The following regulations shall govern pets and other animals in County parks:
(a) No person shall bring an animal other than a pet into a County park, except a person may bring a horse, mule or donkey to an area specifically designated for riding, or a pack animal on a trail if allowed under a park's rules and regulations.
(b) No person shall bring a pet into a County park or allow a pet to enter or remain in a County park unless the pet has all inoculations required by State Law and any current license required by law. A person with a pet in a County park, when requested by a park ranger, shall provide evidence that the pet has received all inoculations required by State Law and has a current license.
(c) Unless authorized by the Department, a person with a pet in a County park shall keep the pet physically restrained at all times, either by an adequate leash no more than six feet in length, and in control of a person competent to restrain the animal or by confining the animal in a vehicle, tent, trailer, enclosure, or other structure allowed by park rules and in accordance with applicable state law.
(d) No person shall bring an animal into or allow an animal to enter or remain in a County park structure, other than a service animal.
(e) No person shall bring a dangerous dog, as defined in section 62.602 of this code, or an attack dog, guard dog or sentry dog, as defined in Health and Safety Code sections 121875 et seq. into a County park, or allow any of these types of dogs to remain in a County park. Nothing in this section shall prohibit law enforcement personnel from being accompanied by a trained police dog.
(f) No person shall allow an animal to enter or remain in a water body in a County park.
(g) No person shall abandon a pet or other animal in a County park. A pet or other animal allowed in a County park under subsection (a) above shall be considered abandoned if a person fails to provide food or water for the pet or other animal for more than six hours. An animal that is not allowed in a County park shall be considered abandoned if a person leaves the animal unattended in a County park.
(h) A person who brings a pet or other animal into a County park shall be responsible for any injury to a person or damage to property, including park property, caused by the animal. A person bringing an animal into a County park shall have a duty to report to any park ranger, any injury suffered by any person or any damage to property caused by the animal, as soon as practicable following the incident. If no park ranger is available at a County park to receive a report of the incident, the person shall report the incident to the Department no later than one o'clock p.m. on the next business day.
(i) The Department may create or establish designated and enclosed dog parks within a County park, including specified days and periods of time, in which dogs are allowed to be leash-free. The Department may withdraw or restrict, either permanently or temporarily, any leash-free designation within a County park.
(j) The Department shall promulgate and post, at each designated off leash area, regulations for the use of such dog parks, and may modify such regulations at any time in order to promote the general use and enjoyment of a County park. Such posting shall include a notice that failure to obey a posted regulation is grounds for removal from the dog park and the County park, as well as citation.
(k) The Department may issue additional rules and regulations that limit or exclude pets from any County park or any section of a County park where the department determines that the presence of pets substantially conflicts with the general use and enjoyment of a park. This subsection does not apply to a service animal that accompanies a person with a disability.
(l) All persons shall remove and properly dispose of animal waste at a County park.
(m) No person who brings a pet or any other animal into a County park shall refuse the instructions from a park ranger to remove the animal from the park when the park ranger determines that the animal is in the park in violation of this chapter, contrary to any written Department rule or regulation or when the animal presents a threat to the safety of any person or property.
(Amended by Ord. No. 3759 (N.S.), effective 10-21-71; amended by Ord. No. 4195 (N.S.), effective 12-13-73; amended by Ord. No. 6370 (N.S.), effective 7-8-82; amended by Ord. No. 8316 (N.S.), effective 11-25-93; amended by Ord. No. 9578 (N.S.), effective 8-8-03; amended by Ord. No. 9890 (N.S.), effective 10-26-07; amended by Ord. No. 10412 (N.S.), effective 2-26-16; amended by Ord. No. 10823 (N.S.), effective 1-13-23)