Palm Desert Municipal Code Ch. 6.08 Animal Control Officer

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Editor's Note: Former Ch. 6.12, Animal Control Officer, adopted by Ord. 874 § 1, 1998 was renumbered to be Ch. 6.08 by Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025.

A. Under the direction of the city manager or their designee, the code compliance & support services manager shall act as animal control officer for the city and supervise the administration and enforcement of this title and the laws of the state of California pertaining to the control of animals (including dogs).

B. The city council may enter into a written agreement or agreements with any approved contractor, licensed veterinarian, or any organized humane society or association, which will undertake to carry out, under the direction of the code compliance & support services manager, the provisions of this title. The contractor shall maintain and operate an animal shelter, which will license, take up, impound, and dispose of animals. Any such veterinarian or society or association which shall enter into such an agreement shall carry out all of the provisions of this title in the manner herein prescribed.

C. In the performance of his or her duties as such, the animal control officer and his or her deputies and assistants are invested with the power and authority of a police officer of the city but shall not be deemed to be members of the police department. The code compliance & support services manager, animal control officers, his or her deputies and assistants, code compliance officers, and all peace officers are empowered to enforce this title and any statute of the state relating to animals, unless otherwise provided by law.

D. It shall be the duty of all peace officers within the county of Riverside, to cooperate with and assist the animal control officer in the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, and in the enforcement of California state law relating to the regulation, care and/or keeping of animals, and such peace officers and the animal control officer or his or her designees shall be empowered to:

1. Receive, take up and impound any dog or other animal found running at large in violation of this code or of any law of the state of California.

2. Issue a warning notice for, citation for, or investigate any violation of any provision of this code or California law regarding the care or keeping of animals.

3. Investigate whether a dog is licensed in compliance with the requirements of this title.

4. Seize and impound any animal as authorized under this code or state law. When the animal to be taken or seized is located inside a private residence or in its curtilage, a judicial order directing seizure of the animal shall, absent exigent circumstances, be obtained prior to seizure.

5. Regularly and adequately feed, water, and otherwise care for any animals impounded under the provisions of this code or state law or to provide for such feeding and/or watering and care.

6. Follow the provisions of this code, policies or state law in humanely destroying or giving emergency care to sick or injured animals.

7. The code compliance & support services manager, any peace officer, or officer charged with the responsibility for enforcement of the provisions of this code or state law governing animals may arrest a person without warrant whenever he or she has reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed an infraction or misdemeanor in his or her presence, or a felony which is in violation of this title or California law regulating the care and/or keeping of animals.

E. In any case in which an arrested person does not demand to be taken before a judge: (1) for any infraction, the person making the arrest shall prepare a written notice to appear and shall release the person on his or her promise to appear, as prescribed by Section 853.5 of the California Penal Code; (2) for a misdemeanor, such officer or employee may prepare a written notice to appear and may release the person on his/her written promise to appear, as prescribed by California Penal Code Section 853.6.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

No person shall interfere with, oppose, or resist any person authorized to enforce this title, while such person is engaged in the performance of his or her duties.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

Unless otherwise prohibited by law, all persons whose duty it is to enforce the provisions of this title are empowered to enter upon private property, where any dog or cat is kept or reasonably believed to be kept, for the purpose of ascertaining whether such dog or cat is kept in violation of any provision of this title.

Pursuant to any provision in this title relating to entry upon private property for any purpose under this title, no such entry may be conducted: (a) without the express or implied consent of the property owner or the person having lawful possession thereof; or (b) unless an inspection warrant has been issued and the entry is conducted in accordance with California Code of Civil Procedure, Sections 1822.50 through 1822.56, inclusive, or except as may otherwise be expressly or impliedly permitted by law.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)