Soledad Municipal Code Ch. 6.04 General Provisions

This chapter shall be known as and may be cited and referred to as the animal control ordinance.

(Prior code § 3-1)

For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases are defined, and certain provisions shall be construed as set out in this section, unless it is apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended.

A. "Animal" means any wild or domesticated animal, poultry, bird, reptile, fowl or fish, or any other creature.

B. "At large" means any animal off the premises of its owner and not under the direct control of the owner or some responsible person authorized by such owner.

C. "Cat" means any cat of either sex or any age.

D. "Dog" means any member of the canine family, and also includes both male and female gender, whether neutered or spayed.

E. "Dog Breeding" means the parturition or rearing of more than two litters from all dogs on the premises in any twelve consecutive months, either in a private or commercial setting, where the offspring is sold for profit.

F. "Dog license" refers to the license required by this chapter, to be issued annually for each individual dog.

G. "Guard dog" means any dog used for the purpose of guard duty.

H. "Livestock" includes cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, and all other domestic or domesticated animals other than household pets.

I. "Owner" means any person, firm or corporation owning, having an interest in or having control or custody or possession of any animal.

J. "Quarantine" means the taking up and impounding of an animal in the designated animal shelter by the animal control officer for a period of fourteen days or, in the discretion of the animal control officer, or the director of field services, the confinement of an animal by the keeping of it in a substantial pen, or by tying it with a stout chain on the property of the owner of the animal, so that the animal does not come into contact with any other animal or human being for a period of fourteen days.

K. "Shelter" means a facility designated by the director for impoundment of animals and authorized by the city manager.

L. "Stray animal" means any animal off the premises of its owner, not under restraint, and not in the immediate presence of its owner or person(s) of reasonable responsibility.

M. "Unlicensed dog" means any dog for which the license fee for the current year has not been paid and to which the dog license tag provided for in this chapter is not properly attached.

N. "Wild animal" means any wild, exotic, dangerous or venomous animal, including, but not limited to, mammals, fowl, fish or reptiles.

(Prior code § 3-2; Ord. No. 738, § 2, 4-7-2021)