Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 538.01
Page 1 of 4
538.01
ANIMAL -RELATED CALLS F OR SERVICE
12-13-2024
PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is to establish guidelines for employees of the Sacramento Police Department (SPD)
when interacting with animals and responding to calls for service that involve animals.
POLICY
It is the policy of SPD to be responsive to the needs of the community regarding animal -related issues when
animal control is unavailable. This includes enforcing local, state, and federal laws relating to animals such as animal cruelty and appropriately r esolving or referring animal -related problems.
PROCEDURE
A. GENERAL
1. Providing animal control services is generally the primary responsibility of animal control officers
(Animal Control) and include:
a. Handling animal -related matters during periods when available:
(1) Non-emergency matters , generally 0800 hours to 1800 hours.
(2) Afterhours emergency responses are subject to approval of an animal control supervisor and
may include, but are not limited to, animals:
(a) Unconfined and posing an imminent threat to public safety.
(b) Sick, injured, or at risk of death if left unattended.
(c) Victim of cruelty or criminal neglect.
(d) Owner under arrest or incapacitated and unable to care.
b. Ongoing or persistent animal -related nuisance complaints (e.g., barking dogs ) should:
(1) If reasonable, be scheduled with Animal Control for handling during available periods for
investigation and resolution.
(2) Be requested with the 311 -call center or relayed via the Communications Division.
2. In the performance of their duty, the chief animal control officer and their deputies are vested with the
powers and immunities specified in Penal Code §§ 830.0 and 836.5 for the specific purpose of
enforcing Sacramento City Code , Title 9, Chapter 9.44 (Animals) and applicable state laws.
a. Animal control officers have vested authority to:
(1) Issue infractions, misdemeanors, and administrative penalties .
(2) Effect arrests .
(3) Serve warrants .
b. Animal control officers shall complete necessary reports ( e.g., crime, arrest, and clear -up reports)
for actions taken .
B. OFFICER RESPONSIBILITES
1. Officers responding to or assisting with animal -related calls for service shall:
a. Determine the appropriate actions to control the situation.
b. Request Animal Control via the Communications Division for dangerous animals.
c. Provide reasonable treatment to animals in their care (e.g., food, water, shelter).
d. Complete r eports of stolen animals.
e. Complete other crime- related reports.
2. Based on the hazards of handling animals without proper training or equipment, responding officers
should not attempt to capture or pick up any animal and keep the animal under observation until the
arrival of animal control.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 538.01
Page 2 of 4
3. Officers should consider taking action to prevent danger to the public or any person (e.g., attempting to
confine an animal ) before the arrival of animal control in the following situations when an animal:
a. Has bitten a person .
b. Creates a traffic hazard.
c. Has been seriously injured.
4. If the owner or handler of an animal is under arrest or incapacitated, officers should find appropriate
placement with the following considerations:
a. The arrestee’s expected incarceration period is shorter than a reasonable period that the animal
needs appropriate care.
b. With consent, coordinate temporary placement with a r elative or neighbor.
c. If temporary placement is unavailable or the owner denies or cannot provide consent, officers
should:
(1) Request animal control to respond .
(2) Take the animal to a designated animal care facility and shall complete an Evidence and
Property Booking Receipt (SPD 779) . Copies of the form shall be left with the animal care
facility and provided to the owner. Receipts shall contain the following information:
(a) Description of the animal.
(b) SPD call number .
(c) Impounding officer information.
(d) Location where animal was placed.
(e) Instructions to contact Animal Control within 48 hours.
C. COMMUNICATIONS CENTER RESPONSIBILITIES
1. When receiving animal -related calls, Communications Division personnel shall ascertain all known facts
which led the complainant to believe an animal presented an imminent danger to a person or other
animal. Officer s shall be dispatched to investigate any case involving i mminent danger. Imminent
danger includes, but is not limited to:
a. The possibility of an injured person .
b. The possibility of a crime in progress .
c. A loose animal that is a public safety hazard.
2. All other animal -related calls within the City shall be directed to 311 (24 hours a day ).
D. ANIMAL CRUELTY COMPLAINTS
1. Primary responsibility for the enforcement of laws relating to cruelty to animals should be enforced by
Animal Control. This includes, but is not limited to, Penal Code § 597 et seq. (e.g., cruelty to animals,
failure to care for animals).
2. If Animal Control is unavailable, SPD shall conduct an investigation relating to all reports of animal
cruelty and act in accordance with:
a. Applicable search and seizure law .
b. General Order 526.01 (Search and Seizure)
c. Reference Manual 526.01 (Search and Seizure Manual )
d. Penal Code § 597.1
3. Officers