Chapter 6.10
ANIMAL/PET REGULATIONS
Sections:
6.10.010 Dog noise--Permitting prohibited.
6.10.020 Dog noise caused by confinement.
6.10.030 Possession without owner’s consent.
6.10.040 Dogs running at large.
6.10.060 Animals (household pets).
6.10.100 Animal permit for 4-H and FFA members.
6.10.010 Dog noise--Permitting prohibited.
No person shall permit any dog under their control to bark, howl, whine, or make other noises and unusual noises, whether within a building or enclosure, tied or otherwise confined, or while at large upon any public street, so as to annoy and become offensive to the neighborhood or persons residing immediately surrounding the habitation of the same. (Ord. 531 Exh. A(part), 2018: Ord. 490 §2 (Exh. B)(part), 2010).
6.10.020 Dog noise caused by confinement.
No person shall tie up, lock up, or enclose, and leave unattended any dog under his control within any house, garage or similar structure by reason of which the dog barks, howls, whines or makes other loud noises and unusual noises so as to annoy and become offensive to the neighborhood or persons residing immediately surrounding the habitation of the same. (Ord. 531 Exh. A(part), 2018: Ord. 490 §2 (Exh. B)(part), 2010).
6.10.030 Possession without owner’s consent.
No person, not the owner, and without the consent of the owner thereof, shall hold or retain in his possession any dog within the city for any period longer than twenty-four (24) hours unless such person reports the same, with the true description of the dog, to the Greenfield animal control officer or his designee. (Ord. 531 Exh. A(part), 2018: Ord. 490 §2 (Exh. B)(part), 2010).
6.10.040 Dogs running at large.
It is unlawful for any person owning or having charge, care or control of any dog to suffer or permit any such dog to run at large within the city. A dog shall be deemed to be running at large unless the following applies:
A. The dog is restrained by a leash held by some person or made fast to some stationary object; or confined within a cage or other dog-tight enclosure;
B. The dog is on the property of its owner and confined to said property by fence or other type of enclosure or made fast to some stationary object within the property, other than roads, streets, alleys or any public sidewalk, park or other public property. (Ord. 531 Exh. A(part), 2018: Ord. 490 §2 (Exh. B)(part), 2010: Ord. 241 §1(part), 1981. Formerly 6.08.090).
6.10.050 Dog feces removal.
No owner or person having charge, custody or control of any dog shall permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care to control, any such dog to defecate and then allow the feces to remain on any public sidewalk, park or other public property, or any improved private property. (Ord. 531 Exh. A(part), 2018: Ord. 490 §2 (Exh. B)(part), 2010: Ord. 241 §1(part), 1981. Formerly 6.08.100).
6.10.060 Animals (household pets).
The keeping of household pets shall be subject to the following limitations:
A. Number: A total of no more than four (4) weaned household pets may be kept at one site. This limitation shall not apply to fish, rodents (other than rabbits), or caged birds, provided the birds are not allowed to fly free and are maintained in accordance with all applicable health regulations.
B. Maintenance: Household pets shall be kept in a manner that does not damage or pose hazards to people or property and that does not generate offensive dust, odors or noise. (Ord. 531 Exh. A(part), 2018: Ord. 490 §2 (Exh. B)(part), 2010).
6.10.070 Breeding prohibited.
No persons, as principal, agent, employee or otherwise, shall breed any dog, cat or other animal at any place within the city limits except if the person has a duly licensed animal breeding business that adheres to all the rules, regulations and laws of the city of Greenfield, county of Monterey, state of California and any federal statutes. Breeding shall be deemed to have occurred upon the production of a litter, whether such litter results from sexual activity, artificial insemination, or whether such sexual activity was intentional or the result of improper confinement. (Ord. 531 Exh. A(part), 2018: Ord. 490 §2 (Exh. B)(part), 2010).
6.10.080 Unaltered cats.
No person who owns, or has custody or control of, a cat over the age of four (4) months shall allow such cat to remain unaltered, unless the cat is certified by a licensed veterinarian as not being suitable for spaying or neutering. (Ord. 531 Exh. A(part), 2018: Ord. 490 §2 (Exh. B)(part), 2010).
6.10.090 Punishment.
The following fines will be enforced for any violation of the above sections in any twelve (12) month time period:
A. At the first violation, a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00).
B. At the second violation, a fine of two hundred dollars ($200.00).
C. At the third violation, a fine of three hundred dollars ($300.00).
D. At the fourth and every subsequent violation, five hundred dollars ($500.00).
E. Dog Bite State Law: California is one of the states that has a dog bite statute, meaning a law that repudiates in whole or part the common law’s requirement of scienter (i.e., knowledge that the animal had previously injured a person in the same manner such as a bite). California Code Section 3342 provides the following:
3342(a) The owner of a dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness. A person is lawfully upon the private property of such owner within the meaning of this section when he is on such property in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by the laws of this state or by laws or postal requirements of the United States, or when he is on such property upon invitation, express or implied, of the owner.
(Ord. 531 Exh. A(part), 2018: Ord. 490 §2 (Exh. B)(part), 2010).
6.10.100 Animal permit for 4-H and FFA members.
It is unlawful for any person to own, control, keep, maintain or harbor hen chickens or rabbits in any residential district and/or residential use in nonresidential districts in the city unless issued a permit to do so as provided in this section. No permit shall be issued for the keeping or harboring of more than two (2) hen chickens or two (2) rabbits on any premises unless the property is located in an agricultural or rural zoning district. The keeping of roosters is prohibited.
A. Definitions: The following definitions apply to this section:
1. "4-H" means the youth development program of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and United Stated Department of Agriculture, whose name represents the following four (4) personal development areas of focus for the organization: head, heart, hands, and health.
2. "FFA" means either the California FFA Association or National FFA Organization, and commonly known as Future Farmers of America.
3. "Youth" means a person nineteen (19) years old or younger.
B. Permit: A youth who is a member of 4-H or FFA may obtain an annual permit to raise chickens or rabbits in any zoning district in the city for a 4-H or FFA approved project. Applications for such permit shall be obtained from and submitted to the chief animal control officer. There shall be no fee charged by the city for this permit. To obtain a permit, applicants must be able to prove membership in either 4-H or FFA and that the raising of the chickens or rabbits is for a 4-H or FFA approved project, and if a permit is issued, the applicant is under a continuing duty to provide evidence of continued membership. Such permit may be renewed annually upon evidence of continued membership in 4-H or FFA and evidence that the raising of the chickens or rabbits is for a 4-H or FFA approved project.
C. Permit Requirements:
1. All chickens or rabbits kept pursuant to this section shall be maintained in healthy condition, or if ill, shall be given appropriate treatment. Food supplies shall be of sufficient quantity and nutritional value to meet the daily requirement of the animals.
2. The structures in which animals are kept shall be maintained in a clean condition and a good state of repair. Such structures shall allow adequate protection against weather extremes and predators, and must be constructed using rodent-resistant construction. Structures housing chickens shall provide at least four (4) square feet per each chicken. All structures holding chickens or rabbits must be set back at least ten (10) feet from any residential structure or any property line. All such structures shall be located in the rear of the house.
3. No person who keeps or raises chickens or rabbits shall permit the premises where the animals are kept to be in an unhealthy, unsanitary or noxious condition or to permit the premises to be in such condition that noxious odors are carried to adjacent properties.
4. The chief animal control officer shall have the right, at all reasonable times, to enter upon private property where the animals are kept to inspect the premises and determine compliance with this title.
5. The slaughter and breeding of chickens and rabbits is prohibited. (Ord. 531 Exh. A(part), 2018).