ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 8.050.110. Records.

It shall be the duty of the tax collector or poundmaster to keep or cause to be kept, accurate and detailed records of:

1. All dogs or livestock licensed, impounded or sold.
2. All animal bite cases reported and the results of the investigations thereof.
3. All moneys received.

Animal pound means any dog pound, animal shelter, temporary animal pound, or pound vehicle owned or operated by the County of Ventura.

County health officer means the Ventura County Health Officer and officers, employees and agents thereof.

Harbor A person harbors a dog within the meaning of this chapter when the person feeds or shelters the dog for a period of 30 days or longer.

Livestock includes horses, ponies, mules, burros, jack and jennies, cows, bulls, calves, heifers, sheep, goats, swine, hogs, pigs and all other domestic or domesticated animals other than household pets.

Poundmaster includes deputies poundmaster and any person or organization authorized by the county to perform the duties and functions of poundmaster or the agents or employees of any such person or organization.

Run at large.

1. A dog "runs at large" within the meaning of this chapter when it is upon private property without the permission of the person owning or occupying the property, or when it is upon public property and is not upon a leash.
2. Livestock "runs at large" within the meaning of this chapter when upon private property without the permission of the person owning or occupying the property, or when upon public property and not under the immediate control of a responsible person capable of controlling such animal.

1. The licensing provisions of this chapter do not apply to any dog:
   1. While in the immediate custody and control of a person who is engaged in traveling through the county and who is not a resident of the county;
   2. Brought into the county for a period not exceeding 30 days for the purpose of breeding or displaying it at shows, exhibitions, or field trials, provided that such dog is not allowed to run at large; or
   3. Confined to the premises of a benevolent organization devoted to the care of lost or homeless animals, or that is confined in an animal hospital for treatment, or confined in a dog kennel, licensed under the provisions of this chapter, provided that such dog remains, at all times, upon the premises of such benevolent organization, animal hospital, or dog kennel.
2. Section 8.050.510 does not apply to dogs:
   1. Actively engaged in dog shows or field trials;
   2. Actively engaged in hunting game upon public property which is open for such hunting; or
   3. Which are kept, trained, and used exclusively for the working, herding, or guarding of other animals, while such dog is actively engaged in such working, herding, or guarding.

Sec. 8.050.140. Defense in prosecutions.

Sec. 8.050.210. License tag.

1. Requirements. Every person who owns, harbors, or keeps any dog over the age of four months for 30 days or longer shall obtain a current license and license tag issued under the provisions of this Municipal Code and stamped with the current license year, and shall maintain such license in an active status for the remainder of the current license year. A license ceases to be active on the date of expiration, (as defined in subsection B., below) of the rabies vaccination of the dog for which the license is obtained. The license tag obtained shall be attached to a substantial collar or harness which shall be worn by the dog at all times, except when the dog is contained within an enclosure or confined to the premises of an animal hospital, or a licensed dog kennel or state-chartered benevolent organization for the care of animals, or when the dog is participating in or training for sporting events, field trials, obedience classes, dog shows, or herding livestock, providing such dog is not allowed to run at large. A person whoviolates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any dog found without a current license tag may be taken up and impounded by the poundmaster or any peace officer.
2. License application. The license and license tag required by this article may be obtained by displaying an acceptable rabies vaccination certificate, furnishing the information required herein, and paying the proper fee to the county animal control department. Such information shall include the name, sex, breed, age and color of the dog for which application is made, and give the address, and when available, the telephone number of the person owning, harboring, or keeping such dog. The official receiving such information shallrecord it on the receipt to be given for payment of the license fee. A rabies vaccination certificate, to be acceptable, must show that the vaccination has at least 60 days to run before its expiration date. A vaccination of the "chick-embryo" type expires 30 months after it is administered, and a vaccination of the "nerve-tissue" type expires 18 months after it is administered. The expiration date of the rabies vaccination shall be recorded on the receipt.
3. License fee. The fee for the annual license required by this article shall be $10.00 for each dog, whether male or female. When a veterinarian's certificate verifying that a dog is spayed, neutered, or rendered temporarily infertile by a birth control method acceptable to the director of the animal control department is submitted with the application, the fee shall be $4.00. When a dog first requires the license after July 1 of any calendar year, the license fee for the remainder of the calendar year shall be one-halfthe fee charged for a full year.
4. Due date and penalties. The information and fee required by this article are due on or before the last day in February of each year, except that, as to any dog acquired or brought into the county after the last day of February or that attains the age of four months after the last day in February, the information and fee shall be due within 30 days after its acquisition, or within 30 days after it is brought into the city, or when such dog attains the age of four months, whichever is later. Any person purchasing a license tag after the due date shall be charged a late license penalty which shall be $15.00 and which shall be paid in addition to the regular license fee.
5. Issuance of license tag. Upon receipt of the required information, accompanied by payment of the proper fee and display of an acceptable rabies vaccination certificate, the dog shall be licensed, a written receipt shall be issued to the applicant, and a metal license tag shall be mailed to applicant's address. Each tag shall be serially numbered and stamped with the words "Ventura County" and shall be stamped with the year for which it is issued. The animal control department shall maintain a record of the licenses so issued whichrecord shall be kept on file in the office of the animal control department, open to reasonable public inspection, until the expiration of the current year.
6. Lost license tag. If a license tag issued under the provisions of this article is lost, a duplicate tag may be obtained from the animal control department upon paying a fee of $1.00 and either surrendering the receipt obtained for the lost license tag or certifying under penalty of perjury that a tag was obtained and that the receipt cannot be found.
7. Transfer of license. In the event that there is a change in ownership of a dog licensed pursuant hereto during the license year, the new owner may have the current license transferred to his name upon the payment of a transfer fee of $1.00 and the surrender of the license receipt.

