Section 3960 Of Chapter 1. Game Mammals From California Fish And Game Code >> Division 4. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 1.
3960
. (a) As used in this section:
(1) "Pursue" means pursue, run, or chase.
(2) "Bear" means any black bear (Ursus americanus) found in the
wild in this state.
(b) It is unlawful to permit or allow any dog to pursue any big
game mammal during the closed season on that mammal, to pursue any
fully protected, rare, or endangered mammal at any time, to pursue
any bear or bobcat at any time, or to pursue any mammal in a game
refuge or ecological reserve if hunting within that refuge or
ecological reserve is unlawful.
(c) (1) The department may take any of the following actions:
(A) Capture any dog not under the reasonable control of its owner
or handler, when that uncontrolled dog is pursuing, in violation of
this section, any big game mammal, any bear or bobcat, or any fully
protected, rare, or endangered mammal.
(B) Capture or dispatch any dog inflicting injury or immediately
threatening to inflict injury to any big game mammal during the
closed season on that mammal, and the department may capture or
dispatch any dog inflicting injury or immediately threatening to
inflict injury on any bear or bobcat at any time, or any fully
protected, rare, or endangered mammal at any time.
(C) Capture or dispatch any dog inflicting injury or immediately
threatening to inflict injury to any mammal in a game refuge or
ecological reserve if hunting within that refuge or ecological
reserve is unlawful.
(2) No criminal or civil liability shall accrue to any department
employee as a result of enforcement of this section.
(3) This section does not apply to the use of dogs to pursue bears
or bobcats by federal, state, or local law enforcement officers, or
their agents or employees, when carrying out official duties as
required by law.
(4) Owners of dogs with identification, that have been captured or
dispatched, shall be notified within 72 hours after capture or
dispatch.