Watsonville Municipal Code Art. 8 Diseased and Crippled Animals

No person shall have, keep, or harbor any animal which is known or believed by him to be infected with any dangerous or communicable disease, or which is in an incurable crippled condition, or which is afflicted with any painful disease which is believed by such person to be incurable, except as in this chapter otherwise provided.

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

Whenever the owner of any animal is informed that such animal has bitten a human being, or suspected that the animal is infected with rabies, he shall immediately report the same to the Health Department and to the Director of Animal Control and shall immediately confine such animal. Whenever the Director of Animal Control is informed by the owner of any animal or by any other person that the animal has bitten a human being or that the animal may have rabies, the Director of Animal Control shall cause such animal to be isolated and quarantined, either upon the premises of the owner or at the animal shelter as he may deem advisable, for a period of ten (10) days or such other period as may be prescribed by the Department of Public Health of the State. During such period the animal shall be under the observation of the Director of Animal Control, and if it should appear at any time during such period that the animal has rabies, the director of Animal Control shall cause the animal to be destroyed. If, at the end of the ten (10) day period or such other period as may be prescribed by the Department of Public Health of the State, it appears that the animal does not have rabies, it shall be released to the owner upon payment to the Director of Animal Control for its care during the period, together with an impounding fee provided; however, no impounding fee shall be charged to an owner of animal who immediately transports such animal to the animal shelter.

The Director of Animal Control or duly authorized representative is empowered to enter upon any public or private premises within the City for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this section, and is empowered to call upon police officers of the City for assistance in enforcing such provisions.

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

All cases of animal bites treated by any physician shall be reported by the physician to the Health Department.

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

It shall be the duty of the Director of Animal Control or designee who is authorized and empowered, to order the destruction by any employee of the animal shelter of any animal lawfully taken into the custody of the City which, in the opinion of the Director of Animal control, is incapacitated by senility, or which is infected with any dangerous or communicable disease, or which is an incurable crippled condition, or which is by reason of disease or injury unfit for adoption, or for which there is no immediate adoption.

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

It shall be unlawful for any person to place the body of any dead animal in any street, park, or public place or in any refuse receptacle. The bodies of any dead animals shall be promptly removed as directed by the Director of Animal Control. In the event the owner of such dead animal is known and removal is accomplished by the City, the owner shall pay the costs of the removal of such animal. The charges to be paid for the removal of animals shall be set by resolution of the Council.

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