6.04.350 Animal rescue groups.
The purpose of this policy is to establish standard operating procedures and conduct for animal control officers and all rescue groups that wish to retrieve animals from the city and/or its city animal control officers. Violation of this policy by a rescue group is grounds for dismissal of its rescue privileges within the city.
A. All rescue groups wishing to rescue animals must be nonprofit organizations licensed by the California Department of Agriculture and their application to rescue must be approved by the city manager or his designee. For rescue groups originating from out-of-state, groups such must also meet all of the licensing requirements in the state in which they reside.
B. All rescue groups must have an application approved by either the city manager or his designee. Any rescue application may be denied at the discretion of the city manager or his designee. Each rescue group must submit a copy of its shelter license and a list of agents authorized to pick up animals from the city animal control shelter.
C. The city manager or his designee will notify an applying rescue group if the approval or denial of its application and will do so within ten business days of the receipt of the application.
D. In the event a rescue group’s application is denied, the group may appeal the decision to the city council.
E. A rescue group may have its rights to pick up animals from city revoked at the discretion of the city manager or his designee. The grounds for such revocation may include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Failure to pick up animals on assigned pickup dates and times;
2. Berating, threatening, assaulting or harassing city officials, personnel, or members of the public;
3. Acting unprofessionally; and
4. Violating any of the other rules or provisions provided herein.
F. All rescue groups duly authorized by the city will have priority on animal rescues, and are to make arrangements to pick up all animals they intend to rescue prior to the day the animal is scheduled for euthanasia unless prior approval to pick the animals up at a later date has been given by the city manager or his designee.
G. All rescues are to be coordinated through the city manager or his designee.
H. All rescues must cover the cost of vaccinations determined to be necessary by city animal control officials for the animals. (Ord. 587, 2009).