SEASIDE SUPER PETS

            

            "Buster" enjoying the day near                      "Picasso & Sofi" out for a

              Noche Buena and Ord Grove,                          walk on Ord Grove.

                   wearing his "doggles".

 

Barking dog next door?

1.  Contact the neighbor.

2.  Call me at 899 6744 and I will contact the neighbor/dog owner.

3. Citation can be issued if problem persists.  Call 394 6811 and request an Officer, have him present a citation for your signature  ( SSMC 6.04.160 A ) and have the Officer serve it.

 

THEY DON'T WANT MUCH!...............JUST YOU.

    

 

   

If we tried to come up with the cruelest punishment for dogs, we could not come up with anything worse than "solitary confinement" on a chain or in a kennel.  

Dogs are pack animals who crave companionship.  Scratches behind the ears, games of fetch, or walks around the block mean the world to them!  Curling up at your feet while you watch TV is their idea of heaven.  If you have a backyard dog, please bring him or her inside.  They don't want much.......just you.

 

• 1. BRING YOUR DOG INSIDE!
  Don't kid yourself that dogs "get used to" living outside. Unless shared with other dogs, the backyard quickly loses its "charm". Constant barking is really a cry for attention. If it has stopped, it's not because your dog is content but because he or she has given up hope of rescue.
• 2. BUILD A FENCE
  A 6-foot privacy fence is safest - it's harder for dogs to escape and harder for people to harm your pets. If a fence is out of your budget, set up a running line so your dog can exercise without getting tangled. Use a harness instead of a collar so dogs can't strangle or hang themselves.
• 3. PROVIDE LOTS OF EXERCISE
  Go for long walks daily - Dogs need to run and sniff and exercise. Use a retractable leash that lets your dog run ahead and lad behind over. A "no-pull" harness will painlessly save your dog's neck and your arm sockets!
• 4. BRING JOY WITH TOYS
  Imagine being stuck outside, along, with nothing to do but watch the mud dry. Dogs love to chew, so be sure they have plenty of rubber bones and other things to gnaw on. Even a knotted towel or a tennis ball can provide hours of entertainment!
• 5. TAKE YOUR DOG TO "SCHOOL"
  If your dog has been put outside because of behavior problems, confinement and isolation can only make them worse. A good dog-training class will teach you how to communicate with your dog, who doesn't understand what you expect.
• 6. PROTECT YOUR DOG FROM "OLD MAN WINTER"
  Puppies, elderly dogs, and small, short-haired dogs should never be left outside during cold snaps. Their fur, like your coat, offers some protection but the can still feel miserable in the cold.
• 7. HELP YOUR DOG BEAT THE "DOG DAYS" OF SUMMER
  Dogs are more susceptable to heat than humans. Since dogs don't perspire, they can only cool themselves by panting and sweating through their paws. Bring dogs inside during heat waves. At all times, make sure they have access to shade. In summer, when chained dogs have no choice but to urinate and defecate right where they live, the waste draws flies which drive dogs crazy and flies will actually eat off the tips of dogs' ears!
• 8. PROVIDE PLENTY OF FOOD AND WATER
  In the winter, dogs need to eat almost double their summer rations to keep a layer of body fat for warmth. Water must be available at all times, especially during the summer when panting causes dehydration. Put water in sturdy buckets and check for freezing during the winter. Put bowls at the END OF THE CHAIN and inside a rubber tire to prevent tipping.
• 9. VISIT THE VET FOR REGULAR CHECKUPS
  Parvovirus, distemper and other diseases can be prevented through vaccinations. Dogs must be wormed regularly - a dog with worms can lose vital body fat during winter. Heartworms are deadly - all dogs should be put on a preventive medication, especially during mosquito season.
• 10. SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR DOG
  An unneutered dog is like a frustrated lover and is more likely to be aggressive to you and your children. Neutering and spaying also prevents cancer of the reproductive organs, common in older dogs. Many times, dogs and cats that have been adopted have already been spayed or neutered.

               

 

     

Keep Your Cat Safe at Home: HSUS's Safe Cats Campaign

                                         CLICK HERE

 

Thanks to a nationwide public service called Pets 911 , finding that information has never been easier. The HSUS has partnered with Pets 911 to help people across the country quickly and easily find the local pet-related information they need.

