597.7
. (a) No person shall leave or confine an animal in any
unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or
well-being of an animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate
ventilation, or lack of food or water, or other circumstances that
could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death
to the animal.
(b) Unless the animal suffers great bodily injury, a first
conviction for violation of this section is punishable by a fine not
exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) per animal. If the animal
suffers great bodily injury, a violation of this section is
punishable by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500),
imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months, or by both a
fine and imprisonment. Any subsequent violation of this section,
regardless of injury to the animal, is also punishable by a fine not
exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), imprisonment in a county jail
not exceeding six months, or by both a fine and imprisonment.
(c) (1) Nothing in this section shall prevent a peace officer,
humane officer, or an animal control officer from removing an animal
from a motor vehicle if the animal's safety appears to be in
immediate danger from heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, lack
of food or water, or other circumstances that could reasonably be
expected to cause suffering, disability, or death to the animal.
(2) A peace officer, humane officer, or animal control officer who
removes an animal from a motor vehicle shall take it to an animal
shelter or other place of safekeeping or, if the officer deems
necessary, to a veterinary hospital for treatment.
(3) A peace officer, humane officer, or animal control officer is
authorized to take all steps that are reasonably necessary for the
removal of an animal from a motor vehicle, including, but not limited
to, breaking into the motor vehicle, after a reasonable effort to
locate the owner or other person responsible.
(4) A peace officer, humane officer, or animal control officer who
removes an animal from a motor vehicle shall, in a secure and
conspicuous location on or within the motor vehicle, leave written
notice bearing his or her name and office, and the address of the
location where the animal can be claimed. The animal may be claimed
by the owner only after payment of all charges that have accrued for
the maintenance, care, medical treatment, or impoundment of the
animal.
(5) This section does not affect in any way existing liabilities
or immunities in current law, or create any new immunities or
liabilities.
(d) Nothing in this section shall preclude prosecution under both
this section and Section 597 or any other provision of law, including
city or county ordinances.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the
transportation of horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry or other
agricultural animals in motor vehicles designed to transport such
animals for agricultural purposes.