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C. 16

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Beth Ward, Animal Services Director
Date:	April 20, 2021

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

INTRODUCE Ordinance No. 2021-13, allowing community members to care for found dogs and cats and establishing new lease restrictions; WAIVE reading; an

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 04/20/2021

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Arturo Castillo 925-608-8470

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: April 20, 2021
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

INTRODUCE Ordinance No. 2021-13, allowing community members to care for found dogs and cats and establishing new leash restrictions; WAIVE reading; and FIX April 27, 2021, as the date for adoption.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Department does not project any fiscal impact due to the proposed ordinance.

BACKGROUND:

Ordinance No. 2021-13 amends Division 413 of the county Ordinance Code to allow community members and nonprofit organizations to care for dogs and cats they find at large until the animal’s owner can be identified and informed that their animal has been located. The ordinance requires finders of animals to take certain steps to help identify the found animal’s owner and to provide humane treatment for the animal.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

Division 413 prohibits dogs from being “at large.” Ordinance No. 2021-13 provides that a dog will be deemed to be “at large” if it is on a leash that is longer than six feet or that is extendable or retractable. A long, retractable, or extendable leash allows a dog to get too far away from its handler, which does not allow for effective control of the dog. In addition, animals and people can get tangled up in the cord of a long, retractable, or extendable leash, which can cause safety issues.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Unless the County Ordinance Code is revised, the Animal Services Department will continue to be required to impound found animals until their owners are notified and can claim their animals.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Ensuring that a dog is walked on a leash that is six feet or less could reduce dog bites to children due to helping to ensure more effective control. It could also reduce the possibility of injury from getting entangled in the leash. According to Consumer Reports and the Consumer Union’s analysis of statistics collected in 2007, there were 16,564 hospital treated injuries associated with pet leashes. 10.5% of those injuries were to children ten years of age and younger.