Ripon Municipal Code Ch. 6.12 Animal Ownership, Care and

TREATMENT GENERALLY Sections: 6.12.010 Keeping of Certain Animals Prohibited-Exception. 6.12.020 Zoning Requirements. 6.12.030 Returning Animals Where the Owner is Known. 6.12.040 Removal of Animal from Holding Shelter. 6.12.050 Animal Care. 6.12.060 Abuse-prohibited. 6.12.070 Poisoning-prohibited. 6.12.080 Keeping Certain Animals and Reptiles-prohibited. 6.12.090 Cage and Pen Requirements. 6.12.100 Sanitary Enclosures. 6.12.110 Public Nuisance Declared. 6.12.120 Public Nuisance Abatement. 6.12.130 Sale of Animals for Experimentation. 6.12.140 Sale or Gift of Animals. 6.12.150 Animals not to be given away as Prizes. 6.12.160 Stray Animals. 6.12.170 Diseased or Injured Animals.

6.12.010. Keeping of Certain Animals Prohibited-Exception.. A. The keeping of any livestock, as defined in Section 6.04.020 (S.), is prohibited within the city limits of the City of Ripon, unless the provisions of subsection B or C of this section apply. B. As to areas which have been annexed to the City of Ripon the then-current owners of the properties so annexed, but not their successors in interest, shall be permitted to keep any livestock which are or were in their ownership or possession on the date of such annexation, but shall not be permitted to increase the number of livestock held as of the date of such annexation. C. Owners of properties consisting of five (5) acres, or more, are permitted to keep livestock as defined in Section 6.04.020 (S), subject to the following conditions: 1. A maximum of ten (10) animals per acre of land that is suitable for housing animals. Excluding homes, shops, hay/grain storage areas, etc. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

It is unlawful for any person to keep or maintain or cause to be kept or maintained any livestock or bees in any of the following zones. 1. Residential 2. Commercial (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

Animals Where the Owner is Known: When any animal is seized, and its ownership is known to the Animal Control Officer, such animal need not be impounded; instead, the Animal Control Officer may return the animal to its rightful owner and may cite the owner of the animal to appear in court to answer to charges of violations of the provisions of this title. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

Shelter: No person shall remove any animal(s) from the custody of the Animal Control Officer or shelter without permission from the Animal Control Officer. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

A. Every owner shall provide his/her animals with adequate food and water. Each animal shall be housed in proper, clean, and sanitary shelter which protects the animal from the weather. Proper veterinary care shall be administered when needed to prevent suffering, and humane care and treatment of all animals shall be maintained at all times.

Animal Ownership, Care and Treatment Generally (Ripon 10-95) 105-2 B. Every person who keeps an animal confined in an enclosed area shall provide it with an adequate exercise area. If the animal is restricted by a leash, rope, or chain, the leash, rope, or chain shall be affixed in such a manner that the animal will not become entangled and has access to food, water and shelter. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

A. No person shall beat, be cruel to, ill-treat, torment, tease, overwork, or otherwise abuse an animal. No person shall cause, instigate, or permit any dogfight, cockfight, or combat between animals and humans, within the city. This section does not apply to canine units belonging to the police department.
B. Every parent or legal guardian shall supervise his/her minor child or children to ensure that such child or children does not mistreat any animal. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

No person shall, with the intent to harm or kill animals, place or leave in a place accessible to any animal, or expose any animal to any poisons, including any edible or other substance or ingredient which has in any manner been treated or prepared with any poisonous substance or ingredient. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

Reptiles-prohibited: No person shall have, keep, or maintain any wild, exotic, dangerous, or non-domestic animal or venomous reptile within the city. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

Any and all cages, pens, coops, hutches, yards, or spaces used for housing any animal must be at least three times as large in floor space and twice the height as the total size of all live animals kept therein. No animal may be kept in any cage, coop, pen, hutch, yard or space which does not permit the animal to stand in a naturally erect position, except that a veterinarian, a person showing the animal or an animal groomer may temporarily confine an animal in a smaller container for medical, showing, or grooming purposes. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

