PART 6. VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY [121575. - 122395.2.]
Part 6 added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 7.
§§ 121575–122395.2 · 166 sections
CHAPTER 1. Rabies Control §§ 121575–121710 · 27 sections
- § 121575 “Rabies,” as used in this chapter, includes rabies, and any other animal disease dangerous to human beings that may be declared by the department as coming…
- § 121580 “Quarantine,” as used in this chapter, means the strict confinement, upon the private premises of the owner, under restraint by leash, closed cage, or paddock,…
- § 121585 “Rabies area” shall mean any area not less than a county as determined by the director within a region where the existence of rabies constitutes a public…
- § 121595 Whenever any case of rabies is reported as existing in any county or city, the department shall make, or cause to be made, a preliminary investigation as to…
- § 121600 If upon the investigation the department finds that rabies exists, a quarantine shall be declared against all animals as are designated in the quarantine…
- § 121605 Following the order of quarantine the department shall make or cause to be made a thorough investigation as to the extent of the disease, the probable number…
- § 121610 The department may substitute for the quarantine order regulations as may be deemed adequate for the control of the disease in each area.
- § 121615 All peace officers and boards of health shall carry out the provisions of this chapter.
- § 121620 During the period for which any quarantine order is in force any officer may kill or in his or her discretion capture and hold for further action by the…
- § 121625 Any proper official within the meaning of this chapter may examine and enter upon all private premises for the enforcement of this chapter.
- § 121630 Except as provided in Sections 121705 and 121710, every person who possesses or holds any animal in violation of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of an…
- § 121635 For the purpose of providing funds to pay expenses incurred in connection with the eradication of rabies, the rabies treatment and eradication fund is…
- § 121640 All money collected for dog license taxes shall be deposited to the credit of this fund with the treasurer of the county or city; but funds now collected from…
- § 121645 Upon the determination by the department that rabies exists in any county or city, a special dog license tax shall immediately become effective, unless a dog…
- § 121650 This tax shall be levied as follows: An annual tax of one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) for each male, two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) for each female,…
- § 121655 After this dog license tax has been established in a county or city, it shall be continued in force until an order has been issued by the department declaring…
- § 121660 One half of all fines collected by any court or judge for violations of this chapter shall be placed to the credit of the rabies treatment and eradication fund…
- § 121665 Whenever it becomes necessary in the judgment of the department, to enforce this chapter in any county or city, the department may institute special measures…
- § 121670 All expenditures incurred in enforcing the special measures shall be proper charges against the special fund referred to in this chapter, and shall be paid as…
- § 121675 All expenditures in excess of the balance of money in this fund shall likewise be paid as they accrue from the general fund. All money thus expended from the…
- § 121680 Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter a guide dog serving a blind master shall not be quarantined, in the absence of evidence that he or she has…
- § 121685 Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a dog used by any state, county, city, or city and county law enforcement agency shall not be quarantined…
- § 121690 In rabies areas, all of the following shall apply: (a) Every owner of a dog, after the dog attains the age of four months, shall no less than once every two…
- § 121695 Nothing in this chapter and Section 120435 is intended or shall be construed to limit the power of any city, city and county, or county in its authority in the…
- § 121700 Rabies vaccines for animal use shall not be supplied to other than a veterinary biologic supply firm, a person licensed to practice veterinary medicine under…
- § 121705 Any person who willfully conceals information about the location or ownership of an animal subject to rabies, that has bitten or otherwise exposed a person to…
- § 121710 Any person who, after notice, violates any order of a local health officer concerning the isolation or quarantine of an animal of a species subject to rabies,…
CHAPTER 2. Avian Zoonosis Control §§ 121745–121765 · 3 sections
- § 121745 (a) Whenever the director finds that psittacosis, or any other diseases transmissible to man from pet birds, have become a public health hazard to the extent…
- § 121760 The violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor.
- § 121765 This chapter shall apply to all shell parakeets or budgerigars.
