7.08 — DEFINITIONS

The words and terms used in this title shall have the meaning stated as set forth in this chapter, unless the meaning is clearly intended to be otherwise. (Ord. 745 (part), 2013)

"Animal shelter" means a facility operated by SASA for the impoundment, relinquishment, quarantine, and adoption of animals.

(Ord. 745 (part), 2013)

"Health department" means the health department of the county. (Ord. 745 (part), 2013)

"Health officer" means the county health officer and his/her authorized deputies. (Ord. 745 (part), 2013)

"Impoundment" means the taking up and holding of an animal by the animal services executive director in accordance with the provisions of this title or other applicable laws or regulations. (Ord. 745 (part), 2013)

"Kennel" means a place where five or more dogs or cats over four months of age are kept for commercial or noncommercial purposes. The term "kennel" shall not apply to animal shelters operated by governmental agencies, nonprofit societies for the care of stray animals, or to veterinary hospitals.

(Ord. 745 (part), 2013)

"Licensing authority" means the SASA and its animal services executive director. (Ord. 745 (part), 2013)

• A. "Animal owner" or "owner" for purposes of this title means any person harboring, keeping or providing care or sustenance to a domestic animal for fifteen consecutive days or more on property within the jurisdiction of the county. Such a person shall be subject to the requirements of this title. This definition does not apply to government agencies, animal rescue organizations which have demonstrated to SASA that they have implemented an ongoing spay/neuter program as well as an adoption program, or humane societies or societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals if such societies are incorporated under the provisions of California Corporations Code Section 10400 and the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law in Part 2 of the California Corporations Code, beginning at Section 5110 and successor sections, or persons who provide licensed boarding, kennel, training or veterinarian services for the owners of dogs and cats.

• B. Subsection A of this section shall not be interpreted to apply to a person caring for barn cats or a colony of feral cats if such person:

  1. Registers with SASA as a caretaker for barn cats or feral cats;

  2. Regularly feeds or arranges for the feeding of the cats, including on weekends and holidays;

  3. Traps or makes a reasonable effort to trap all barn or feral cats over the age of seven weeks in his/her care, and has them spayed or neutered;

  4. Makes a reasonable effort to test all trapped cats for feline leukemia and FIV and has those who test positive humanely euthanized or isolated indoors;

  5. Identifies barn or feral cats that have been spayed or neutered by means of ear notching, ear tipping, or ear tagging; and

6. Has all trapped cats vaccinated according to state and local laws.

(Ord. 745 (part), 2013)

"Person" means one or more human beings and all fictional entities such as corporations, estates, associations, partnerships and trusts.

(Ord. 745 (part), 2013)

"Rabies vaccination" means the inoculation of an animal with a rabies vaccine approved by and in the manner prescribed by the California State Department of Public Health. (Ord. 745 (part), 2013)

"Veterinarian" means a person licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state. (Ord. 745 (part), 2013)

"Guide dog" means any guide dog or seeing-eye dog, which was trained by a person licensed under the provisions of Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 7200) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, or as defined in the regulations implementing Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

(Ord. 745 (part), 2013)

"Signal dog" means any dog trained to alert a deaf person, or person whose hearing is impaired, to intruders or sounds.

• (Ord. 745 (part), 2013)

"Service dog" means any dog individually trained to the requirements of a person, including but not limited to minimal protection work, rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items. A "service dog" is also any dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, or any dog approved by the animal services executive director, which he/she believes to come within the definitions listed, after consultation with knowledgeable professionals.

(Ord. 745 (part), 2013)

The animal services executive director shall appoint suitable persons to act as animal services authorized staff. All animal services authorized staff shall enforce this title. (Ord. 745 (part), 2013)

CHAPTER 7.12 ADMINISTRATION