6.08 — DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL

The Department of Animal Care and Control under the administrative management of the Director, and the office of the Director, is hereby established. (Prior code § 5-3)

The Director of Animal Care and Control shall be vested with the necessary police powers and duties of a police officer for the exclusive purpose of enforcing the provisions of this chapter, and it shall be his or her duty to make arrests and issue citations for violations of any of the provisions of this chapter. The Director of Animal Care and Control shall enforce all of the laws of the City, County and State relating to the care, treatment and impounding of dumb animals and to the prevention of cruelty to dumb animals. (Prior code § 5-3.1)

It is hereby made the duty of the Director of Animal Care and Control to enforce any other sections of this title whether enumerated as a duty or not. (Prior code § 5-3.2)

No person shall rescue or attempt to rescue any animal mentioned herein from the possession of the Chief, nor interfere with the Chief or any of his or her deputies in the performance of their duties.

(Prior code § 5-3.3)

The Director of Animal Care and Control or his or her deputy animal control officers or any police officer is authorized to enter upon any premises upon which any animal is kept, for the purpose of taking up, seizing or impounding any animal found running at large, or staked, herded or grazing thereon, contrary to the provisions of this title for the purpose of ascertaining whether such animal is licensed as provided in this title; or determining whether any regulation or law of the State relating to the care, treatment or impounding of dumb animals or to the prevention or cruelty to dumb animals is being violated; provided there is probable cause to believe there is such violation.

(Prior code § 5-3.4)

It shall be the duty of the Director of Animal Care and Control to enforce those sections of the Penal Code of the State of California pertaining to the inhumane treatment of dumb animals, and to take possession of animals so abandoned or neglected, and care for or dispose of same as provided for in the Penal Code of the State of California or this chapter. (Prior code § 5-3.5)

• A. The Director of Animal Care and Control may establish a clinic, at which members of the public may have dogs and cats spayed or neutered in a humane manner upon payment of the fees established by the Director.

• B. A person submitting a dog or cat for the above service shall sign a consent form certifying thereon under penalty of perjury that he or she is the owner of said animals or setting forth facts showing that he or she is otherwise authorized to represent the animal for the above operation and such person may be required to furnish proof of such ownership or authority. Such consent shall contain a waiver of any and all liability of the City, the Department of Animal Care and Control and any employees thereof for any injury or death to an animal arising out of the aforementioned operation or any services provided incidental thereto.

• C. The Department of Animal Care and Control shall establish a return date by which a person submitting an animal for the above operation shall pick up said animal or be subject to a reasonable board and care fee to commence the day after such return date. Failure to pick up an animal within 15 days of said return date shall be deemed abandonment of such animal and the Director may dispose of it by sale or destruction.

• (Prior code § 5-3.6)