CHAPTER 3. Importation of Wild Animals §§ 121775–121870 · 16 sections
ARTICLE 1. General §§ 121775–121800 · 6 sections
- § 121775 As used in this chapter, “wild animal” refers to any animal of the class Aves (birds) or class Mammalia (mammals) that either is not normally domesticated in…
- § 121780 As used in this chapter, “enforcement officer” means any officer, employee, or agent of the department, local health officer, or of any state or local agency…
- § 121785 The department may enter into agreement with any state or local agency for the enforcement of Article 3 (commencing with Section 121850) of this chapter.
- § 121790 The department shall publish from time to time a list of animals that may not be imported into this state except by permit from the department. Unless a permit…
- § 121795 The department may adopt regulations governing the entry, quarantine, or release from quarantine, of any and all wild animals imported into this state pursuant…
- § 121800 The violation of any provision of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor.
ARTICLE 2. Permits §§ 121825–121845 · 5 sections
- § 121825 The department may issue a written permit to import into this state any wild animal specified by the department pursuant to Section 121790, upon determination…
- § 121830 A permit shall be issued only upon written application from the person desiring to import the species, enumerating all of the following: (a) The number and…
- § 121835 Each permit issued shall set forth the following: (a) The number and true scientific name of the species of wild animal for which the permit is granted. (b) A…
- § 121840 Whenever any permit is issued under provisions of this article, one copy shall be sent by the department to the local health officer of the county where the…
- § 121845 The department shall charge a fee for the issuance of the import permit provided for under Section 121825. The department shall provide by regulation the…
ARTICLE 3. Regulation and Enforcement §§ 121850–121870 · 5 sections
- § 121850 Any person who imports, transports into the state, or receives, any live wild animal enumerated in or designated pursuant to Section 121790, shall hold the…
- § 121855 If, during inspection upon arrival any wild animal is found to be diseased, or there is reason to suspect the presence of disease that will or may endanger the…
- § 121860 Whenever any wild animal brought into this state under permit is quarantined as provided in this chapter, the species shall not be released from quarantine…
- § 121865 Any live wild animal brought into this state in violation of the provisions of this chapter or any regulations thereunder may, upon notice from the enforcing…
- § 121870 This chapter, or any regulations adopted pursuant thereto, shall not authorize the importation, transportation, or possession of any live wild animals…
CHAPTER 4. Animal Control §§ 121875–121945 · 24 sections
- § 121875 This chapter may be cited as “The Dog Act of 1969.”
- § 121880 For the purposes of this chapter, “sentry dog” means a dog trained to work without supervision in a fenced facility and to deter or detain unauthorized persons…
- § 121881 For purposes of this chapter, “guard dog” or “attack dog” means any dog trained to guard, protect, patrol, or defend any premises, area, or yard, or any dog…
- § 121885 For the purposes of this chapter, “narcotic detection dog” means a dog trained to locate narcotics by scent.
- § 121890 For purposes of this chapter, “tracker dog” means a dog trained to work with a handler in searching facilities for burglary suspects and other intruders.
- § 121895 For the purposes of this chapter, “sentry dog company” means any person who agrees to furnish trained sentry, attack, or narcotic detection dogs for hire.
- § 121896 For purposes of this chapter, “trainer” means any person who engages in the practice of training any attack, guard, or sentry dog.
- § 121900 For the purposes of this chapter “dog handler” means any person trained in the handling of dogs whose training includes the care, feeding, and maintenance of…
- § 121905 For the purposes of this chapter “hire” shall include, but not be limited to, the renting or leasing of the services of a dog with or without a dog handler, or…
- § 121906 “Person” means any individual, partnership, firm, joint stock company, corporation, association, trust, estate, or other legal entity.
- § 121907 “Owner” means any person who has purchased, or obtained legal custody of, an attack, guard, or sentry dog.
