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Title 6 — ANIMALS

Chapter 6.32 — DISEASED AND CRIPPLED ANIMALS

Palo Alto Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-09-29 · Palo Alto

6.32.010 Keeping diseased or crippled animals.

No person shall have, keep, or harbor any animal which is known or believed by him to be infected with any dangerous or communicable disease, or which is in an incurable, crippled condition or which is afflicted with any painful disease which is believed by such person to be incurable, except as in this title otherwise provided.

(Prior code § 18.32)

6.32.020 Animals suspected of having rabies.

Whenever the owner or person in control of any animal is informed that such animal has bitten a human being, or suspects that the animal is infected with rabies, he shall immediately report the same to the local health department and to the police department, and shall immediately confine such animal. At the discretion of the local health officer or animal control officer, any animal which bites or otherwise exposes a person shall be isolated in strict confinement in a place and manner approved by the local health officer or animal control officer and observed for at least fourteen days (dogs and cats, ten days) after the day of infliction of the bite, with the exception that the following alternative to the ten-day isolation of dogs and cats is permitted: Dogs or cats which have been isolated in strict confinement under proper care and under observation of a licensed veterinarian, in a pound, veterinary hospital or other adequate facility in a manner approved by the local health officer or animal control officer, may be released from isolation by the local health officer or animal control officer after five days of veterinary observation if, upon conducting a thorough physical examination on the fifth day or more after infliction of the bite, the observing veterinarian certifies that there are no clinical signs or symptoms of any systemic disease. If it appears at any time during such period that the animal has rabies, the health officer or animal control officer shall cause the animal to be destroyed. If at the end of the fourteen-day period or such other period as may be prescribed by the state Department of Public Health, it appears that the animal does not have rabies, it shall be released upon payment to the superintendent of a sum for its care during the period, together with an impounding fee as set forth in the municipal fee schedule; provided, however, that no impounding fee shall be charged to an owner or custodian of an animal who immediately transports such animal to the animal center.

The health officer or animal control officer or his duly authorized representative is empowered to enter upon any public or private premises, in accordance with the procedures provided by law, within the city for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this section and he is empowered to call upon the police officers of the city for assistance in enforcing such provisions. The owner of any animal which is reported to have bitten on two or more occasions may be required to obtain a permit for keeping a dangerous animal, as pursuant in Chapter 6.28, following investigation of reported bites and recommendation by the superintendent of the animal center.

(Ord. 3257 § 8 (part), 1981: Ord. 2960 § 42, 1976: Ord. 2669 § 15, 1972: Ord. 1297, 1950: prior code § 18.33)

6.32.030 Physicians to report animal bite cases.

All cases of animal bites treated by any physician shall be reported by the physician to the health department within seventy-two hours.

(Ord. 3257 § 8 (part), 1981: prior code § 18.34)

6.32.040 Disposal of animals.

It shall be the duty of the superintendent, and he is authorized and empowered to order the destruction by any employee of the animal center of any animal lawfully taken into the custody of the city which in the opinion of the superintendent is incapacitated by senility or which is infected with any dangerous or communicable disease, or which is in an incurable, crippled condition, or for which there is no immediate sale.

(Ord. 2669 § 16, 1972: prior code § 18.35)

6.32.050 Dead animals in public places.

No person shall place the body of any dead animal in any street, park. or public place or in any refuse receptacle. The bodies of any dead animals shall be promptly removed as directed by the health officer of the city. In case the owner of such dead animal is known and removal is accomplished by the city, the owner shall pay the cost of removal of such animal. The city manager shall fix the charges to be paid for the removal of dead animals. Said charges shall be set forth in the municipal fee schedule.

(Ord. 2960 § 43, 1976: Ord. 2029 (part), 1961: prior code § 31.21)

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▸Contents — Palo Alto Municipal Code
Palo Alto Municipal Code
  1. Article VIII — A. Board of Education
  2. Title 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  3. Title 2 — ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
  4. Title 4 — BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS
  5. Title 5 — HEALTH AND SANITATION
  6. ▸Title 6 — ANIMALS
    Overview
    1. 6.04 Definitions
    2. 6.08 Administration and Enforcement
    3. 6.12 Impoundment
    4. 6.16 Dogs
    5. 6.20 Care and Keeping of Animals
    6. 6.22 Reserved
    7. 6.24 Stables
    8. 6.28 Dangerous and Wild Animals
    9. 6.32 Diseased and Crippled Animals
    10. 6.36 Sale of Animals
    11. Chapter 6.04 — DEFINITIONS
    12. Chapter 6.08 — ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
    13. Chapter 6.12 — IMPOUNDMENT
    14. Chapter 6.16 — DOGS
    15. Chapter 6.20 — CARE AND KEEPING OF ANIMALS
    16. Chapter 6.22 — RESERVED
    17. Chapter 6.24 — STABLES
    18. Chapter 6.28 — DANGEROUS AND WILD ANIMALS
    19. Chapter 6.32 — DISEASED AND CRIPPLED ANIMALS
    20. Chapter 6.36 — SALE OF ANIMALS
  7. Title 8 — TREES AND VEGETATION
  8. Title 9 — PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND SAFETY
  9. Title 10 — VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
  10. Title 11 — ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PROCEDURE
  11. Title 12 — PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
  12. Title 13 — IMPROVEMENT PROCEDURE
  13. Title 15 — FIRE PREVENTION
  14. Title 16 — BUILDING REGULATIONS
  15. Title 17 — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE
  16. Title 18 — ZONING
  17. Title 19 — MASTER PLAN
  18. Article 7 — AUTHORITY FOR AND SCOPE OF MASTER OR GENERAL PLANS.
  19. Article 8 — PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTION OF MASTER OR GENERAL PLAN.
  20. Chapter 19.06 — SPECIFIC PLANS
  21. Chapter 19.10 — COORDINATED AREA PLANS
  22. Title 20 — PRECISE PLANS
  23. Title 21 — SUBDIVISIONS AND OTHER DIVISIONS OF LAND
  24. Title 22 — PARKS

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