Sec. 8.050.220. License inspectors.

The Ventura County tax collector may appoint animal license inspectors for the purposes of inspecting animals required to be licensed hereunder to ascertain if such animals are properly licensed, issuing the licenses required hereunder, and collecting the required license fees. Inspectors who canvass from door to door shall be compensated at the rate of $0.50 for each license issued. In the event that a license fee collected by such inspector includes a penalty imposed pursuant hereto, such inspector shallreceive, in addition, 50 percent of the penalty or penalties collected as compensation. Inspectors who do not canvass from door to door shall be compensated at the rate of $0.50 for each license issued. In the event that a license fee collected by such inspector includes a penalty imposed pursuant hereto, such an inspector shall receive an additional $0.50, provided, however, that no full-time city or county employee shall receive compensation for the collection of dog license taxes or penalties.

Every person who counterfeits a dog license tag, or who attaches a license tag issued under the provisions of this chapter to any dog other than the one for which such tag was issued, or who obtains a dog license tag or dog kennel license and, in doing so, states as true any material matter which the person knows to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Code 1971, § 4413)

ARTICLE 3. DOG KENNEL LICENSES*

Sec. 8.050.310. Kennel license required.

The requirements of this chapter shall be deemed to be in addition to, and not in limitation of, the requirement of any applicable zoning laws or ordinances. A kennel license issued under the provisions of this chapter shall cease to be valid if the operation of a dog kennel should become a prohibited use for the zone in which it is then located.
(Code 1971, § 4435)

ARTICLE 4. RABIES CONTROL

Sec. 8.050.410. Rabies vaccination required.

Except as otherwise provided herein, the poundmaster shall take up, impound, and isolate for 14 days following the date of the alleged bite, any animal of a type subject to rabies that is reported to have bitten any person, whether or not such animal has been vaccinated with rabies vaccine and whether or not such animal displays any symptoms suggestive of rabies. The animal shall be impounded and isolated in section 8.050.430, above, for the isolation of dogs suspected of having rabies.

Any dog isolated at an animal pound as provided in sections 8.050.430, 8.050.460, or 8.050.470 of this chapter and found not to have rabies may be redeemed by the owner thereof by paying the poundmaster the amount of $1.00 for each day such dog was isolated at the animal pound and obtaining any necessary license tag. Any cat or smaller animal may be redeemed in a similar manner except that an isolation fee of $0.50 per day shall be charged for such animal. Any animal which is not so redeemed within 72 hoursafter the expiration of the isolation period shall be deemed to have been abandoned and shall be disposed of as provided in section 8.050.820.
(Code 1971, § 4448)

ARTICLE 5. CONTROL OF ANIMALS GENERALLY

Sec. 8.050.510. Leash law.

1. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to permit any dog owned, harbored, or controlled by him or her on any public street, alley, lane, park or place of whatever nature open to and used by the public unless such dog is securely leashed and the leash is held continuously in the hands of a responsible person capable of controlling such dog, or unless the dog is securely confined in a vehicle.
2. It is unlawful for any person to permit any dog owned, harbored, or controlled by him or her to be on any private property without the permission of the person owning or occupying said private property.