- § 121910 Each sentry dog company shall register each dog subject to this chapter that it handles with the local law enforcement agency and with the state, city, county,…
- § 121915 Each sentry dog company that handles a dog subject to this chapter shall notify the appropriate local law enforcement agency and the appropriate fire…
- § 121916 (a) Any person or owner of an attack, guard, or sentry dog that operates or maintains a business to sell, rent, or train an attack, guard, or sentry dog shall…
- § 121917 (a) An applicant, when applying for a permit pursuant to Section 121916, shall furnish the local public agency with a list of the types of animals to be kept…
- § 121918 For the protection and welfare of any dog under this chapter, the local public agency may adopt an ordinance to require or prohibit any of the following: (a)…
- § 121919 The local public agency may suspend or revoke a permit issued under this chapter if the local public agency determines that the permittee has done any of the…
- § 121920 (a) The owner or trainer of any attack, guard, or sentry dog shall ensure that the dog has been microchipped and the owner’s identification has been entered…
- § 121921 No person shall sell, give away, or let for hire any guard, attack, or sentry dog unless the following requirements have been met: (a) The dog has been…
- § 121925 Whenever a dog subject to this chapter is being transported anywhere, it shall be well secured in a humane manner as will reasonably prevent its possible…
- § 121930 Each dog subject to this chapter shall, wherever and whenever the dog is kept when on actual duty, be visited by a dog handler at least once every 12 hours to…
- § 121935 (a) No person shall take a sentry dog or a tracker or attack dog into, or keep a sentry dog or a tracker or attack dog in, any portion of any business…
- § 121940 (a) Except as otherwise specified in this chapter, any person violating any provision of this chapter, other than Section 121945, shall be subject to a civil…
- § 121945 In lieu of the civil penalties imposed pursuant to Section 121940, any person or owner who violates this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to…
CHAPTER 5. Sale of Dogs and Cats §§ 122045–122319.5 · 52 sections
ARTICLE 1. Sale of Dogs by Breeders §§ 122045–122110 · 15 sections
- § 122045 (a) This article shall be known and may be cited as the Polanco-Lockyer Pet Breeder Warranty Act. (b) Every breeder of dogs shall comply with this article. As…
- § 122050 (a) Every breeder of dogs shall deliver to each purchaser of a dog a written disclosure containing all of the following: (1) The breeder’s name and address. If…
- § 122055 A breeder shall maintain a written record on the health, status, and disposition of each dog for a period of not less than one year after disposition of the…
- § 122060 Except as provided for in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 122050, no breeder shall knowingly sell a dog that is diseased, ill or has a condition,…
- § 122065 It shall be unlawful for a breeder to fail to do any of the following: (a) Maintain facilities where the dogs are kept in a sanitary condition. (b) Provide…
- § 122065.5 It shall be unlawful for a breeder to primarily house a dog on wire flooring.
- § 122070 (a) If a licensed veterinarian states in writing that within 15 days after the purchaser has taken physical possession of a dog following the sale by a…
- § 122075 (a) There shall be a rebuttable presumption that an illness existed at the time of sale if the animal dies within 15 days of delivery to the purchaser. (b) For…
- § 122080 To obtain the remedies provided for in Section 122070, the purchaser shall substantially comply with all of the following requirements: (a) Notify the breeder…
- § 122085 No refund, replacement, or reimbursement of veterinary fees shall be made under Section 122070 if any of the following conditions exist: (a) The illness,…
- § 122090 (a) The veterinarian’s statement pursuant to Section 122070 shall contain all of the following information: (1) The purchaser’s name and address. (2) The date…
- § 122095 (a) In the event that a breeder wishes to contest a demand for any of the remedies specified in Section 122070, the breeder may, except in the case of the…
- § 122100 Every breeder that sells a dog shall provide the purchaser at the time of sale, and a prospective purchaser upon request, with a written notice of rights,…
- § 122105 Nothing in this article shall in any way limit the rights or remedies that are otherwise available to a consumer under any other law. Nor shall this article in…
- § 122110 (a) Except as otherwise specified herein, any person violating any provision of this article other than Section 122060 shall be subject to civil penalty of up…
