Turlock, California

6-1-105 Keeping household pets and domestic animals.

(a) Unless a permit has been obtained to operate a kennel, it shall be unlawful to own or keep at any dwelling more than three (3) dogs older than four (4) months and more than three (3) cats older than six (6) weeks.

(b) No person shall cause or allow any dog or cat owned, harbored, or kept within the City of Turlock to breed without first obtaining a Breeder Certificate from Animal Services and Control.

6-1-114 Breeder Certificate: Exceptions and exemptions.

(a) The term “Breeder Certificate” shall mean a written authorization issued annually by Animal Services and Control giving its lawful holder permission to breed one (1) litter per year per designated animal.

(b) Any holder of a Breeder Certificate who advertises to the public the availability of any dog or cat for sale, adoption, or transfer, whether for compensation or otherwise, must prominently display the Breeder Certificate number in any such advertisement. Further, the Breeder Certificate holder must provide the Certificate number to any person who purchases, adopts or receives any animal from the Certificate holder and include the Certificate number on any receipt of sale or transfer document.

(c) No offspring may be sold, adopted, bartered, or otherwise transferred, whether for compensation or otherwise, until it has reached the age of at least seven (7) weeks and has received its first immunization against common diseases.

(d) The following animals are exempt from Breeder Certificate requirements:

(1) Dogs documented as having been appropriately trained and actively used by law enforcement agencies for law enforcement and rescue activities;

(2) Dogs documented as guide, signal, or service dogs pursuant to California Penal Code Sections 365.5(d), (e) and (f) and successor sections;

(3) Dogs and cats under the care of governmental animal control agencies; animal rescue organizations which have demonstrated to Animal Services and Control staff that they have implemented an ongoing spay/neuter plan, as well as an adoption plan; or humane societies or societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, if such societies are incorporated under the provisions of California Corporations Code Section 10400 and the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law in Part 2 of the California Corporations Code, beginning at Section 5110, and successor sections;

(4) Dogs documented as enrolled in a guide, signal or service dog breeding program administered by a person licensed under Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 7200), Division 3 of the California Business and Professions Code; and

(5) When a veterinarian has determined that spay/neuter is inappropriate for the animal’s age or health.

(e) When contacted by Animal Services and Control Officers, the owner of a pregnant or whelping dog or cat must either show proof of an impending spay/neuter appointment or agree to participate in a low-cost spay/neuter program, or purchase a Breeder Certificate.

(f) Breeder Certificates shall not be issued to any person who has been convicted of animal cruelty or neglect.

6-1-306 Dogs unaltered or in season.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having the possession of any female dog in season to permit the same to run at large or to run loose on or within the premises of such person and to enter any designated dog park within the City.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having the possession of any unaltered male dog to allow such dog to enter any designated dog park within the City.

(c) “Running loose” is defined, for the purposes of this section, as being outside of a house, closed garage or other closed building, whether tied or not.

6-1-601 Penalties and revocation: Breeder Certificate.

(a) The minimum penalty for violating TMC 6-1-114 shall be a fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00) and shall not be waived upon the transfer or abandonment of the animal. Any cat or dog owner found to be in violation of breeder certification provisions may correct the violation by obtaining the necessary Breeder Certificate(s) no later than thirty (30) days from the date of notification. This penalty shall be imposed in addition to any other applicable civil or criminal penalties.

(b) Any Breeder Certificate may be revoked if the owner is in violation of:

(1) Any of the provisions of this Code relating to the keeping, care, or use of any animal;

(2) Any State health or safety law or regulation regarding animal care or control; or

(3) Any condition or requirement to pay any fee imposed under this Code.