Sec. 8.050.515. Designated off-leash areas.

1. Notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the contrary, properly licensed and tagged (i.e., ownership identification) dogs without vicious, dangerous or aggressive propensities may be exercised without a leash in the designated areas and at the designated times established by the Parks Manager, at the Arroyo Verde and Camino Real parks subject to the following rules and regulations:
   1. No dog is permitted in the off-leash area unless it is under the care, custody and control of a person 18 years or older (the "caretaker").
   2. Dogs are permitted off-leash in the designated areas only during the posted hours of operation.
   3. All dogs must be vaccinated for rabies, and have a current animal license. No dog that is sick, in heat, vicious, aggressive or has previously bitten any person is permitted in the off-leash area.
   4. All dogs must be under the voice control of their caretakers at all times. The caretaker must remain present within the off-leash dog area at all times, must carry a leash, and must leash the dog at the first sign of aggression.
   5. The caretaker must promptly remove and dispose of the dog's litter. Caretaker bears full responsibility for filling any holes and repairing damage to the park created by the dog.
   6. No animals other than dogs are permitted in an off-leash area. No dog obedience classes may be conducted in an off-leash area.
2. The use of an off-leash area by a dog and its caretaker will constitute the caretaker's agreement to comply with the rules contained in this section as well as those regulations posted by the Parks Manager with respect to the use of such off-leash areas.
3. The use of an off-leash area by a dog and its caretaker will constitute the caretaker's agreement to protect, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the city from any claim, injury or damage arising from or in connection with such use.

Sec. 8.050.520. Impounding dogs running at large.

1. Unlawful. 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 city.
2. Impounding of livestock running at large. The poundmaster may take up and impound any livestock found running at large. Such livestock shall be disposed of, unless redeemed, as provided in section 4426 of this chapter.

Sec. 8.050.540. Privileged entry.

1. For the purpose of discharging the duties imposed by this chapter or other applicable law and to enforce the same, the poundmaster or any peace officer may enter on private property, except dwellings located thereon, as follows:
   1. During daylight:
      1. When in pursuit of any animal which the poundmaster has reasonable or probable cause to believe is subject to impoundment pursuant hereto or other applicable law.
      2. To impound or place in isolation any animal thereon which the poundmaster has any cause whatsoever to believe or suspect has rabies or is a biting animal.
      3. To inspect or examine animals isolated thereon pursuant hereto or other applicable law.
      4. To impound an animal pursuant to subsection 8.050.610.B.3.
      5. To seize an animal pursuant to subsection 8.050.610.B.10.
   2. At night:
      1. When in pursuit of any animal which the poundmaster has reasonable or probable cause to believe is subject to impoundment pursuant hereto or other applicable law.
      2. To impound or place in isolation any animal thereon which the poundmaster has any cause whatsoever to believe or suspect has rabies or is a biting animal.
      3. To impound an animal pursuant to subsection 8.050.610.B.3.

         As a condition of the authority set forth in this section, except where time does not permit in an emergency or when in fresh pursuit, before entering upon private property a reasonable effort shall be made to locate the owner or possessor thereof to request permission to enter upon such property and to explain the purpose for such entry.

2. Inspection of animals. Any person who has an animal in his possession, custody, or control who willfully or maliciously fails or refuses to exhibit such animal or any license therefor for inspection immediately upon demand by the poundmaster or any peace officer is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Sec. 8.050.550. Peace officers.

For the purpose of enforcing and carrying out the provisions of this chapter the poundmaster and his deputies shall have the authority of peace officers.
(Code 1971, § 4455)

ARTICLE 6. CONTROL OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS OTHER THAN HOUSEHOLD PETS

Sec. 8.050.610. Animal nuisances.

