The owner of any livestock or poultry which is injured or killed by any dog may recover as liquidated damages from the owner of the dog twice the actual value of the animals killed or twice the value of the damages sustained by reason of the injuries, as the case may be.
Chapter 8Civil Liability
Section § 31501
If your livestock or poultry is harmed or killed by a dog, you can recover twice the animal's value or twice the cost of the damages from the dog's owner. This serves as a form of compensation for your loss.
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Section § 31502
If multiple dogs owned by different people cause harm or kill livestock or poultry together, all the dog owners are responsible for paying for the damage, both individually and as a group.
If two or more dogs kept by two or more owners or keepers injure or kill any livestock or poultry at the same time, the owners or keepers of the dogs are jointly and severally liable for the damage.
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Section § 31503
If someone's livestock or poultry gets hurt or killed by a dog, or if livestock has to be put down because a dog bit them, the owner can file a complaint in their county's superior court. This type of court case is handled as a limited civil case.
If any person sustains any loss or damage to any livestock or poultry which is caused by a dog, or if any livestock of any person is necessarily destroyed because of having been bitten by a dog, the person may file a complaint in the superior court of the county within which the damage occurred. A proceeding under this section is a limited civil case.
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Section § 31504
This section outlines the requirements for a complaint regarding damages caused by a dog. The complaint must be written and signed by the person submitting it. It should detail when and where the incident happened, describe the damage, and indicate the amount of damage. If known, the complaint should also include the name of the dog's owner or the person responsible for the dog at the time of the incident.
The complaint shall satisfy all of the following requirements:
(a)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 31504(a) Be in writing.
(b)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 31504(b) Signed by the person that makes it.
(c)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 31504(c) State when, where, what, and how much damage was done.
(d)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 31504(d) State, if known, the name of the person that owns the dog or was in charge of it when the loss or damage was sustained.
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Section § 31505
If a dog causes damage or loss, the judge must promptly send a legal notice to the dog owner or the person responsible for the dog, ordering them to appear in court. They need to explain why the dog should not be put down.
If the person that owns the dog or was in charge of it when the damage or loss was sustained appears from the complaint, the judge shall forthwith issue a summons against such person commanding him to appear before the judge and show cause why the dog should not be killed.
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Section § 31506
This law says that when someone is summoned, they have to appear in court between two to six days from when the summons is issued. The summons must be given to the person at least two days before they are supposed to show up in court.
The summons shall be made returnable not less than two nor more than six days from the date of issue and shall be served at least two days before the time of appearance ordered.
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Section § 31507
You can serve a summons, which is an official notice to appear in court, by having someone over 18 deliver it or by sending it via registered mail to the last known address of the person responsible for the livestock or poultry. The costs related to sending this summons must be paid by the owner of the injured livestock or poultry or by the person who filed the complaint.
The service of the summons may be made by any person over the age of 18 years or by registered mail to the last known address of the owner or person in charge. Any expense connected with the summons shall be borne by the owner of the livestock or poultry which was injured or the party that makes the complaint.
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Section § 31508
When a court date is set to discuss livestock loss or damage, the judge will decide if a dog is responsible. If so, the dog owner or person in charge will be ordered to kill the dog. Not complying with this order subjects the owner to specific penalties specified elsewhere in the law.
Upon the return day fixed in the summons, the judge shall proceed to determine whether the loss or damage to the livestock was caused by the dog. If he finds that it was caused by the dog, he shall notify the person that owns the dog or was in charge of it when the loss or damage was sustained to kill the dog. Failure of such person to kill the dog as directed renders the owner subject to the penalties which are prescribed in this division.
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