San Clemente Municipal Code Ch. 6.36 Animal Shelter and Impoundment

The San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter shall serve as the animal shelter for the jurisdictions served by the authority.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

The general manager or authorized agent may take into custody:

A. Any animal kept and maintained contrary to the provisions of this title, any of the codified ordinances of the cities served by the authority, any codified ordinance of the County of Orange or any California statute;

B. Any animal running at large contrary to the provisions of this title or any statute;

C. Sick, injured, stray, unwanted animals, for which the owner or custodian cannot be found or is unable or unwilling to provide proper care;

D. Animals quarantined for which no other place of quarantine is acceptable to the general manager;

E. Animals delivered or requested to be impounded by a peace officer, or public officer or employee as defined in Penal Code Section 836.5;

F. Animals impounded pursuant to Section 6.20 of this chapter;

G. Any other animal authorized to be impounded pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

All animals taken into custody shall be humanely transported in specifically designed ventilated and properly maintained vehicles.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

No person shall, without the consent of the owner, hold or retain possession of any animal without reporting the possession of such animal to the authority within four hours, and giving his or her name, address, telephone number, if any, and a true description of the animal, and then surrendering such animal to the general manager or authorized agent upon demand.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

No person shall remove any animal from the custody of the authority without permission from the general manager or authorized agent to do so.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

Animals wearing current valid license tags, which are impounded pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, shall be held for a period of 10 working days. Said animals shall be held for redemption by the owner and not be declared abandoned unless: (a) the person to whom the current tag for such animal was issued so directs; (b) 10 working days have elapsed since such person was notified of his or her animal's whereabouts by telephone; (c) 10 working days have elapsed since the owner was notified by United States mail, first class postage paid, at such person's last known address, informing such person of the whereabouts of his or her animal; (d) where animals bearing a tattoo is found, and after 10 working days have elapsed, the tattoo registry and the authority have made all efforts to notify the owner; (e) where other identification of any type is found, and after 10 working days have elapsed, the authority has made all efforts to notify the owner. At the end of the 10 working-day period, animals not claimed by their owners may be declared abandoned by the general manager and may be placed for adoption or disposed of in a humane manner according to the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

Impounded animals not bearing identification of any type may be deemed unregistered and shall be held in custody for a period of five calendar days. At the end of the prescribed period, unregistered animals not claimed may be declared abandoned and may be placed for adoption or disposed of in a humane manner according to law.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

The general manager or authorized agent shall attempt to notify owners of lost or impounded registered dogs or cats through public notice, private communication where the owner is known, or when a tattoo is found, notification of the tattoo registry.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

Registered animals may be redeemed by the owner or his or her authorized agent upon payment of the impound fees, care and feeding charges, and any veterinary costs.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

Unregistered animals may be redeemed by the owner upon payment of the registration fee, impound fee, care and feeding charges, any veterinary costs, and upon proof of rabies vaccination. Any person claiming ownership of any unregistered impounded animal shall be required to present proof of ownership satisfactory to the general manager or his or her designee or authorized agent.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

Any impounded animal that is not redeemed within period of time prescribed in the provisions of this chapter may be considered abandoned and placed for adoption. Animals may be adopted by private individuals upon payment of a placement fee, rabies vaccination fee, animal registration fee, and a sterility deposit, if applicable.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

Under special provisions, specific breed clubs and humane organizations approved by the general manager shall have the option of adopting available animals for purposes of placement from the animal shelter.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

Specific animal clubs and humane organizations approved by the general manager may be allowed to assume the responsibility of caring for lost and stray animals providing they have facilities for proper confinement, shelter and care of such animals. Such organizations shall notify the general manager within four hours after obtaining any animal so sheltered, giving a full description of the animal and any identification. Such organizations shall assume responsibility for placement of such animals in homes after sheltering them for a minimum of 10 days, during which time they shall make every attempt to locate and notify the owner.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

The owner of any impounded animal may, at any time, within 30 days after adoption from the animal shelter, redeem such animal from the person who adopted the animal by paying him or her for the full amount paid to the authority upon adoption of the animal, any vaccination costs incurred, and in addition thereto a sum equal to reasonable care and feeding charges per day for the number of days from the date of the adoption to and including the date of redemption by the owner.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

The general manager or authorized agent shall keep a record of each animal impounded, the date of receipt of such animal, the date and manner of disposal, and if redeemed, reclaimed or adopted, the name of the person redeeming, reclaiming or adopting such animal, the address and telephone number of such person, and the amounts of all fees received or collected for or because of the impounding, reclaiming or adoption thereof, together with the number of any tag, and the date of any registration issued upon the redemption or adoption of any such animal.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

Animals may be euthanized in a humane manner as prescribed in the provisions of this chapter and upon advice of the animal care and evaluation committee.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)

No animal may be donated or sold for the purpose of research and vivisection.

(Ord. No. 1797, § 1, 11-4-2025)