Click on a subject or ordinance below to jump to that section and learn more
Read More About:
Missing pets
Pet Ownership
Spay / Neuter
Animal Abuse

Read These Ordinances:
Leash Law
Barking or Destruction of Property
Licenses
Abandoned Animals
Dog bite information
Vicious Animals
Curbing Animals

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How to Find Your Missing Pet

1. Check all animal shelters within the first 24 hours. Your pet can run far and fast. Time is critical to your pet's life. Visit in person rather than telephoning. Collars and tags are easily lost and you are the only one who can positively identify your pet.
2. Return to look as often as possible. Seaside Department of Animal Control is only required to hold a stray animal for 72 hours. Animals sometimes arrive weeks or months after they disappear.
3. Search for your pet. Canvass your neighborhood. Ask your neighbors to look in their garages, basements, closets, sheds, and shrubbery. Neighborhood children can be especially helpful.
4. Call and whistle for your pet. Your pet may be injured, frightened, or trapped. Remain in one place long enough for your pet to find you. Hearing your voice may encourage your pet to respond or return to you.
5. Tell friends, neighbors, and everyone you encounter that your pet is missing.
6. Post lost pet notices. Include your pets name, breed (s), color, sex, age, and any identifying marks, a photograph, and your phone number.
7. Advertise in local newspapers, if you wish, offer a reward but do not disclose the specific amount.
8. Search the found pet columns in your local newspapers and at your community bulletin boards, grocery stores, and libraries.
9. Remember to examine your pet when it is found for any signs of illness or injury.

Below are some guidelines that might help to lead to a faster recovery of your pet

1. Keep current ID tags/license on pet at all times. Be sure your current address and phone numbers are listed on all registration records and ID tags.
2. Have your pet microchipped. We scan all incoming animals.
3. Keep your pet confined and walked on a leash.
4. Train your pet to respond to your commands

Responsible Pet Ownership
There are many keys to becoming a responsible pet owner even before you own your pet.

1. Provide proper care for your pet, this includes:
   • Food and water
   • Shelter
   • Veterinary care
   • Love and affection
2. Protect the health and safety of your pets
3. Prevent your pets from roaming free and producing unwanted litters by purchasing all of the needed leashes, collars, and harnesses.
4. Think before buying or adopting. Taking care of a pet is a big commitment.
5. Choose your pet wisely. Avoid choosing a pet on impulse. Learn about the habits and characteristics of different breeds.
6. Prepare for your pet's arrival. You need to prepare:
   • Bedding
   • Safe Toys
   • A safe living environment (no sharp objects, poison, or easily swallowed objects).
   • Remove any valuable objects that your pet might break.
7. Expect some problems. Even with the most well behaved pet, there will be some unpleasant moments and younger pets may take a long time to train.
8. Think, are you really able to provide proper care for your pet.

Once you have chosen your pet, there are many things that you need to do in order to insure their health, safety, and happiness.

1. Food: Choose food that is nutritionally complete for your pet. Don't rely on table scraps to feed your pet.
2. Water: Make sure that your pet has lots of clean, fresh water throughout the day.
3. Shelter: A clean place to call "home" is very important for your pet's health and happiness.
4. Exercise: Physical activity helps to keep your pet happy, healthy, and trim. But, it is important to not let your pet run loose.
5. Grooming: Good grooming keeps your pet clean and looking good. It also gives you a chance to check for health problems.
6. Love and Affection: Pets thrive on the attention of their owners. You'll enjoy the companionship too.
7. Veterinary Care: Regular checkups at least once a year and proper vaccinations will help to insure that your pet remains healthy.

Spay/Neuter
There are many advantages to spaying or neutering your pet.

 

FEMALE: Spay

1. Eliminates the Heat Cycle: Dogs are in heat about 21 days twice a year, cats are less predictable, but can be in heat 3-15 days, 3 or more times a year.
2. Ends Crying: Crying and nervous pacing of a cat in heat are stopped. It also ends the frantic efforts of a dog or a cat to get outside in order to find a mate.
3. Stops Bloody Discharge: The bloody discharge of a dog in heat is stopped. The discharge, which can stain rugs, furniture, etc., attracts male dogs.
4. Stops Unwanted Visits: The unwanted visits by hordes of yapping or yowling "suitors." Male pets can be drawn from blocks around by the scent of a female in heat even while she is indoors.

 

MALE: Neuter

1. Reduces the Urge to Roam: The urge to roam in search of a mate is reduced - which in turn reduces the risks or fights, injury, poisoning, or death in traffic. Even if kept inside, unaltered, males will howl and beg to get out.
2. Stops Spraying: A male pets marking of territory with foul smelling urine is stopped (in most cases, as long as the habit is not too strong).
3. Stops the Mating Drive: The drive to mate is stopped by removing organs that produce sex hormones. It may take at least one month if hormones already in the bloodstream to disappear.
4. Reduces Mounting: The mounting of furniture, cushions, and people's legs by frustrated dogs is eliminated. This stops what is embarrassing to many, even frightening to some.

