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Whenever the Shelter Director or any Animal Control Officer has reasonable cause to believe that a public nuisance exists, the Animal Control Officer may conduct an investigation of the alleged nuisance. Whenever an Animal Control Officer receives three or more complaints or affirmations in writing from persons having separate residences in the same neighborhood or employed regularly in the same neighborhood that any animal is a habitual nuisance by reason of trespassing, continual howling, barking or other noise, such as screeching bird noises, or by damage to property, by vicious action or propensity, or by any other means or conditions causing undue annoyance, the Animal Control Officer may investigate to determine if a nuisance exists. If the Animal Control Officer finds that a nuisance does exist, as defined in this chapter or otherwise in the Civil or Penal Codes of the State of California, notice shall be served in writing upon the owner or custodian of the animal to abate the nuisance. If the owner and/or possessor cannot be ascertained or located, an abatement order shall be served by posting the abatement order on the property where the animal was found and by mailing a copy of the abatement order by regular U.S. mail. In the event the owner does not comply with the abatement order, the Animal Control Officer may immediately impound such animal and/or issue a citation for violation of this chapter.

Notwithstanding any of the preceding, no animal that is part of an agricultural operation, exempt from being or becoming a nuisance by Civil Code Section 3482.5, shall be deemed to be a public nuisance under this section, provided such animal is owned and kept in compliance with this chapter and State law.