ARTICLE 2. Retail Sale of Dogs and Cats §§ 122125–122220 · 22 sections
- § 122125 (a) This article shall be known and may be cited as the Lockyer-Polanco-Farr Pet Protection Act. (b) Every pet dealer of dogs and cats shall conform to the…
- § 122130 Every pet dealer receiving dogs or cats from a common carrier shall transport, or have transported, dogs and cats from the carrier’s premises within four hours…
- § 122135 All dogs or cats received by a retail dealer shall, prior to being placed with other dogs or cats, be examined for sickness. Any dog or cat found to be…
- § 122137 (a) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature and the purpose of this section to inform consumers who purchase dogs and cats from retail pet dealers about the…
- § 122140 Every pet dealer shall deliver to the purchaser of each dog and cat at the time of sale a written statement in a standardized form prescribed by the Department…
- § 122145 A pet dealer shall maintain a written record on the health, status, and disposition of each dog and each cat for a period of not less than one year after…
- § 122150 (a) Except as otherwise specified herein, any person violating any provision of this article other than Section 122205 shall be subject to a civil penalty of…
- § 122155 (a) It shall be unlawful for a pet dealer to fail to do any of the following: (1) Maintain facilities where the dogs are kept in a sanitary condition. (2)…
- § 122160 (a) If a licensed veterinarian states in writing that within 15 days after the purchaser has taken physical possession of the dog after the sale by a pet…
- § 122165 (a) There shall be a rebuttable presumption that an illness existed at the time of sale if the animal dies within 15 days of delivery to the purchaser. (b) For…
- § 122170 To obtain the remedies provided for in Section 122160, the purchaser shall substantially comply with all of the following requirements: (a) Notify the pet…
- § 122175 Notwithstanding Section 122160, no refund, replacement, or reimbursement of veterinary fees shall be made if any of the following conditions exist: (a) The…
- § 122180 (a) The veterinarian’s statement pursuant to Section 122160 shall contain the following information: (1) The purchaser’s name and address. (2) The date or…
- § 122185 (a) In the event that a pet dealer wishes to contest a demand for any of the remedies specified in Section 122160, the dealer may, except in the case of the…
- § 122190 Every pet dealer that sells a dog shall provide the purchaser at the time of sale, and a prospective purchaser upon request, with a written notice of rights,…
- § 122191 (a) For the purposes of this section, “online pet retailer” means a person engaged in the business of selling dogs, cats, or rabbits, at retail, online through…
- § 122195 Nothing in this article shall in any way limit the rights or remedies that are otherwise available to a consumer under any other law. Nor shall this article in…
- § 122200 (a) A pet dealer shall not state, promise, or represent to the purchaser, directly or indirectly, that a dog is registered or capable of being registered with…
- § 122205 Except as provided for in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 122140, no pet dealer shall knowingly sell a dog that is diseased,…
- § 122210 (a) No dog may be offered for sale by a pet dealer to a purchaser until the dog has been examined by a veterinarian licensed in this state. Each dog shall be…
- § 122215 Every retail dealer shall post conspicuously on the cage of each dog offered for sale a notice indicating the state where the dog was bred and brokered.
- § 122220 (a) Every pet dealer shall post conspicuously within close proximity to the cages of dogs offered for sale, a notice containing the following language in…
ARTICLE 2.5. Sale of Dogs, Cats, and Rabbits §§ 122225–122231 · 7 sections
- § 122225 For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply: (a) “Pet dealer” has the same meaning as Section 122125. (b) “Public animal control agency or…
- § 122226 A person, pet dealer, or business that sells a dog, cat, or rabbit to a purchaser located in California shall provide a written notice to the purchaser or…
- § 122227 (a) A contract entered into on or after January 1, 2026, to transfer ownership of a dog, cat, or rabbit to a purchaser that is offered, negotiated, brokered,…
- § 122228 (a) A person, pet dealer, or business shall not offer a contract that contains a term that violates Section 122226 or 122227. (b) A person, pet dealer, or…
- § 122229 This article does not limit a contract for the transfer of ownership of an animal to or by a governmental agency or the transfer of ownership of a guide,…
- § 122230 This article does not apply to a public animal control agency or shelter.
