(c) For the purposes of this section, “cattle” means any animal of the bovine species.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 344, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2010.)
597o.
(a) Any person who transports an equine in a vehicle to slaughter shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The vehicle shall have sufficient clearance to allow the equine to be transported in a standing position with its head in a normal upright position above its withers.
(2) Any ramps and floors in the vehicle shall be covered with a nonskid surface to prevent the equine from slipping.
(3) The vehicle shall provide adequate ventilation to the equine while the equine is being transported.
(4) The sides and overhead of the vehicle shall be constructed to withstand the weight of any equine which may put pressure against the sides or overhead.
(5) Any compartments in the interior of the vehicle shall be constructed of smooth materials and shall contain no protrusions or sharp objects.
(6) The size of the vehicle shall be appropriate for the number of equine being transported and the welfare of the equine shall not be jeopardized by overcrowding.
(7) Stallions shall be segregated during transportation to slaughter.
(8) Diseased, sick, blind, dying, or otherwise disabled equine shall not be transported out of this state.
(9) Any equine being transported shall be able to bear weight on all four feet.
(10) Unweaned foals shall not be transported.
(11) Mares in their last trimester of pregnancy shall not be transported.
(12) The person shall notify a humane officer having jurisdiction 72 hours before loading the equine in order that the humane officer may perform a thorough inspection of the vehicle to determine if all requirements of this section have been satisfied.
(b) (1) Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to a fine of one hundred dollars ($100) per equine being transported.
(2) Any person who violates this section for a second or subsequent time is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500) per equine being transported.
(c) Whenever a person is taken into custody by an officer for a violation of this section, the officer shall take charge of the vehicle and its contents and deposit the property in some place of custody.
(d) (1) Any necessary expense incurred for taking care of and keeping the property described in subdivision (c) is a lien thereon, to be paid before the property can be lawfully recovered.
(2) If the expense, or any part thereof, remains unpaid, it may be recovered by the person incurring the expense from the owner of the equine in an action therefor.
(e) For the purposes of this section, “equine” means any horse, pony, burro, or mule.
(Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1183, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1994.)
597p.
Within 30 days after the passage of this act, every owner, or user of any docked horse, within the State of California, shall register his or her docked horse, or horses by filing in the office of the county clerk of the county in which such docked horse, or horses, may then be kept, a certificate, which certificate shall contain the name, or names of the owner, together with his or her post office address, a full description of the color, age, size and the use made of such docked horse, or horses; which certificate shall be signed by the owner, or his, or her agent. The county clerk shall number such certificate consecutively and record the name in a book, or register to be kept for that purpose only; and shall receive as a fee for recording of such certificate, the sum of fifty cents ($0.50), and the clerk shall thereupon issue to such person so registering such horse or horses a certificate containing the facts recited in this section which upon demand shall be exhibited to any peace officer, and the same shall be conclusive evidence of a compliance with the provisions of Section 597n of this code.
(Added by renumbering Section 597b (as added by Stats. 1907, Ch. 220) by Stats. 1963, Ch. 372.)
597q.
The driving, working, keeping, racing or using of any unregistered docked horse, or horses, after 60 days after the passage of this act, shall be deemed prima facie evidence of the fact that the party driving, working, keeping, racing or using such unregistered docked horse, or horses, docked the tail of such horse or horses.
(Added by renumbering Section 597c (as added by Stats. 1907, Ch. 220) by Stats. 1963, Ch. 372.)
597r.
Any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor; provided, however, that the provisions of Sections 597n, 597p, and 597q, shall not be applied to persons owning or possessing any docked purebred stallions and mares imported from foreign countries for breeding or exhibition purposes only, as provided by an act of Congress entitled “An act regulating the importation of breeding animals” and approved March 3, 1903, and to docked native-bred stallions and mares brought into this State and used for breeding or exhibition purposes only; and provided further, that a description of each such animal so brought into the State, together with the date of importation and name and address of importer, be filed with the county clerk of the county where such animal is kept, within 30 days after the importation of such animal.
(Added by renumbering Section 597d (as added by Stats. 1907, Ch. 220) by Stats. 1963, Ch. 372.)
597s.
(a) Every person who willfully abandons any animal is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b) This section shall not apply to the release or rehabilitation and release of native California wildlife pursuant to statute or regulations of the California Department of Fish and Game.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 303, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000.)
597t.
Every person who keeps an animal confined in an enclosed area shall provide it with an adequate exercise area. If the animal is restricted by a leash, rope, or chain, the leash, rope, or chain shall be affixed in such a manner that it will prevent the animal from becoming entangled or injured and permit the animal’s access to adequate shelter, food, and water. Violation of this section constitutes a misdemeanor.
This section shall not apply to an animal which is in transit, in a vehicle, or in the immediate control of a person.
(Amended by Stats. 1971, Ch. 243.)
597u.
(a) No person, peace officer, officer of a humane society, or officer of a pound or animal regulation department of a public agency shall kill any animal by using any of the following methods:
(1) Carbon monoxide gas.
(2) Intracardiac injection of a euthanasia agent on a conscious animal, unless the animal is heavily sedated or anesthetized in a humane manner, or comatose, or unless, in light of all the relevant circumstances, the procedure is justifiable.
(b) With respect to the killing of any dog or cat, no person, peace officer, officer of a humane society, or officer of a pound or animal regulation department of a public agency shall use any of the methods specified in subdivision (a) or any of the following methods:
(1) High-altitude decompression chamber.
(2) Nitrogen gas
(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 652, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2006.)
597v.
No