Full Statute Name:  West's Annotated California Codes. Health and Safety Code. Division 105. Communicable Disease Prevention and Control. Part 6. Veterinary Public Health and Safety. Chapter 1.5. Dog Importation: Health Certificates.

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Primary Citation:  West's Ann. Cal. Health & Safety Code § 121720 - 121723 Country of Origin:  United States Last Checked:  October, 2023 Date Adopted:  2015 Historical: 
Summary: This chapter relates to importation of dogs into California for sale purposes. 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 shall obtain a health certificate for that dog, completed by a licensed veterinarian and is dated within 10 days prior to the date on which the dog is brought into the state. However, this chapter does not apply to 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 or to dogs used military or law enforcement work. A person who violates a provision of this chapter is guilty of an infraction, punishable by a fine not to exceed $250 for each dog for which a violation has occurred.

§ 121720. Persons seeking to bring dogs into state or importing dogs into state for purpose of resale or change of ownership; health certificate required; submission to county health department; acceptable forms; use of information

(a)(1) 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 shall 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.

(2) The person seeking to bring the dog into this state or importing dogs into this state for the purpose of resale or change of ownership shall submit the health certificate to the county health department as provided in subdivision (c). The person shall submit the health certificate to the county health department by any method accepted by the receiving agency, including, but not limited to, electronic transmission and facsimile.

(b) Completion of a United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Form 7001, known as the United States Interstate and International Certificate of Health Examination for Small Animals, shall satisfy the requirement of subdivision (a). A different form of canine health certificate acceptable to the receiving agency shall also satisfy the requirement of subdivision (a).

(c) It shall be the responsibility of persons importing dogs into this state for the purpose of resale or change of ownership to send the health certificate to the county health department where the dog is to be offered for sale or to the county of residence of the individual purchasing or receiving a dog directly from a source outside of California.

(d) The receiving agency may use the information on the health certificate as it deems appropriate.

Credits

(Added by Stats.2014, c. 498 (A.B.1809), § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2015.)

 

§ 121721. Exemptions; persons bringing dogs into state not to be offered for resale or if dog ownership not expected to change; dogs used for specified purposes

(a) This chapter does not apply to 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.

(b) This chapter does not apply to the import of a dog used for law enforcement or military work, a guide dog, as defined by subdivision (d) of Section 365.5 of the Penal Code, or a dog imported as a result of a declared emergency as described by Section 8558 of the Government Code or an investigation by law enforcement of an alleged violation of state or federal animal fighting or animal cruelty laws.

Credits

(Added by Stats.2014, c. 498 (A.B.1809), § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2015.)

 

§ 121722. Agency processing fees

The agency that receives a form pursuant to Section 121720 may charge a fee in a reasonable amount sufficient to cover the costs associated with receiving and processing a health certificate submitted to the agency pursuant to this chapter.

Credits

(Added by Stats.2014, c. 498 (A.B.1809), § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2015.)

 

§ 121723. Violations; penalties; administrative fines or correction warnings

(a) A person who violates a provision of this chapter is guilty of an infraction, punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each dog for which a violation has occurred.

(b) In lieu of punishment pursuant to subdivision (a), authorized enforcement personnel may issue an administrative fine in the same amount specified in subdivision (a) or a correction warning to a person who violates a provision of this chapter, unless the violation endangers the health or safety of the animal, the animal has been wounded as a result of the violation, or an administrative fine or a correction warning has previously been issued to the individual. The administrative fine or correction warning shall require the person to correct the violation.

Credits

(Added by Stats.2014, c. 498 (A.B.1809), § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2015.)

 

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