- § 122231 Nothing in this article shall be construed as amending the requirements of Article 1, 2, 3, or 4 of this chapter.
ARTICLE 3. Dog Pedigree Registries §§ 122300–122315 · 4 sections
- § 122300 For purposes of this article: (a) “Dog dealer” means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other association that engages in the acquisition of dogs…
- § 122305 Every dog dealer that sells registered dogs or that claims that the dogs being sold are registered or are registerable with a dog pedigree registry shall post…
- § 122310 (a) For every dog sold by a dog dealer or dog breeder that is sold with any representation that the dog is registered or registerable with a dog pedigree…
- § 122315 (a) Any dog dealer or dog breeder who fails to comply with the disclosure requirements in Section 122305 or 122310, as the case may be, shall be liable to the…
ARTICLE 4. Emotional Support Animals §§ 122317–122319.5 · 4 sections
- § 122317 (a) A person or business that sells or provides a dog for use as an emotional support dog shall provide a written notice to the buyer or recipient of the dog…
- § 122318 (a) A health care practitioner shall not provide documentation relating to an individual’s need for an emotional support dog unless the health care…
- § 122319 (a) (1) A violation of either of the following shall be subject to a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) for the first violation, one thousand dollars…
- § 122319.5 For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply: (a) “Emotional support animal” means an animal that provides emotional, cognitive, or other…
CHAPTER 6. Sale of Birds §§ 122320–122324 · 5 sections
- § 122320 As used in this chapter: (a) “Bird” means any order of Psittaciformes bird. (b) “Bird mart” means an event at which two or more persons offer birds for sale or…
- § 122321 (a) A pet shop with five or fewer employees may not possess an unweaned bird unless the pet shop employs at least one person per pet shop location who has…
- § 122322 (a) Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation. The action may…
- § 122323 This chapter does not apply to publicly operated animal shelters and humane societies.
- § 122324 This chapter shall become operative on September 1, 2004.
CHAPTER 7. Spay/Neuter and Breeding Programs for Animals §§ 122330–122331 · 2 sections
- § 122330 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) Uncontrolled and irresponsible breeding of animals contributes to pet overpopulation, inhumane…
- § 122331 (a) Cities and counties may enact dog breed-specific ordinances pertaining only to mandatory spay or neuter programs and breeding requirements, provided that…
CHAPTER 8. Dog Tethering § 122335 · 1 section
- § 122335 (a) For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following definitions: (1) “Animal control” means the municipal or county animal control…
CHAPTER 9. Pet Store Animal Care §§ 122350–122361 · 13 sections
- § 122350 As used in this act, the following definitions apply: (a) “Adequate space” means sufficient height and sufficient floorspace for the animals to stand up, sit…
- § 122351 Each pet store operator shall be responsible for all of the following: (a) Maintaining the entire pet store facility in good repair. (b) Restricting the entry…
- § 122352 (a) Primary enclosures shall comply with all of the following structural standards: (1) Primary and temporary enclosures shall be structurally sound and…
- § 122353 (a) When a primary or temporary enclosure is being cleaned in a manner, or with a substance, that is or may be harmful to the animals within the enclosure,…
- § 122354 (a) The pet store operator or at least one of his or her employees shall be present in the store at least once daily, regardless of whether the store is open,…
- § 122354.5 (a) A pet store shall not adopt out, sell, or offer for sale a dog, cat, or rabbit. This section does not prevent a pet store from providing space to display…
- § 122355 (a) Each pet store operator shall ensure that records of all veterinary visits to the pet store are documented in writing. Veterinary treatment records shall…
- § 122356 (a) An animal control officer, as defined in Section 830.9 of the Penal Code, a humane officer qualified pursuant to Section 14502 or 14503 of the Corporations…
- § 122357 A pet store operator who violates any provision of this chapter that is not specified in subdivision (a) of Section 122356 and is not proscribed by Section…
- § 122358 An infraction is punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per violation. A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine not to exceed one…
- § 122359 (a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 599 of the Penal Code, a pet store shall not offer any live animal as a prize or give away any animal as an…
- § 122360 (a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to in any way limit or affect the application or enforcement of any other law that protects animals or the…
- § 122361 This chapter shall become operative on January 1, 2009.
