A pet boarding facility operator shall comply with all of the following animal care requirements:
(a) House only one pet at a time in an enclosure unless otherwise consented to by the owner.
(b) Observe each pet as necessary, but no less than once every 24 hours, in order to recognize the signs of sickness, injury, or distress, and in order to ensure that the pet, food, and waste or debris is removed as necessary to prevent contamination or injury.
(c) Provide each pet with easy and convenient access to potable water at all times, or if the behavior of the pet makes unrestricted access to water impracticable, offer water as often as necessary to ensure the pet’s health and well-being. However, water may be restricted as directed by the owner or a licensed veterinarian.
(d) Provide each pet with nutritious food in quantities and at intervals suitable for that pet.
(e) Provide each pet daily with enrichment sufficient to maintain the behavioral health of the pet.
(f) Maintain and abide by written policies and procedures that address animal care, management and safe handling, disease prevention and control, routine care, preventive care, emergency care, veterinary treatment, and disaster planning, evacuation, and recovery that are applicable to the location of the pet boarding facility. These procedures shall be reviewed with each employee who provides animal care and shall be present, in writing, either electronically or physically, in the facility and made available to all employees.
(g) Isolate those pets that have or are suspected of having a contagious condition.
(h) Ensure that each sick or injured pet is immediately provided with appropriate care and, if prudent, veterinary treatment.
(i) Ensure that the owner of a pet is notified immediately that his or her pet is sick or injured unless the owner has indicated in writing that notification of any, or a particular, type of illness or injury is not required.
(j) In the event of a natural disaster, an emergency evacuation, or other similar occurrence, ensure that the humane care and treatment of each animal is provided for, as required by this chapter, to the extent access to the pet is reasonably available.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 364, Sec. 1. (SB 945) Effective January 1, 2017.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018