Twentynine Palms Municipal Code Ch. 8.04 Control of Animals

San Bernardino County Code Section 32.018, as adopted by reference by the City, and City of Twentynine Palms Ordinance No. 67 are repealed in their entirety.

(Ord. 111 §2, 1993)

(a) No person owning or having control, care, charge, custody, or possession of any animal, shall permit such animal to stray or run at large upon any public street, sidewalk, school ground, public park, playground, place of public assembly or any other public place, or any unenclosed private lot or other unenclosed private place, or upon any private place or property without the consent of the owner or person in control thereof.

(b) Any person who finds any animal which has strayed or is running at large upon his own property or any other place contrary to the provisions of this Chapter, may take possession of and hold same; provided, however, that he shall notify the Animal Control Officer of the fact that he has such animal in his possession, within four (4) hours after securing possession thereof, and give such Animal Control or Shelter personnel a full description of such animal and license number if any.

(c) No person may lawfully bring his dog out of his premises or property unless:

(1) Said dog is restrained by a substantial leash not to exceed six (6) feet in length and is in the charge of a person competent to restrain such dog in any areas where dogs are permitted; or

(2) Is properly restrained and enclosed; or

(3) In private areas, said dog is under immediate command control of its owner or some other person competent to restrain such dog in that manner. In any public place as defined in subsection (a) of this section, dogs must be restrained by a substantial leash not to exceed six feet (6′) in length and is in the charge of a person competent to restrain such dog.

(d) Any animal found running at large, running loose, or unrestrained may be impounded by the Animal Control Officer for a period of seventy-two (72) hours. Any unclaimed animal shall then be disposed of in accordance with Section 32.013 of Title 3, Division 2, Chapter 1, of the San Bernardino County code as adopted by reference by the City.

(e) There shall be a reclaiming fee for all impounded animals, as set forth in a Resolution of the City Council.

(f) A person having control, care, charge, custody or possession of any animal shall not permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care or control, any such animal to defecate or urinate upon a public sidewalk, the floor of any common hall in any apartment house, hotel, or other multiple dwelling; upon any entryway, stairway, or wall immediately abutting on a public sidewalk; or upon the floor of any theatre, shop, office building, or other building used by the public of upon any occupied property not owned or occupied by the owner of the animal.

(g) Where any animal defecates on such occupied property, the person having custody, care, possession, or control of such animal shall clean up or otherwise remove or dispose of the excrement in a manner appropriate under local ordinances.

(h) Dogs Prohibited in Parks and Recreation Areas. Notwithstanding any other section to the contrary, no person owning, having control, care, charge, custody, or possession of any dog shall bring such dog (except a Seeing Eye or Hearing Dog leading a blind or hearing impaired person) into or upon a public park or public recreation area; nor shall any such person otherwise suffer or permit such dog to enter or remain in a public park or public recreation area. However, this section shall not apply to public parks or public recreation areas that allow camping or to any person participating in a dog training class, dog show, or other activity in such public park or public recreation area necessarily involving the attendance of the dog or dogs, being conducted under the sponsorship of, or pursuant to written permission of the City Department of Park and Recreation Services.

(Ord. 111 §3, 1993)