Policy Text
Policy
808Garden Grove Police Department
Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/05/20, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentAnimal Control - 1Animal Control
808.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for interacting with animals and responding
to calls for service that involve animals.
808.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the Garden Grove Police Department to be responsive to the needs of the
community regarding animal-related issues. This includes enforcing local, state and federal laws
relating to animals and appropriately resolving or referring animal-related problems, as outlined
in this policy.
808.3 ANIMAL CONTROL RESPONSIBILITIES
Animal control services are generally the primary responsibility of Public Works Animal
Control section and include:
(a)Animal-related matters during periods when Animal Control is available.
(b)Ongoing or persistent animal nuisance complaints. Such complaints may be
scheduled, if reasonable, for handling during periods that Animal Control is available
for investigation and resolution.
(c)Follow-up on animal-related calls, such as locating owners of injured animals.
808.4 OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES
Officers who respond to or assist with animal-related calls for service should evaluate the situation
to determine the appropriate actions to control the situation.
Due to the hazards of handling animals, responding officers generally should not attempt to
capture or pick up any animal, but should keep the animal under observation until the arrival of
appropriate assistance.
Officers may consider acting before the arrival of such assistance when:
(a)There is a threat to public safety.
(b)An animal has bitten someone. Officers should take measures to confine the animal
and prevent further injury.
(c)An animal is creating a traffic hazard.
(d)An animal is seriously injured.
(e)The owner/handler of an animal has been arrested or is incapacitated. In such
circumstances, the member should find appropriate placement for the animal.
(a)This is only necessary when the arrestee is expected to be in custody for a
time period longer than would reasonably allow him/her to properly care for the
animal.
Garden Grove Police Department
Policy Manual
Animal Control
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/05/20, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentAnimal Control - 2(b)With the owner's consent, locating appropriate placement may require
contacting relatives or neighbors to care for the animal.
(c)If no person can be found or the owner does not or cannot give consent, the
animal should be taken to a designated animal care facility.
(f)If impounding the animal to the City Yard or Shelter, arrestee must be given paperwork
that the City has taken their property and how to redeem the animal.(PC 597.1) (See
form attached for reference).
808.5 ANIMAL CRUELTY COMPLAINTS
Laws relating to the cruelty to animals should be enforced, including but not limited to Penal Code
§ 597 et seq. (cruelty to animals, failure to care for animals).
(a)An investigation should be conducted on all reports of animal cruelty.
(b)Legal steps should be taken to protect an animal that is in need of immediate care or
protection from acts of cruelty.
(c)Animal Control will take custody of all animals, coordinate and provide all related
veterinary care and paperwork while police department conducts the investigation.
808.6 ANIMAL BITE REPORTS
Members investigating an animal bite should obtain as much information as possible for follow-
up with the appropriate health or animal authorities.
If owner is located and dog is secured, obtain the animal owner's information and dog-bite victim's
information for a next business day response by the Animal Control Officer.
If a dog that has bitten someone is running loose and/or causing immediate harm to the public and
no owner can be located to secure dog, then an after-hours response is needed by the Animal
Control Officer.
808.7 STRAY DOGS
If a stray dog has a license or can otherwise be identified, the owner should be contacted, if
possible. If the owner is contacted, the dog should be released to the owner. If a dog is taken into
custody, it shall be transported to the appropriate animal care facility.
Members shall provide reasonable treatment to animals in their care (e.g., food, water, shelter).
Dispatch has access to the Dog License Database.
808.8 DANGEROUS ANIMALS
In the event responding members cannot fulfill a request for service because an animal is difficult
or dangerous to handle, have dispatch contact the on-duty Animal Control Officer.
Garden Grove Police Department
Policy Manual
Animal Control
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/05/20, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentAnimal Control - 3808.9 PUBLIC NUISANCE CALLS RELATING TO ANIMALS
Police Department members should refer calls related to nuisance animals (e.g., barking dogs), to
Animal Control or have the reporting person contact Animal Control. Nuisance issues are not an
emergency and will be handled during normal operating hours. Animal Control does not respond
to these calls. The reporting party will have to submit a formal complaint via the City website under
the Animal Services / Barking Complaint tab.
808.10 DESTRUCTION OF ANIMALS
When it is necessary to use a firearm to euthanize a badly injured animal or stop an animal that
poses an imminent threat to human safety, the Firearms Policy shall be followed. A badly injured
animal shall only be euthanized with the approval of a supervisor.
Please note if the animal was involved in a bite to a human, the