CHAPTER 9.5. Prohibition of Animal Sales by Broker §§ 122365–122365.1 · 2 sections
- § 122365 For purposes of this chapter, all of the following terms have the following meanings: (a) “Animal rescue group” means any not-for-profit organization that has…
- § 122365.1 (a) A broker shall not make available for adoption, sell, or offer for sale a dog under one year of age, a cat, or a rabbit. (b) This chapter shall not apply…
CHAPTER 10. Sale of Animals at Swap Meets §§ 122370–122374 · 5 sections
- § 122370 A swap meet operator may permit a vendor to offer animals for sale at a swap meet provided the local jurisdiction has adopted standards for the care and…
- § 122371 Any ordinance adopted pursuant to Section 122370 shall, at a minimum, require the swap meet vendor to do all of the following: (a) Maintain the facilities used…
- § 122372 (a) (1) A swap meet vendor who offers animals for sale at a swap meet in a local jurisdiction that has not adopted an ordinance authorizing that sale, is…
- § 122373 This chapter shall not apply to the following: (a) Events held by 4-H Clubs, Junior Farmers Clubs, or Future Farmers Clubs. (b) The California Exposition and…
- § 122374 This chapter shall become operative on January 1, 2016.
CHAPTER 11. Pet Boarding Facilities §§ 122380–122388 · 9 sections
- § 122380 As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply: (a) “Enrichment” means providing objects or activities, appropriate to the needs of the species, as…
- § 122381 Each pet boarding facility operator shall be responsible for all of the following: (a) Ensuring that the entire pet boarding facility, including all equipment…
- § 122382 (a) Each permanent or fixed and temporary enclosure shall comply with all of the following standards: (1) Be structurally sound and maintained in good repair…
- § 122383 A pet boarding facility operator shall comply with all of the following animal care requirements: (a) House only one pet at a time in an enclosure unless…
- § 122384 (a) A pet boarding facility operator shall provide each owner with written information describing all of the following: (1) Days and times during which the pet…
- § 122385 A pet boarding facility shall maintain either of the following: (a) A fire alarm system that is connected to a central reporting station that alerts the local…
- § 122386 (a) An animal control officer, as defined in Section 830.9 of the Penal Code, a humane officer qualified pursuant to Section 14502 or 14503 of the Corporations…
- § 122387 (a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to in any way limit or affect the application or enforcement of any other law that protects animals or the…
- § 122388 Pursuant to Section 7 of Article XI of the California Constitution, a city, county, or city and county may adopt ordinances that establish additional standards…
CHAPTER 12. Safe Transportation of Dogs and Cats §§ 122390–122390.3 · 4 sections
- § 122390 This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Safe Transportation of Dogs and Cats Act.
- § 122390.1 For purposes of this chapter, “mobile or traveling housing facility” means a transporting vehicle, including, but not limited to, a car, truck, trailer, bus,…
- § 122390.2 The conditions in a mobile or traveling housing facility for dogs and cats shall not endanger the health or well-being of an animal due to heat, cold, lack of…
- § 122390.3 This chapter applies to any public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or…
CHAPTER 12.5. Dog Training §§ 122395–122395.2 · 3 sections
- § 122395 This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Dog Trainer Sufficiency Act.
- § 122395.1 The following definitions apply for purposes of this chapter: (a) “Dog trainer” or “trainer” means a person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other…
- § 122395.2 (a) A dog trainer shall deliver to a purchaser of dog training services at the time of purchase of the dog training services, a written disclosure containing…