A. Every person responsible for keeping an animal shall keep all cages, coops, pasture, or other enclosures wherein an animal is kept in a clean and sanitary condition at all times. All excreta and manure shall be removed daily, so as to avoid becoming a nuisance to any person in the neighborhood. B. No person shall at any time maintain any lot or other premises, or any portion thereof, whereupon an animal is kept, in an unsanitary condition, or in a condition which attracts flies or other insects or creates noxious or offensive odors. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

A. It is unlawful for any person to allow any animal manure or other offensive matter to accumulate on any property owned, occupied, or controlled in any way by that person. B. It is unlawful for any person to permit any animal or fowl to create excessive noise, including long, loud and continuous cries, barks, howls, or any other disturbing activities, that unreasonably disturb any person residing in the neighborhood where such animals are kept. C. It is unlawful for any owner of any animal to allow or permit such animal to run at-large on any public or private premises in violation of the provisions of this chapter. Any animal which is allowed to run at-large contrary to the provisions herein is declared to be a public nuisance. It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer and of every police officer to abate such nuisance by taking such animals into custody and impounding them in the animal shelter.

Animal Ownership, Care and Treatment Generally (Ripon 10-95) 105-3 D. The owner of every animal shall be responsible for the prompt removal of any excreta deposited by his/her animal(s) on public walks, recreation areas or private property. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

A. Whenever the Animal Control Officer has reasonable cause to believe that a public nuisance exists, the Animal Control Officer may conduct an investigation thereof. 1. If the Animal Control Officer determines that a nuisance does not exist, no further action shall be taken. If the complaining party wishes to pursue the matter, he/she shall submit a written request to the Animal Control Officer and include his/her name, address, telephone number, and signature on the request. The Animal Control Officer shall then forward the complaint to the police chief. 2. If the Animal Control Officer determines that a nuisance exists, then an order shall be issued to the owner of the offending animal directing the nuisance to be abated. In the event the owner does not comply with the order, the Animal Control Officer may issue a citation to the owner of the offending animal to appear in court and/or refer the matter to the city council for a hearing. 3. In the event the owner of the offending animal allows the nuisance to continue subsequent to a citation and/or direction from the city council to abate the nuisance, the Animal Control Officer shall refer the matter to the city attorney or district attorney of the county for prosecution of the violation of this title. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

Experimentation: Neither the Animal Control Officer nor any employee thereof, shall knowingly sell or give any impounded animal to any person, firm, corporation, association, or school for the purpose of animal experimentation. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

No person under the age of eighteen shall place any dog, cat, puppy, or kitten on public display for the purpose of sale, offer for sale, barter, or give- away upon any street, sidewalk, parking lot, shopping center walkway, or other public place. No transfer shall be made to any person under the age of eighteen. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

Prizes. No person shall give away any dog or cat as a prize or as an inducement to enter into any contest, lottery, drawing, game or competition. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

Any person discovering a stray or apparently lost animal shall report the animal to the Animal Control Officer. Any person who apprehends or picks up a stray or lost animal shall report to the Animal Control Officer within 36 hours thereafter and shall release the animal to the Animal Control Officer upon demand. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

A. Notwithstanding any provisions of this chapter, an impounded animal, which is determined by a veterinarian to constitute a health or safety hazard, shall be destroyed or otherwise disposed of without delay by the Animal Control Officer or the veterinarian. B. An impounded animal which is determined by a veterinarian to be suffering extreme pain due to disease or injury and there is no reasonable probability that the animal will recover from its disease or injury, may be destroyed without delay by the Animal Control Officer or the veterinarian. C. The Animal Control Officer or any police or sheriff's department may, with the approval of his or her immediate superior, humanely destroy any abandoned animal in the field in any case where the

Animal Ownership, Care and Treatment Generally (Ripon 10-95) 105-4 animal is too severely injured to move or where a veterinarian is not available and it would be more humane to dispose of the animal. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

No person shall willfully abandons any domestic dog or cat or any other animal. (Ord 546 § 1, 1995)

105 - 5 Animal Adoption 7/09