US City, State & Federal Dog Laws
California Food and Agricultural Code
Division 14. Regulation and Licensing of Dogs
Chapter 5. Killing and Seizure - Article 1. Generally - Sections 31101-31109
31101. Any dog which is found running at large without the identification tag or dog license tag which is required pursuant to Section 30951 may be seized and impounded by any peace officer. 31102. Except in an area in which the provisions of Article 2 (commencing with Section 31151) of this chapter apply or as otherwise provided in Section 31104, any person may kill any dog in any of the following cases: (a) The dog is found in the act of killing, wounding, or persistently pursuing or worrying livestock or poultry on land or premises which are not owned or possessed by the owner of the dog. (b) The person has such proof as conclusively shows that the dog has been recently engaged in killing or wounding livestock or poultry on land or premises which are not owned or possessed by the dog's owner. No action, civil or criminal, shall be maintained for the killing of any such dog. 31103. Except in an area in which the provisions of Article 2 (commencing with Section 31151) of this chapter apply or as otherwise provided in Section 31104, any dog entering any enclosed or unenclosed property upon which livestock or poultry are confined may be seized or killed by the owner or tenant of the property or by any employee of the owner or tenant. No action, civil or criminal, shall be maintained against the owner, tenant, or employee for the seizure or killing of any such dog. 31104. The provisions of Sections 31102 and 31103 shall not apply to any dog which is inside the corporate limits of any city, or city and county, or to any dog which is under the reasonable control of his owner or keeper, unless the dog is actually caught in the act or worrying, wounding, chasing, or killing any livestock or poultry. 31105. The board of supervisors shall provide for both of the following: (a) The taking up and impounding of all dogs which are found running at large in violation of any provision of this division. (b) The killing in some humane manner or other disposition of any dog which is impounded. 31106. The board of supervisors may appoint proper persons to take up, impound, and kill dogs pursuant to this division or it may enter into a contract with any humane society or other organization or association which will do both of the following: (a) Undertake to carry out the provisions of this division regarding the taking up, impounding, and killing of dogs. (b) Give a proper bond in whatever amount may be fixed by the board of supervisors for the faithful performance of the contract. 31107. No dog which is impounded pursuant to this division shall be killed or otherwise disposed of without notice to the owner, if he is known. 31108. (a) The required holding period for a stray dog impounded pursuant to this division shall be six business days, not including the day of impoundment, except as follows: (1) If the public or private shelter has made the dog available for owner redemption on one weekday evening until at least 7:00 p.m. or one weekend day, the holding period shall be four business days, not including the day of impoundment. (2) If the public or private shelter has fewer than three full-time employees or is not open during all regular weekday business hours, and if it has established a procedure to enable owners to reclaim their dogs by appointment at a mutually agreeable time when the public or private shelter would otherwise be closed, the holding period shall be four business days, not including the day of impoundment. Except as provided in Section 17006, stray dogs shall be held for owner redemption during the first three days of the holding period, not including the day of impoundment, and shall be available for owner redemption or adoption for the remainder of the holding period. (b) Except as provided in Section 17006, any stray dog that is impounded pursuant to this division shall, prior to the euthanasia of that animal, be released to a nonprofit, as defined in Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, animal rescue or adoption organization if requested by the organization prior to the scheduled euthanasia of that animal. The public or private shelter may enter into cooperative agreements with any animal rescue or adoption organization. In addition to any required spay or neuter deposit, the public or private shelter, at its discretion, may assess a fee, not to exceed the standard adoption fee, for animals adopted or released. (c) During the holding period required by this section and prior to the adoption or euthanasia of a dog impounded pursuant to this division, a public or private shelter shall scan the dog for a microchip that identifies the owner of that dog and shall make reasonable efforts to contact the owner and notify him or her that his or her dog is impounded and is available for redemption. 31108.5. (a) (1) Upon relinquishment of a dog to a public or private shelter, the owner of that dog shall present sufficient identification to establish his or her ownership of the dog and shall sign a statement that he or she is the lawful owner of the dog. (2) Any person who provides false information pursuant to this subdivision about his or her ownership of the dog shall be liable to the true owner of the dog in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000). (b) Upon relinquishment, the dog may be made available for immediate euthanasia if it has a history of vicious or dangerous behavior documented by the agency charged with enforcing state and local animal laws. 31109. Any dog which is found straying on any farm where livestock are kept, which has attached to its collar the identification tag or dog license tag prescribed by Section 30951, may be taken up, impounded, and detained in the same manner as described in this division. The person taking up the dog may recover from the owner, in any court having jurisdiction, the fees fixed by the board of supervisors for taking up and keeping unlicensed and unidentified dogs, together with costs.
