Policy Text
Field Services Page 1 of 2 06/13 (REV 1/04)
Animal Complaints
The purpose of this order is to establish a procedure for handl ing animal complaints.
I. General
County Ordinance 8.04.010 through 8.04.140 governs the control of animals in
the unincorporated area of Sacram ento County. It specifically places the
responsibility for enforcement on the Chief of Animal Control.
A. All persons desiring to make complaints regarding animals wi ll be
instructed to contact the Animal Control Center.
B. Sheriff's Deputies shall no t be dispatched to handle animal complaint calls
unless there is a danger of physi cal or life threatening injury .
C. Sheriff's Deputies shall not be dispatched to calls regardin g persons bitten
by animals, unless the bite was the result of a deliberate act (i.e., a vicious
dog attacked a person at the comm and of its owner/handler) or t he threat
of an additional attack is imminent.
II. Field Euthanasia
A. Sheriff's Deputies may take action against an animal when ne cessary to
prevent immediate harm to perso ns or property. The deputy will contact a
supervisor for approval unless ex igent circumstances exist when based on
all the surrounding facts:
1. Animal Control response w ould be untimely and the need for f ield
euthanasia is immediate.
2. If able, owner approval shoul d be obtained prior to destroyi ng an
animal.
B. Absent such extraordinary circ umstances, Animal Control will be
requested to follow euthanasia pro cedures outlined in County Or dinance
8.12.040.
C. When an officer performs fi eld euthanasia on an animal, the officer must
complete an Incident Report descr ibing the details surrounding the
circumstances of the decision.
Field Services Page 2 of 2 06/13 (REV 1/04) D. All necessary precautions mus t be taken when discharging a f irearm
during an act of euthanasia to prev ent injury from a bullet ric ochet.
E. A patrol sergeant and/or watch commander will respond to the scene and
conduct an investigation of the of ficer involved shooting in ac cordance
with General Order, Shooting Incidents.
F. Bite reports are to be done by Animal Control unless the ani mal was used
as a weapon (i.e., dog attacks at the command of its owner/hand ler).