1. Any animal, except an animal kept or controlled by a governmental agency, which has committed any one or more of any of the following acts is a public nuisance:
   1. An unprovoked infliction of physical injury upon any person where such person is conducting himself or herself lawfully.
   2. Unprovoked threatening behavior toward any person where such person is conducting himself or herself lawfully which occurs in such circumstances as to cause such person reasonably to fear for his or her physical safety.
   3. The utterance of barks or cries which are so loud, so frequent and continued over so long a period of time as to deprive persons residing in two or more residences in the neighborhood of the comfortable enjoyment of their homes.
   4. An unprovoked infliction of physical injury upon any other animal which occurs off the property of the owner or keeper of the animal inflicting the injury.
   5. The damaging of the real or personal property of some person other than the owner or keeper of the animal which occurs off the property of the owner or keeper of the animal.
   6. The dumping of trash cans or the spreading of trash which occurs off the property of the owner or keeper of the animal.
   7. The chasing of pedestrians, vehicles or ridden horses which occurs off the property of the owner or keeper of the chasing animal.
2. Such public nuisance may be abated in accordance with the procedures set forth in subsections 1. through 10. below. Such procedures are in addition to any other remedies which may be available under the law.
   1. Complaint. Any person aggrieved by such public nuisance may file a complaint with the poundmaster. Such complaint shall be in writing, shall be signed by and bear the address of the complainant, shall state the place or places where such nuisance exists, shall describe the animal and the conduct which renders it a nuisance, and shall give the name and address of the animal's owner or keeper if known to the complainant.
   2. Notice. Upon receipt of a complaint which alleges a public nuisance, or as soon thereafter as the poundmaster may learn the name and address of the owner or keeper of the animal, the poundmaster shall serve notice of a hearing upon the owner or keeper and upon the complainant. The notice shall be in writing and may be served either by personal delivery of a copy or by depositing a copy in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the person to be served. The notice shall do the following:
      1. Include a copy of the complaint;
      2. State that a hearing will be held to determine whether the animal described in the complaint is a nuisance within the meaning of subsection A. and, if so, that the nuisance may be abated as provided in subsections A. through B. 10.;
      3. State the time, which shall be not less than 15 calendar days after the date of the notice, and the place of the hearing; and
      4. Include a copy of subsections A. through B. 10.
   3. Impoundment pending hearing. If it appears to the poundmaster from the complaint or other information available to the poundmaster that the animal is being kept or maintained in a manner which poses an imminent threat to the safety of persons or property, the poundmaster may impound the animal immediately and may hold the animal until findings are issued pursuant to section 4456.09, at which time the animal shall be disposed of as provided in article 8 (commencing with section 8.050.810) of this chapter; provided, however, that if thefindings are that the animal is not a nuisance, the owner or keeper may redeem the animal without payment of the impound fees; and provided, further, that if the order is that the animal be destroyed the poundmaster shall hold the animal for an additional 72 hours and then shall destroy it in a humane manner.
   4. Hearing. The hearing shall be public and shall be held before the poundmaster at the time and place noticed or at such other time or place as may be mutually agreed to by the poundmaster, the complainant, and the owner or keeper of the animal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the poundmaster may continue the hearing to such time and place as may be reasonably necessary for the convenience of witnesses or other parties. Failure of the owner or keeper of the animal to appear at the hearing or any continuance thereof shall constitute a default.
   5. Oaths. The poundmaster shall have the power to administer oaths or affirmations when necessary in conjunction with the hearing.
   6. Evidence. Oral evidence need not be taken under oath or affirmation unless either the owner or keeper of the animal or the complainant so requests and it appears that the witness has a motive for being untruthful. Testimony may be given in an informal narrative style. Complainant, the owner or keeper of the animal, and the poundmaster shall have the right to call and examine witnesses, to introduce exhibits, to cross-examine witnesses on any matter relevant to the issues even though such matter was not covered in direct examination, and to impeach any witness regardless of which party first called the witness to testify. Any relevant evidence shall be admitted if it is the sort of evidence on which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs, regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory rule which might make improper the admission of such evidence or objection in a civil action. Hearsay evidence shall be admissible for any purpose but shall not be sufficient itself to support a finding unless it would be admissible over objection in a civil action.
   7. Subpoena power. Before the hearing has commenced, the poundmaster shall, at the request of the complainant or the owner or keeper of the animal, issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum for attendance or production of documents at the hearing. Compliance with the provisions of Section 1985 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall be a condition precedent to the issuance of a subpoena duces tecum. After the hearing has commenced, the poundinaster may issue such subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum as the poundmaster deems proper. Any person duly subpoenaed to appear and testify or to produce any books and papers before the poundmaster who wrongfully neglects or refuses to appear or to testify or to produce such books and papers is guilty of a misdemeanor.
   8. Record. The poundmaster shall record the hearing on a recording device and shall make such recording available to the complainant and to the owner or keeper of the animal upon request. The poundmaster shall provide a copy of the recording or a transcript prepared therefrom to any party who requests it and pays the cost of making such copy of preparing such transcript.
   9. Findings and order. At the conclusion of the hearing, or within a reasonable time thereafter, the poundmaster shall make a written finding that the animal either is or is not a public nuisance as defined in subsection A. Such finding shall be supported by the weight of the evidence presented at the hearing, provided that:
      1. If no evidence is presented, the finding shall be that the animal is not a public nuisance; unless
      2. The owner or keeper of the animal has defaulted by failing to appear, in which case the finding shall be that the animal is a public nuisance.
         If the finding is that the animal is a public nuisance, the poundmaster shall determine what actions, up to and including humane destruction of the animal, are reasonably necessary in order to abate the nuisance and shall make and enter an order that the owner or keeper of the animal take all such actions within such time limits as the order may prescribe. The findings and order shall be final when issued and shall be served promptly on the owner or keeper of the animal either by personal delivery of a copyor by depositing a copy in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the owner or keeper.
   10. Failure to comply with order. Failure of the owner or keeper of the animal to take any action required of the owner or keeper by the order of the poundmaster within the applicable time limit specified in the order is a misdemeanor; provided, however, that humane destruction of the animal within such time limit shall be deemed compliance with the order regardless of the abatement action specified in the order. Each day or portion thereof that such noncompliance continues after such time limit is a separate offense. The poundmaster may seize and summarily destroy any animal being kept or maintained in violation of such order of the poundmaster.
   (Code 1971, § 4456; Ord. No. 2004-020, § 2, 9-27-04)