Unfortunately, there are many myths about the spay, neuter process.

1. Spaying and Neutering costs too much: They're cheaper in the long run than caring for litters. Financial assistance may be available, and license fees are often less for spayed of neutered pets.
2. If I Neuter my dog, he'll stop protecting our house: Not so! His instinct to "defend his turf" won't be affected, and he'll be less likely to wander off.
3. Keeping animals from having litters is interfering with nature: We've already interfered. Domesticated dogs and cats mate more often and have larger litters that their wild ancestors, but cannot survive well on their own.
4. Spaying or Neutering makes pets and fat and lazy: No, that's caused by overfeeding and lack of exercise. Spayed or neutered pets require fewer calories. Cut down on their meals, and make time for walks and play.
5. She should have one litter first, to settle her down: Having a litter won't improve her health or permanently change her personality-although she may be tired and irritable while nursing.

Abused or Neglected Animals

CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE 597.1. (a) Every owner, driver, or keeper of any animal who permits the animal to be in any building, enclosure, lane, street, square, or lot of any city, county, city and county, or judicial district without proper care and attention is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any peace officer, humane society officer, or animal control officer shall take possession of the stray or abandoned animal and shall provide care and treatment for the animal until the animal is deemed to be in suitable condition to be returned to the owner. When the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that very prompt action is required to protect the health or safety of the animal or the health or safety of others, the officer shall immediately seize the animal and comply with subdivision (f). In all other cases, the officer shall comply with the provisions of subdivision (g). The cost of caring for and treating any animal properly seized under this subdivision shall constitute a lien on the animal and the animal shall not be returned to its owner until the charges are paid, if the seizure is upheld pursuant to this section. (b) Every sick, disabled, infirm, or crippled animal, except a dog or cat, that is abandoned in any city, county, city and county, or judicial district may be killed by the officer if, after a reasonable search, no owner of the animal can be found. It shall be the duty of all peace officers, humane society officers, and animal control officers to cause the animal to be killed or rehabilitated and placed in a suitable home on information that the animal is stray or abandoned. The officer may likewise take charge of any animal, including a dog or cat, that by reason of lameness, sickness, feebleness, or neglect, is unfit for the labor it is performing, or that in any other manner is being cruelly treated, and provide care and treatment for the animal until it is deemed to be in a suitable condition to be returned to the owner. When the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that very prompt action is required to protect the health or safety of an animal or the health or safety of others, the officer shall immediately seize the animal and comply with subdivision (f).

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ORDINANCES

Leash Law
6.04.110 Dogs or other animals running at large Prohibited.
It is unlawful for the owner or the person having care, custody or control of any dog or other animal, whether licensed or unlicensed, to suffer, permit or allow such dog or other animal to run at large on any public street, alley, park, square or other public place, or on any vacant or unenclosed lots of land within the corporate limits of the city or on the private property of another person without first obtaining permission therefore from the owner or occupant of said private property. Any dogs or other animals shall be deemed to be running at large within the meaning of this section unless such dog or other animal is led or restrained by a chain, strap, cord or leash attached to its collar or harness, and actually held by some person or made fast to some stationary object. (Ord. 766 §1, 1989: Ord. 511 §3(part), 1978: prior code §8-809).

Barking Dogs
6.04.160 Animals--Creating disturbing noises or unsanitary conditions--Destroying property..
A. It is unlawful to keep or harbor any dog, cat, or other animal or fowl, which by reason of its barking, howling, yelping or other noise, or which by reason of unsanitary conditions in connection with its keeping, habitually disturbs the peace of any person, is declared to be contrary to the public health, safety and welfare and to be a public nuisance. The nuisance may be abated by appropriate proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction in the manner provided by law.

B. It is unlawful for any person owning or having charge, care, control, or custody of any dog, cat, or other animal or fowl, to permit such animal to trespass on private or public property so as to damage or destroy any property or any thing of value. (Ord. 560 §1, 1980: Ord. 539 §2, 1979; Ord. 511 §3(part), 1978: prior code §8-817).

Licenses
6.04.010 Dogs--License and tag required.
Every person owning, having charge, care, control or custody over any dog shall, after such dog attains the age of four months, annually secure from the city treasurer a license and tag for such dog as provided in this chapter. The tag shall be affixed to a collar or harness in conspicuous fashion, and shall remain so affixed for the entire term of such tag. (Ord. 511 §3(part), 1978: prior code §8-801(a)).

