Torrance Municipal Code Art. 2 Impoundment

a) California Estray Law shall mean and include the provisions of Article 2, Chapter 5, Division 3 of the Agricultural Code of the State of California, as amended.

b) Kennel shall mean any building, structure, enclosure or premises whereon or wherein three (3) or more dogs are kept or maintained for any purpose.

A public pound shall be maintained for the impounding of animals at such place or places as the City Council may, by resolution or contract, determine.

The expenses of operating the pound and all charges incurred therefor shall be paid by the City unless otherwise provided by contract.

The City Council shall appoint a poundmaster who shall hold office during the pleasure of the Council.

The poundmaster, except when such office is conferred by contract as hereinafter provided, is hereby vested with the power and authority of a police officer and shall be duly sworn in as a special police officer of the City.

In the absence of the appointment of a poundmaster, the Chief of Police of the City shall act as poundmaster and shall discharge all of the duties thereof.

Any of the powers and duties of the poundmaster as provided in this Article shall be deemed to have been delegated by the poundmaster to such assistants or deputies as may be employed or authorized by him or by the City.

The poundmaster shall:

a) Maintain a public pound in such place as authorized by the City Council.

b) Take up, receive into said pound, maintain therein, release or dispose of all animals subject to impoundment or which are delivered to him for disposal.

c) Provide necessary housing, sustenance and care for all animals impounded.

d) Keep accurate records of all animals impounded, their description, the date of such impounding and the date and manner of their disposal.

e) Send notice in writing to the owner of any dog impounded as shown on the license therefor, if any, within forty-eight (48) hours thereafter, unless such dog is impounded with the consent of its owner. Unless such dog so impounded is reclaimed within ten (10) days after said notice has been deposited in the United States mail, it shall be sold, killed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with this Article or the California Estray Law.

f) If an impounded dog has no license, the poundmaster shall make a reasonable effort to notify the owner of its impounding, unless such dog is impounded with the consent of its owner. Unless such unlicensed dogs so impounded are reclaimed within five (5) days thereafter, they shall be sold, killed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with this Article or the California Estray Law.

g) Pick-up and humanely dispose of any dogs or cats which by reason of age or infirmity are delivered to the pound to be disposed of.

h) Unless otherwise provided by contract, pay promptly to the accounting officer of the City, all monies received by him in the performance of his office.

i) Perform all other duties required by law.

The City may enter into a contract whereby a private person shall be authorized to perform the duties of the poundmaster and may provide therein for the payment to such person of a reasonable sum for the discharge of such duties.

(Amended by O-752; O-1306; O-2077; O-3272; O-3378; O-3396)

Effective July 1, 1994, the poundmaster shall collect from the owner or owners of all animals impounded, the following fees for impounding and keeping the same, to wit:

a) For every animal, other than a dog or cat, impounded by him, the fees provided in the California Estray Law;

b) For every dog or cat impounded by him, Ten Dollars ($10.00) for the first offense, Twenty Dollars ($20.00) for the second offense and Thirty Dollars ($30.00) for subsequent offenses occurring within one (1) year of the previous offenses;

c) In addition to the foregoing impounding fee, the sum of Seven Dollars and 50/100 ($7.50) per day board fee for each day any such animal so impounded is necessarily held in said pound;

d) Such other fees as required by law;

e) Such other fees as established from time to time by resolution of the City Council.

(Amended by O-1251)

Every animal found trespassing upon any private property within the City may be captured by the party owning, controlling or having possession of such property, or by his representative, and committed to the poundmaster, or any police or health officer of the City; provided, however, that the only trap used in such capture shall be a trap approved by the S.P.C.A. (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Any person capturing an animal found running at large or trespassing upon any private property shall promptly notify the poundmaster of such capture and it shall be unlawful for any such person to fail or refuse to surrender such animal to the poundmaster, or to any police or health officer of the City.

(Amended by O-131; O-982)

a) The poundmaster shall capture and impound any dog found within the City limits of the City which is not wearing a dog tag issued by the City, or by any other municipality in the County of Los Angeles or by the County of Los Angeles.

b) No dog so impounded shall be released to any person except where there has been a performance of the following conditions:

1. There has been presented to the poundmaster a current City dog license, or if the person keeping, harboring or having such dog is not a resident of the City, a current license for such dog issued either by any other municipality in the County of Los Angeles or by the County of Los Angeles; and

2. There has been shown to the satisfaction of the poundmaster that such dog has been vaccinated with rabies vaccine within the time periods and according to the other requirements as prescribed in Sec. 41.5.1. of this Chapter; or

3. Where such dog has not been so vaccinated, there has been paid to the poundmaster a fee for its vaccination not to exceed Five Dollars ($5.00), and the poundmaster has caused such dog to be vaccinated as aforesaid. Within seventy-two (72) hours after the receipt of the aforesaid vaccination fee, or as soon thereafter as possible, and except as provided in Sec. 41.5.7. of this Chapter, the poundmaster shall cause the dog for whom the fee has been paid to be vaccinated with rabies vaccine by a person licensed by the State of California to practice veterinary medicine or shall secure from such veterinarian a certificate of permanent infirmity for such dog.

4. There has been paid to the poundmaster;

A) Impounding and collection fees;

B) The dog license fee;

C) All other fees as provided in this Chapter.

5. The poundmaster has determined that such dog does not have and is not reasonably suspected of having rabies.

(Amended by O-131)

Except as provided in Article 5 of this Chapter, the owner or any person entitled to the possession of any impounded animal, may reclaim the animal at any time prior to the sale or disposal thereof upon payment to the poundmaster of all of the said impounding fees.

TO ENTER UPON PRIVATE PROPERTY; WHEN SEARCH WARRANT REQUIRED.

The poundmaster, any police officer of the City, and the health officer of the City, or any health officer so designated by the City shall have the right to enter upon any private or public property in the City in order to examine or capture any dog therein; provided, however, that no such poundmaster, officer or employee shall have the right to enter an inhabited dwelling or a fenced or locked yard without first having obtained a search warrant therefor.

No person shall interfere with, molest, hinder or prevent the poundmaster, his authorized representative, a police officer or health officer of the City in the discharge of his duties as herein prescribed.