Red Bluff Municipal Code Art. II Dogs

For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

COMMERCIAL KENNEL OPERATOR. Any business endeavor conducted for profit, harboring and keeping dogs and properly licensed therefor.

DOG. Any member of the canine family.

DOG BITE. A canine puncture or scratch upon a human whereupon human flesh is broken.

LICENSING AGENCY. The organization, department or unit designated by City Council either through contract or resolution to process animal licenses for the City of Red Bluff.

LICENSED DOG. Any dog for which a current license has been issued and to which the tag indicating the license is attached.

OWNER. Any person who, in the city, owns, keeps or harbors a dog for 15 or more consecutive days. This shall not include any person who keeps or harbors a dog in the course of business as a veterinarian, commercial kennel operator or pet shop owner.

VICIOUS DOG.

(1) Any dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury or otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals;

(2) Any dog which attacks a human being or domestic animal without provocation; or

(3) Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or any dog trained for dog fighting.

(`61 Code, § 4.30) (Ord. 703, passed 10-19-1982; Am. Ord. 780, passed 8-4-1987; Am. Ord. 1052, passed 5-7-2019)

Violation of any provision of this article is an infraction punishable by a fine as set forth by resolution of the City Council.

(`61 Code, § 4.31) (Ord. 703, passed 10-19-1982; Am. Ord. 1052, passed 5-7-2019)

The City Council finds that there is a menace to the health and safety of the city by reason of dogs being permitted within the city out of the control of any person.

(`61 Code, § 4.32) (Ord. 703, passed 10-19-1982)

(A) No person shall own, keep or harbor four or more dogs over the age of four months. To the extent this section conflicts with the provisions of Chapter 25 of this code, Chapter 25 of this code shall be controlling.

(B) This section shall not apply to any person who owns, keeps or harbors the dogs in the course of business as a veterinarian, commercial kennel operator or pet shop operator.

(`61 Code, § 4.33) (Ord. 703, passed 10-19-1982)

(A) No person shall own or harbor a dog or dogs within the city in a manner that the peace and quiet of the public is disturbed.

(B) The written affirmation by three persons having a separate residence indicating that the howling, barking or other noise issued by a dog disturbs the peace of the persons shall be prima facie evidence of a disturbance of the peace and quiet of the public.

(C) The destruction by a dog of property other than that which belongs to the owners of the dog shall be prima facie evidence of a disturbance of the peace and quiet of the public.

(`61 Code, § 4.34) (Ord. 703, passed 10-19-1982)

(A) No person shall keep or harbor a lost or strayed dog.

(B) Any person discovering or temporarily detaining a lost or strayed dog shall, within eight hours of the discovery or detention, notify the Animal Control Officer or the Police Department. Upon demand by the Animal Control Officer or a police officer, the person shall relinquish custody of the dog.

(`61 Code, § 4.35) (Ord. 703, passed 10-19-1982)

No person shall keep or harbor a dog afflicted with any contagious disease unless the dog is under the care and treatment of a veterinarian.

(`61 Code, § 4.36) (Ord. 703, passed 10-19-1982)

Any owner, custodian or keeper of a dog shall be in violation of this section if the dog is found at large or astray in the city. A dog is at large or astray whenever it is elsewhere than on the premises of the owner, custodian or keeper of the dog and is not restrained by substantial leash or tether or the dog is on the premises of the owner, custodian or keeper, but is unattended or is not restrained by an enclosure or chain.

(`61 Code, § 4.37) (Ord. 703, passed 10-19-1982)

In any case when the Animal Control Officer has verified a report that a dog has bitten a human being, he or she may take possession of the dog and place it in the city-county pound or may board the dog with a licensed veterinarian if requested to do so by the owner of the dog, for the period necessary to determine if the dog is infected with rabies. The cost of impoundment shall be borne by the owner of the dog.

(`61 Code, § 4.38) (Ord. 703, passed 10-19-1982)

(A) No person owning, harboring or having the care or custody of a vicious dog shall suffer or permit the dog to go unconfined beyond the premises of the person unless the dog is securely leashed and muzzled or otherwise securely restrained.

(B) No person shall own or harbor any dog for the purpose of dog fighting or train, torment, badger, bait or use any dog for the purpose of dog fighting or for the purpose of causing or encouraging the dog to unprovoked attacks upon human beings or domestic animals.

(C) No person shall suffer or permit a vicious dog to be unconfined.

(D) A vicious dog is “unconfined,” as the term is used in this section if, while on the premises of its owner or harborer, the dog is not securely enclosed in a locked pen or dog run area upon the premises of the person described in division (A) above. The pen or dog run area must be adequate to insure the confinement of the dog upon the premises and must not be in an area used by persons approaching the front entrance of or main entrance of the premises and any residence thereon.

(`61 Code, § 4.39) (Ord. 703, passed 10-19-1982; Am. Ord. 780, passed 8-4-1987)

No person shall allow a dog in his or her custody to defecate or to urinate on public property or any improved private property other than that of the owner or person having control of the animal. Unsighted persons, while relying on a guide dog, shall be exempt from this section.

(`61 Code, § 4.40) (Ord. 703, passed 10-19-1982)

No person shall suffer or permit any female dog in season to be accessible to male dogs, except that the female dog may be bred in an enclosure which is not subject to view by the public.

(`61 Code, § 4.41) (Ord. 703, passed 10-19-1982)

(A) Before any person may establish or maintain a commercial kennel within the city, there shall be a written application presented therefor to the Chief of Police for recommendation to the City Council for approval or disapproval.

(B) Commercial kennels are subject to zoning regulations and may be disapproved by the City Council with findings contrary to the public health, safety and welfare.

(`61 Code, § 4.42) (Ord. 703, passed 10-19-1982)

The application referred to in the preceding section shall be considered by the City Council and, if, in the judgment of the City Council, the establishment and maintenance of a kennel will not create a nuisance, the City Council may permit the establishment and maintenance of the kennel for the period of time as the same does not constitute a nuisance to adjoining owners of property or others. The permit shall be granted upon the condition that the person establishing and maintaining the business shall at all times during the establishment and maintenance thereof comply with the applicable ordinances and laws, including Chapter 12 of this code of ordinances.

(`61 Code, § 4.43) (Ord. 703, passed 10-19-1982)

The Council, having granted a kennel permit, may revoke the same when, in its opinion, any kennel becomes a nuisance to adjoining property owners or others.

(`61 Code, § 4.44) (Ord. 703, passed 10-19-1982)