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For the purpose of this article, the following words and phrases are defined and shall be construed as hereinafter set out unless it shall be apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended.
“Animal” shall mean any animal, poultry, bird, reptile, fish or any other dumb creature.
“Board” shall mean the Board of Animal Services Commissioners unless otherwise specifically designated.
“Cat” shall mean any cat of either sex, of any age.
“Cat Kennel” shall mean any premises, including any Dwelling Unit as defined in Section 12.03, or any lot, building, structure, enclosure, or premises that does not constitute a Dwelling Unit, where six (6) or more cats at least four (4) months of age are kept or maintained, with the exception of a Pet Shop. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,864, Eff. 1/21/21.)
“Department” shall mean the Department of Animal Services unless otherwise specifically designated.
“Dog” shall mean any dog of either sex, of any age.
“Dog Kennel” shall mean any lot, building, structure, enclosure or premises where four or more dogs at least four (4) months of age are kept or maintained, with the exception of a pet shop. (Amended by Ord. No. 182,816, Eff. 1/19/14.)
“General Manager” shall mean General Manager of the Department.
“Impounded” shall mean having been received into the custody of the Municipal pound or into the custody of the Department or any authorized agent or representative thereof.
“Kennel” shall mean any lot, building, structure, enclosure or premises where four or more dogs at least four (4) months of age are kept or maintained, with the exception of a pet shop. (Amended by Ord. No. 182,816, Eff. 1/19/14.)
“Pet Shop” or “Pet Store” shall mean any retail or commercial establishment, store or department of any store, or any place of business open to the public where dogs, cats, rabbits, monkeys, birds, reptiles or any other animals are kept and offered for adoption or sale, for hire, or sold, irrespective of the age of the animals, provided that the facility operates pursuant to a pet shop permit issued by the Department, and is not used for the breeding of dogs, cats or rabbits or the commercial boarding of animals. (Amended by Ord. No. 182,816, Eff. 1/19/14.)
“Unlicensed Dog” shall mean any dog for which the license for the current year has not been paid or whose license has been revoked by the Department. (Amended by Ord. No. 162,538, Eff. 8/27/87.)
“Vaccination” or “Vaccination Against Rabies”, shall mean inoculation of a dog with a vaccine approved by and in a manner prescribed by the State Department of Public Health. (Amended by Ord. No. 162,538, Eff. 8/27/87.)
“Zoo” shall mean any place where a collection of wild animals, or wild and domesticated animals, are kept for exhibition or for view by the public.
The Department of Animal Services (formerly, “Department of Animal Regulation”) has the power and duty to enforce all ordinances of the City of Los Angeles and penal laws of the State relative to the care and impoundment of dumb animals, for the prevention of cruelty to animals, and to enforce ordinances relative to the payment of money for licenses for animals within the City.
The Department is no longer included in the Charter. Its powers and duties may be changed or eliminated by ordinance. Charter § 115.
(a) In the performance of their duties, the General Manager, the Manager’s Executive Officer, and each district supervisor, assistant district supervisor, license inspector and animal control officer, shall have the power, authority and immunity of a public officer and employee as set forth in Penal Code Section 836.5 to make arrests without a warrant whenever they have reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed a misdemeanor in their presence which is a violation of this article, or of any ordinance of the City of Los Angeles or penal law of this State relating to the care, treatment and impounding of animals. (Amended by Ord. No. 140,252, Eff. 4/16/70.
(b) Badges – Description of. Each such person while performing their respective duties shall wear a metallic badge, of a size and design to be determined as provided in Sec. 52.32 of this Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 133,983, Eff. 4/10/67.)
(c) Animal control officers when acting in the course and scope of their employment shall be and are hereby authorized to carry on their persons or in City vehicles loaded firearms or weapons of a type and caliber approved by the General Manager for such use. (Added by Ord. No. 140,252, Eff. 4/16/70.)
Each animal control officer shall receive initial and recurrent training in the use of any type of firearm or weapon approved for use by the General Manager, in order to establish and assure satisfactory proficiency in the use of such weapons commensurate with the safety and welfare of the general public.
(Amended by Ord. No. 136,242, Eff. 4/19/68.)
(a) Whenever it is necessary to make an inspection to enforce any of the provisions of or perform any duty imposed by this Code or other applicable law, or whenever the General Manager or the General Manager’s authorized representative has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in any building or upon any premises any violation of the provisions of this article or other applicable law, the General Manager or the General Manager’s authorized representative is hereby authorized to enter such property at any reasonable time and to inspect the same and perform any duty imposed upon the General Manager by this Code or other applicable law; provided that:
(1) If such property be occupied, the General Manager shall first present proper credentials to the occupant and request entry explaining the General Manager’s reason therefor; and
(2) If such property be unoccupied, the General Manager shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other persons having charge or control of the property and request entry, explaining the General Manager’s reasons therefor. If such entry is refused or cannot be obtained because the owner or other person having charge or control of the property cannot be found after due diligence, the General Manager or the General Manager’s authorized representative shall have recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure lawful entry and inspect the property.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the General Manager or the General Manager’s authorized representative has reasonable cause to believe that the keeping or the maintaining of any animal is so hazardous, unsafe or dangerous as to require immediate inspection to safeguard the animal or the public health or safety, the General Manager or the General Manager’s authorized representative shall have the right immediately to enter and inspect such property, and may use any reasonable means required to effect such entry and make such inspection, whether such property be occupied or unoccupied and whether or not permission to inspect has been obtained. If the property be occupied, the General Manager or the General Manager’s authorized representative shall first present proper credentials to the occupant and demand entry, explaining their reasons therefor and purpose of the inspection.
(c) No person shall fail or refuse, after proper demand has been made upon that person as provided in Subsection (b) of this section to permit the General Manager or the General Manager’s authorized representative to make any inspection provided for by subsection (b) of this section. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(d) The permittee of any permit issued pursuant to this article, by accepting such permit, does thereby consent and agree to the entry upon the premises described in the permit by the General Manager or the General Manager’s authorized representative for the purpose of conducting such inspections as are required by this article or other applicable law.
In addition to the employee’s duties as otherwise provided, each employee of the Department is hereby given the power and duty of collecting dog license fees.
Persons under the age of twenty-one (21) years may be appointed to a position within said Department for the purpose of performing clerical, stenographic or kennel duties. All other positions shall be filled by persons over the age of twenty-one (21) years.
The General Manager and the authorized employees of the Department and all police officers of this City are hereby given the power and authority, and it is declared to be their duty, to go upon unenclosed lots or lands for the purpose of taking up and impounding any animal found running at large thereon or staked, herded, or grazed thereon, contrary to the provisions of this article.
It shall be the duty of the General Manager or the General Manager’s authorized representatives to take up and impound in the City pound, and it shall be the duty of members of the Police Department on duty during the hours when the Municipal Pound is open, to take up and immediately deliver to the Department those animals which are authorized and directed to be taken up and impounded by this article or which are found or kept contrary to the provisions of this article.
(Amended by Ord. No. 160,401, Eff. 11/1/85.)
No person owning or having possession, charge, custody or control of any animal, except cats which are not in heat or season, shall cause, permit or allow the animal to stray, run, or in any manner to be at large in or upon any public street, sidewalk or park, except as otherwise expressly provided in section 63.44 of this Code, or in the bed of the Los Angeles River or upon any unenclosed lot or land.
A municipality may, under its police power, enact Ordinances prohibiting animals from running at large.
Amyx J. Tabor C 1863 23 C 370.
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