 

**Delinquent fees are applied if license purchased after May 31, or if more than 30 days have passed since:

1. The owner has established residence in the City of Seaside.
2. The owner acquires ownership of a dog over four months of age; or
3. The dog reaches the age of four months.

 

**Pro-rated fees Applied if:

1. Owner establishes residence in the City of Seaside after the first of January on that year.
2. Acquires ownership of a dog, or if the dog reaches the age of four months on or after the first of January on the year.

This license will be in effect only until the end of the regular period, May 31 of the same year. Then the dog must be re-licensed.

Impound Fees   $75.00 + $10.00 kennel fees per day.

Abandoned Animals
SSMC 6.04.150 Abandonment of dogs or other animals unlawful.
It is unlawful for any person to willfully abandon any dog or other animal within the city. Violation of this section shall be an infraction, punishable as provided in Section 1.16.030. (Ord. 623 §2(part), 1982; Ord. 511 §3(part), 1978: prior code §8-816).

Dog Bite Information
6.04.140 Quarantine of biting dogs or other animals.
A. Whenever it is shown that any dog or other animal has bitten any person, or whenever any dog or other animal shows symptoms of rabies, or acts in such a manner as to lead any animal control officer, peace officer, or veterinarian to believe that such dog or other animal may have rabies, the owner or person having charge, care, control, or custody of such dog or other animal, shall, upon order of such animal control officer, peace officer, or veterinarian, quarantine such dog or animal and keep it confined and securely tied for a period of ten days. Any animal control officer, peace officer, or veterinarian shall have the authority to make inspection or examination of such dog or other animal at any time during such period and, if not satisfied that this section has been fully complied with, may immediately impound the animal.

B. In lieu of the method of confinement set out in subsection A of this section, the owner or person having charge, care, control or custody of such dog or other animal may have the same confined in an establishment controlled and supervised by a veterinarian licensed under the laws of the state for a period of not less than five days, after which time such dog or other animal may be released from such establishment upon the certification of the veterinarian controlling or supervising such establishment that such dog or other animal displays no symptoms whatsoever of rabies, and upon vaccination and licensing under the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 511 §3(part), 1978: prior code §8-814).

6.04.170 Vicious Dogs
A. Any dog which has on one or more occasions bitten or otherwise injured any person other than his owner or a trespasser upon private property where such dog is kept, or any dog which has otherwise demonstrated on one or more occasion vicious, dangerous and/or fierce propensities such as, but not necessarily limited to, unprovoked threatening or molesting any person or causing substantial damage or injury to any public or private property, is declared a vicious dog. It is unlawful to keep, harbor or maintain a vicious dog.

B. Such vicious dog may be impounded, or may be ordered humanely destroyed, at the discretion of the chief of police.

C. Any animal control officer or peace officer of the city may, pursuant to lawful authority, enter upon private premises in order to seize any vicious dog. Any vicious dog, whether running at large or not, which cannot safely be taken up and impounded, may be killed by a peace officer.

D. No dog impounded under the provisions of this section shall be destroyed or otherwise disposed of until and after written notice is given by the city to the owner of such dog, if known, or to the person having charge, care, control, or custody over such dog, as provided in this section. Such notice shall contain a description of the dog impounded, including the sex and breed thereof and the date the dog was impounded, and the circumstances of such impoundment. The notice required by this section may be served in the manner provided for the serving of notice set out in Section 6.04.130

E. The keeping, harboring or maintaining of any vicious dog is declared to be contrary to the public health, welfare and safety, and to be a public nuisance. In addition to the foregoing methods of abatement of such nuisance, the same may be abated by appropriate proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction.

F. Violation of subsection A of this section shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment not to exceed six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

G. Any animal destroyed pursuant to this section shall immediately be taken, by the officer, to a licensed veterinarian or to the Monterey County S.P.C.A. for a rabies determination pursuant to state law. (Ord. 816 §1, 1992; Ord. 511 §3(part), 1978: prior code §8-818).

Curbing Animals
6.04.180 Curbing dogs.
It is unlawful for any owner or person having charge, care, custody or control over any dog to permit, suffer, or allow such dog to defecate or urinate upon any public sidewalk or upon any improved private property, except that of the owner or person having charge, care, custody or control over such dog. It shall be the duty of the owner or person having charge, care, custody or control over a dog to curb such dog in order to carry out the intent of this section. (Ord. 511 §3(part), 1978: prior code §8-819).