Ventura County Municipal Code Art. 2 Animal Shelter

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 4587, § 1, adopted Oct. 19, 2021, amended the title of Art. 2 to read as herein set out. The former Art. 2 title pertained to the animal pound.

It shall be the duty of the Director to enforce the provisions of this Article and any resolution of the Board of Supervisors adopted pursuant hereto.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 4587, § 1, adopted Oct. 19, 2021, amended the title of § 4431 to read as herein set out. The former § 4431 title pertained to the poundmaster.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 4587, § 1, adopted Oct. 19, 2021, repealed § 4431-1, which pertained to definitions and derived from Ord. No. 4457, § 1, adopted Dec. 10, 2013.

The Director, and any deputies he or she so designates, shall be vested with the powers and duties of a deputy health officer of the County and shall have the power and it shall be his or her duty to enforce all laws and regulations of the County and the state relating to the capture, isolation, quarantine or destruction of animals.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 4587, § 1, adopted Oct. 19, 2021, amended the title of § 4431-2 to read as herein set out. The former § 4431-2 title pertained to the poundmaster as health officer.

The Director shall feed and care for any animal impounded as provided in this Chapter until it is disposed of as provided by law. If such animal is not a "diseased or injured animal" as defined in this Chapter and is not being isolated pursuant to Article 4, the person owning such impounded animal may redeem it at any time after it is taken up by describing it, proving ownership to the satisfaction of the Director, paying all applicable fees and obtaining, when necessary, the dog license required by Section 4411. If an impounded dog bears a license tag issued under the provisions of this Chapter, notice of impoundment shall be mailed to the address shown on the copy of the receipt for such license tag on file in any County office. If any animal impounded as provided in this Chapter is not so redeemed, or if the owner of such animal is unknown to the Director, or fails, or refuses to comply with any of the requirements of redemption as provided herein, or if the owner has waived the redemption period in writing, such animal shall be deemed to be abandoned and the Director shall dispose of such animal according to the provisions of applicable state law. In disposing of an impounded animal, the Director may, in his or her discretion, adopt such animal to any qualified and approved person who will provide the animal a legal, safe, humane home, may transfer such animal to a municipal shelter, approved 501(c)(3) rescue organization, humane society or society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or euthanize the animal in a humane manner. The fee to be charged for any animal adopted as a pet or transferred shall be as prescribed by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

(a) A "diseased or injured animal" is any animal not suspected of rabies which is apparently either diseased, sick, injured, disabled, or infirm.

(b) Shelter Animals. Upon impounding any animal, the Director shall determine whether it is a "diseased or injured animal." If the animal is determined to be diseased or injured, the Director is authorized to procure any necessary emergency medical treatment for such animal and shall, without undue delay, exercise reasonable diligence in locating and notifying the owner of the location and condition of the animal. When reasonable effort fails to locate the owner or when an owner, after having been located, refuses to accept responsibility for further medical treatment of a diseased or injured animal, the Director may euthanize such animal in a humane manner.

(c) Private Practice Veterinary Animals. When a licensed community-based veterinarian determines that a stray or wildlife diseased or injured animal is in severe pain and not likely to survive even though provided medical treatment, it may be humanely euthanized. The veterinarian shall first exercise reasonable diligence to identify and notify the owner that the animal was injured and should be euthanized. If a diseased or injured animal is not euthanized and the owner was not identified, the veterinarian shall notify the Division, and the Director shall dispose of such animal, as otherwise provided in this Code.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

The Director is authorized, whenever he or she deems it necessary, to temporarily impound animals within an enclosure other than the County Animal Shelter and such an enclosure shall constitute a temporary animal pound. Notice that a temporary enclosure is an animal shelter shall be given by placing a sign to that effect on the gate or other entrance thereto.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

It is unlawful for any person owning, harboring, or controlling any livestock to permit such livestock to run at large upon the private property of another without the permission of the person owning or occupying said private property, or upon the streets or public places of the unincorporated areas of Ventura County. The Director is authorized whenever he or she deems it necessary to deputize individuals, who are properly equipped, to capture and transport livestock which is running at large in violation of this Article. Each animal captured or transported pursuant hereto shall be impounded at the risk of the owner, and the owner or keeper of such animal is liable for all fees set forth in Section 4437. Every person who violates any of the provisions of this Section is guilty of a misdemeanor/infraction. An Animal Control Officer, as defined in Section 4493-2, may issue an administrative citation assessing a civil penalty to that person in accordance with, and the person shall be subject to the administrative enforcement provisions set forth in, Article 8.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

Upon approval of the County Veterinarian, a stallion may be kept, when authorized by land use regulations, in a substantial corral of wood or other construction six (6) feet in height and under conditions to prevent escape and protect people or other animals. A minimum substantial corral is defined as being constructed of four (4) inch by four (4) inch posts, eight (8) feet on center, anchored twenty-four (24) inches in cement with two (2) inch by six (6) inch rails set two (2) feet apart. Every person who keeps a stallion without such approval or in a corral which does not meet such minimum standards is guilty of an infraction. An Animal Control Officer, as defined in Section 4493-2, may issue an administrative citation assessing a civil penalty to that person in accordance with, and the person shall be subject to the administrative enforcement provisions set forth in, Article 8.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

Upon the impounding of any livestock, other than bovine animals, the Director shall notify the owner thereof, if the name of such owner is known to him or her, of such impounding. If the name of the owner is not known, or the owner fails or refuses to comply with any of the requirements of redemption, or if the owner has waived the redemption period in writing, such animal shall be deemed to be abandoned and the Director shall dispose of such animal as he or she sees fit. Any impounded bovine animal not redeemed by the owner shall be delivered to the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture pursuant to Food and Agricultural Code Section 17003. All impounded livestock, including bovine animals, may be redeemed by the owner thereof at anytime prior to their sale, disposal or delivery to the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture by the Director upon:

(a) Furnishing proof of ownership satisfactory to the Director, and

(b) Paying the fee set forth in Section 4437.

The County, its officers, its agents, and employees shall not be liable to any person for the delivery of any animal to any person claiming to be the owner thereof, or to be acting on the owner's behalf, and the sale of any animal by the Director in conformity with the provisions of this Code shall vest title thereof in the purchaser.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

If any impounded livestock is redeemed, the Director shall collect all applicable fees before delivering the animal to the person redeeming it. Such fees shall be in such amounts as may be prescribed by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

All animals specified in this Article which may be Impounded shall be kept at the risk of the owner, and neither the County nor its officers, agents, or employees shall be liable to the owner for the delivery in good faith of any such animal to a person claiming to be, but not in fact being, entitled to reclaim the same. Neither the County, nor its officers, agents, or employees shall be liable for injury or disease to any animal incurred while said animal is being captured, transported, or impounded.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

Every person who breaks open an animal shelter, temporary animal shelter, or animal services vehicle, or who willfully resists, delays, or obstructs the Director, or his or her designee, in the discharge of, or attempt to discharge, any duty of his or her office, is guilty of a misdemeanor/infraction. An Animal Control Officer, as defined in Section 4493-2, may issue an administrative citation assessing a civil penalty to that person in accordance with, and the person shall be subject to the administrative enforcement provisions set forth in, Article 8.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

The name and contact information for any person who adopts an animal from a County of Ventura animal shelter shall be held confidential by the Division. If the Division receives a request from a former animal owner or other entity to contact a person who has adopted an animal from an animal shelter after expiration of the applicable animal holding period prescribed by state law, the Division will make such a request known to the adopting party; however, the Division will only reveal the adopting party's name and contact information to the person or entity requesting such information if the adopting party provides prior written consent for such disclosure.

(Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)