to the fact that the dog will be used as a guide dog shall be given to the official issuing the license; and

• (b) When the license is for a dog which has been honorably discharged from the armed services of the United States. Such discharge shall be established by showing to the official issuing the license the discharge papers issued for such dog.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

In any prosecution for a violation of any provision of this chapter the burden of producing evidence to establish any of the exemptions provided in this chapter shall, in the first instance, be upon the defendant.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971; repealed by Part 4, Ord. 508, eff. July 24, 1975)

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971; repealed by Part 4, Ord. 508, eff. July 24, 1975)

It is unlawful for any person to fail to comply with any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation of the Animal Control Department or the County Health Officer. Before a person is charged with violating any such rule or regulation, he or she shall have received at least 10 days' notice thereof.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by Part 3, Ord. 508, eff. July 24, 1975, and § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

If any portion of this chapter is found to be unconstitutional or invalid, the Council hereby declares that it would have enacted the remainder of this chapter regardless of the absence of any such invalid part.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

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City of Ojai, CA § 5-4.910

OJAI CODE

§ 5-4.910

The Council may, by resolution, establish rates and charges for services rendered by the Director not designated in this chapter.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/OJ4979 on 2026-07-07

City of Ojai, CA

SANITATION AND HEALTH

§ 5-4.1001

§ 5-4.1004