(a) All animals must be kept under restraint or confinement. Any animal not so restrained will be deemed unlawfully running at large in the unincorporated area of the county. Provided, however, this subsection shall not apply to domestic cats that have been spayed or neutered, or to those cats in the Community Cat Diversion Program.
(b) Dogs that are participating in hunting events, obedience trials, conformation shows, tracking tests, herding trials, lure courses and other events similar in nature shall not be considered "at large."
(c) In the interest of public safety, if an Animal Care Officer witnesses an animal not under restraint, the officer may exercise the authority to pursue the animal(s) onto private property and/or into an enclosed fenced yard. This authority may only be exercised if it has been determined by the officer that the animal is clearly able to enter and exit from the premises unrestrained, and presents an immediatethreat of bodily harm to public safety such as, but not limited to: aggressively charging, attempting to bite, or displaying obvious unprovoked acts of aggression. Such pursuit shall end at such time as the animal is no longer at large and/or is under restraint. If an immediate threat to public safety is absent, then a search warrant must be executed in order to enter an enclosed fenced yard.
(Ord. No. 066-04HR, § I, 10-28-04; Ord. No. 005-12HR, § V, 2-7-12; Ord. No. 019-17HR, § 1, 5-2-2017)