Sec. 8.050.620. Destruction of wild dogs.

1. Where a police officer has a right to enter or be present in or at any place, public or private, in the performance of official police duties, any dog, and the handler of any dog, used by the police department in the performance of official duties shall have the right to enter or be present in or at any such place.
2. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully torture, tease, torment, beat, kick, strike, mutilate, injure, disable or kill any dog used by the police department in the performance of its functions or duties or to interfere with or meddle with any such dog which is used or being used by the police department, or any officer or member thereof, in the performance of any of the functions or duties of the police department or of such officer or member.
3. The provisions of section 8.050.510 shall not and do not apply to dogs which have been trained for official police duties and which are used for said purposes by the police department.

Sec. 8.050.640. Definitions.

The term "animals," herein referred to, shall include horses, ponies, mules, burros, jacks and jennies, cows, bulls, calves, heifers, sheep, goats, swine, hogs, pigs, and all other domestic or domesticated animals other than household pets.

The term "rabbits, poultry and domestic fowl," herein referred to, shall include rabbits, pigeons, chickens, capons, ducks, geese, turkeys, doves, squabs, and all similar or other domestic or domesticated fowl or birds other than household pets. Provided, however, that sections 8.050.640--8.050.090 are not intended to and does not apply to small birds (canaries, parakeets, doves, racing pigeons and racing homers, parrots, finches, or any other small birds kept for a hobby or a sport), provided that such birds are kept and maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times and the keeping of which shall at no time cause or tend to cause a condition injurious or detrimental to the health of any human being or household pet of any kind, and provided further that such birds shall not be kept or maintained within ten feet of any residence other than that of the owner of said small birds, and not less than three feet from any property line of said owner.

The term "household pets," herein referred to, shall include cats, dogs, canaries, parrots, and other kindred birds and animals usually or ordinarily kept as household pets, provided that this ordinance is not intended to and does not supersede articles 2, 3 and 8, of chapter 8.050, division 8, imposing a license tax upon dogs and regulating the running at large, licensing and impounding of dogs, but is intended to and does supplement such other regulatory ordinances as are now in effect covering the subject matter.

