Dogs: health certificates.

Existing law imposes specified requirements on animal owners in order to prevent or control the transmission of zoonotic diseases, such as rabies, and communicable diseases among animals. Existing law also provides for the licensing and registration of dogs, as specified. This bill would require a person seeking to bring a dog into this state, or importing dogs into this state for the purpose of resale or change of ownership, to obtain a health certificate with respect to that dog that has been completed by a licensed veterinarian and is dated within 10 days prior to the date on which the dog is brought into the state. The bill would require the person to submit the health certificate to the county health department, as specified. The bill would exempt from these requirements a person who brings a dog into the state that will not be offered for resale or if the ownership of the dog is not expected to change. The bill also would exempt from these requirements the import of a dog used for law enforcement or military work, a guide dog, as defined, or a dog imported as a result of a declared emergency or an investigation by law enforcement of an alleged violation of state or federal animal fighting or animal cruelty laws. The bill would authorize the agency receiving the health certificate to use the information on the health certificate as it deems appropriate, and to charge a fee in a reasonable amount sufficient to cover the costs associated with receiving and processing a health certificate submitted to the county health department pursuant to these provisions. By imposing a higher level of service on county health agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make a violation of its provisions an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed $250 for each dog for which a violation has occurred, or, in lieu of punishment as an infraction, would authorize animal control personnel to issue an administrative fine for the same amount or a correction warning, subject to specified exceptions. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for specified reasons.