Watsonville Municipal Code Art. 7 Dangerous and Wild Animals

It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having the possession, custody, charge, or control of any dog or other animal known by such person to be dangerous to cause or permit the animal to run loose about such person’s premises in a manner endangering any person lawfully entering such premises or to cause or permit the animal to be unrestrained and unmuzzled upon or about any public street, sidewalk, park, school yard, or property of other persons.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

Every owner of a dangerous animal shall post a sign in a conspicuous place at the entrance of the dwelling or property where the animal is maintained to warn other persons of the presence of a dangerous animal.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992, repealed by § 1, Ord. 1250-09 (CM), eff. December 10, 2009)

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to own or have the possession, custody, charge, or control of any elephant, bear, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, ocelot, lion, tiger, alligator, crocodile, leopard, wolf, monkey, any venomous or dangerous reptile of any kind, or any dangerous or wild animal without first obtaining a permit from the Director of Animal Control.

(b) Applicants for such permits shall pay such annual permit fees as set by resolution of the Council.

(c) All permits provided for in this section shall be valid for one year after the date of issuance, unless revoked as provided in this section.

(d) Upon the receipt of an application for a permit to maintain any of the animals set forth in this section, the Director of Animal Control may issue such permit if he is satisfied that such animal will be kept in a safe, secure, and humane fashion and without menacing the safety of any person or animal or causing damages to property. As a condition of granting the permit, the Director of Animal Control may require that such animal be properly caged or tethered and may make and issue regulations and conditions regarding the possession or maintenance of such animal within the City.

(e) Any permit issued under this section may be revoked when any provision of this chapter or any condition or regulation issued by the Director of Animal Control pursuant to this section is violated or when, in the opinion of the Director of Animal Control, the safety of any person or animal is menaced or property is likely to be damaged by the possession or maintenance of such animal.

(f) This section shall not apply to any dangerous or wild animal caged in a safe and humane manner when being transported through the City or when such animal is within the City under the control of a City licensed circus, carnival, traveling show, or collection of animals for exhibition.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992, as amended by § 1, Ord. 1250-09 (CM), eff. December 10, 2009)

The Director of Animal Control is authorized, directed, and empowered forthwith to destroy in a humane manner any animal lawfully impounded which is dangerous to keep impounded.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)