1. Generally. The council does hereby find and determine that the keeping of rabbits, poultry, domestic fowl and animals, other than household pets, within the city limits of the city, unless properly regulated as to location and sanitary conditions, is detrimental to the public health, safety, comfort and general welfare, and that the public interest requires that the council prescribe regulations for the more efficient control thereof.
2. Accumulation of harborage material. It shall be unlawful for any person to permit an accumulation of any material that may serve as a harborage for rats, unless such material be elevated not less than 18 inches above ground with a clear intervening space thereunder.
3. Burning. It shall be unlawful for any person to burn or suffer or permit to be burned, upon any premises owned, occupied or conducted by him, in the city, any bone, feathers, offal, flesh, hide or hair.
4. Distance requirements. Except as may be permitted under section 8122.1(a)(4) of this Code, it shall be unlawful for any person to keep any animal, rabbits, poultry or domestic fowl, within 35 feet of any residence or dwelling or other building used for the habitation, recreation, congregation or enjoyment of human beings, or any school, hospital or similar institution, or within 35 feet of any public street or sidewalk, in said city.
5. Burying. It shall be unlawful for any person to bury or inhume the carcass of any animal or the body of any dead rabbit, poultry or domestic fowl, or any portion thereof, in such manner that there is less than one foot of soil covering such carcass or body.
6. Sanitation. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain, or suffer or permit to be kept or maintained, any animal, rabbit, poultry or domestic fowl in any yard, stable, coop, hutch, corral, shed, building or poultry house in the city in a foul or unsanitary condition. It shall be unlawful for any person keeping or maintaining animals, rabbits, poultry or domestic fowl within the city to fail, refuse or neglect to cause the manure or droppings therefrom to be regularly removed from the premises where such animals, rabbits, poultry or domestic fowl are being kept or maintained and pending such removal to keep or deposit all such manure or droppings in a flytight box which shall be constructed and maintained in a sanitary condition, satisfactory to health officer of the city as to render the same free from noxious odors.
7. Duty of health officer. It shall be the duty of the health officer of the city to enter upon any lot, yard, enclosure or other premises for the purpose of inspecting such premises or other place to ascertain if any violation of the provisions of these sections 8.050.640--8.050.090 shall exist or if the health officer has reason to believe any violation of the provisions of these sections shall exist, and whenever any such violation shall be found to exist, in the opinion of the health officer, to notify in writing any person owning or having control of, or acting as agent for, leasing or occupying, such premises, or other place, to correct the conditions which are in violation of these sections, within a reasonable time to be stated in such notice.

Sec. 8.050.660. Running at large.

No person shall have, keep, maintain, or have in his possession or under his control any poisonous reptile upon any premises except when kept within a school or laboratory for educational or scientific purposes.
(Code 1971, § 4466)

ARTICLE 7. WILD ANIMALS

Sec. 8.050.710. Definitions.

Department or department of animal control means animal control department of Ventura County.

Wild animals found running loose may be impounded in accordance with the provisions of section 8.050.660 of this Code; however, neither the city, the county, nor their officers, agents or employees shall be liable for injury or disease to any animal incurred while said animal is being captured, transported or impounded. Wild animals when found to be at large and injuring, damaging or threatening to injure or damage any person or property, will be deemed to be a public nuisance and may be summarily destroyedwithout liability resulting to the city, the county, their officers, agents or employees.

Reclamation by an owner or keeper of any impounded wild animal will be permitted upon the payment to the department of animal control of the actual cost to the department of the capture, impounding and care of such animal.
(Code 1971, § 4486)

ARTICLE 8. ANIMAL POUND

Sec. 8.050.810. Poundmaster.

The poundmaster shall feed and care for any dog impounded as provided in this chapter until it is disposed of as provided by law. If such dog is not a "diseased or injured dog" as defined in this ordinance and is not suspected of having rabies, the person owning, harboring, or keeping such impounded dog may redeem it at any time within five days after it is taken up by describing it and proving ownership to the satisfaction of the poundmaster, and by paying an impounding fee of $3.00 plus the amount of $0.50 for each day or any portion thereof that the dog was impounded and obtaining, when necessary, the dog license tag required by section 8.050.210. (Provided, however, that an owner, harborer, or keeper may waive the five-day redemption period in writing.)

When the poundmaster knows the name and address of the owner of an impounded dog, the five-day redemption period shall begin when written notice of such impounding is deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to such address. If the impounded dog bears a license tag issued under the provisions of this chapter, such notice 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 dog impounded as provided in this ordinance is not so redeemed within such five-day redemption period, or if the owner of such dog is unknown to the poundmaster or fails or refuses to comply with any of the requirements for redemption as provided herein, the poundmaster shall dispose of such dog according to the provisions of this Code and the Ventura County Ordinance Code. The poundmaster may, in his discretion, destroy an impounded dog in a humane manner or the poundmaster may, in his discretion, sell such dog for a pet to any person who obtains a license tag asrequired by this ordinance and removes such dog from the pound and agrees in writing to feed it and provide it with a good home, or the poundmaster may sell such dog to a state chartered humane society. When a dog is returned to the pound within ten days of such sale, the buyer or other person returning the dog shall not be given the discretion to determine what disposition shall be made of said dog.

If any impounded livestock is reclaimed, the poundmaster shall collect whichever of the following fees are applicable before delivering such animal to the owner thereof.