§ 416-12.422. Permit conditions.

All potentially dangerous and dangerous animal permits are subject to the following conditions:

(a)

Permittees must comply with all relevant state laws and ordinances;

(b)

The potentially dangerous animal must be properly licensed and vaccinated;

(c)

The permit is nontransferable;

(d)

The owner or keeper of the animal may not be a minor;

(e)

The animal shall not be possessed or maintained at any location other than that specified in the permit;

(f)

Permittees shall display on the property where the animal is kept a sign containing a warning that there is a potentially dangerous or dangerous dog on the premises. The dimensions, colors, lettering, and graphics of the sign must comply with standards established by the animal services director. The sign must be located where it will be visible to the general public;

(g)

The animal must be securely maintained at all times. Permittees shall immediately notify the animal services department if the animal is at large as defined in Section 416-4.402 of this article, or if the animal has attacked another animal, bitten a human being, or has died. If the animal is not securely confined indoors, it must be confined as provided below unless the animal services director modifies the conditions of confinement where warranted:

(1)

Confined in an enclosure consisting of a fence or structure suitable to prevent the entry of young children, and suitable to confine a potentially dangerous or dangerous animal as determined by the animal services department. The enclosure shall be securely locked, have secure sides and bottom sufficient to prevent the animal from escaping, and shall be of sufficient size to provide the animal with adequate exercise area,

(2)

Muzzled and leashed with a substantial leash not to exceed six feet in length and under the control of a responsible adult who is familiar with and in control of the animal when off the property of its owner or keeper, or

(3)

Humanely confined in a vehicle so that it can neither escape nor inflict injury on passers by;

(h)

The animal shall not be loose or allowed to endanger the peace, health, or safety of people, domestic animals or native wildlife;

(i)

The animal shall not be subject to neglect, suffering, cruelty, or abuse;

(j)

The location where the animal is possessed or maintained must be kept clean and sanitary; and the animal must be provided with proper and adequate food, water, ventilation, shelter and care at all times;

(k)

The animal services director must be allowed at any reasonable time to inspect the animal and the place where the animal is located;

(l)

Payment of all required fees in accordance with a fee schedule adopted by resolution of the board of supervisors, under Section 416-12.426 of this article;

(m)

The animal's owner or keeper must allow and pay for the animal to be sterilized and have a microchip implanted by the animal services department for identification purposes;

(n)

For potentially dangerous animals only, the following additional conditions apply:

(1)

The potentially dangerous animal must complete an obedience course approved by the animal services director, at the owner's expense, within sixty days after release of the animal to its owner or keeper, or within a reasonable time as agreed upon by the animal services director,

(2)

Permittees shall notify the animal services department within forty-eight hours of the potentially dangerous animal being sold, transferred or permanently removed from the location designated on the permit, and provide the name, address, and phone number of the new owner or keeper of the animal and the new location of the animal;

(o)

For dangerous animals only, the following additional conditions apply:

(1)

A dangerous animal securely confined in an enclosure shall not be tethered,

(2)

Unless a dangerous animal is securely confined indoors or in an outdoor enclosure on the property where the animal is maintained as described in subsection (g)(1) of this section, the animal may only be removed for the purposes of obtaining veterinary care, being sold or given away, or to comply with any provision of law or with a directive of the animal services director,

(3)

Within thirty days after the animal is designated dangerous, the owner or keeper of the animal must give written notice, with a copy to the animal services director, of the animal's dangerous designation to the local police and fire departments, and the local branch of the U.S. Post Office and all utility companies that provide services to the premises where the animal is kept,

(4)

The owner or keeper of the dangerous animal must present to the animal services director proof that the owner or keeper has procured liability insurance from an insurer licensed to practice in the state of California, in a single incident amount of not less than one hundred thousand dollars for each animal, for injury to or death of any person or persons, or loss or damage to any property caused by or resulting from any act of such animal. Liability insurance shall not be canceled unless the owner or keeper ceases to own or keep the animal prior to expiration of that insurance. Coverage shall be evidenced by a certificate issued by the insurer. The owner shall also provide documentation from the insurer warranting that the insurer will provide the county at least thirty days advance notice of cancellation of insurance,

(5)

Permittees shall give the animal services department at least forty-eight hours advance notice of the sale, transfer or permanent removal of the animal to a location not designated in the permit, and provide the name, address and phone number of the new owner or keeper of the animal and the new location of the animal.

(Ords. 2005-24 § 2, 87-74 § 6, 80-97 § 2).