Stockton Municipal Code §6.04.390 caps the number of dogs and §6.04.400 caps the number of cats per residence as the front-line tool against animal hoarding. Conditions of neglect — too many animals to feed, water and shelter properly — are independently prosecutable under California Penal Code §597(b), which makes it a crime to deprive an animal of 'necessary sustenance, drink, or shelter.'
Stockton Animal Services identifies SMC 6.04.390 ('Number of Pets — dogs') and SMC 6.04.400 ('Number of Pets — cats') as the operative pet-cap provisions and applies them per residential property. Where animal numbers exceed the cap, or where a smaller number is being kept in unsanitary or unsafe conditions, Animal Services can investigate as 'Animal Abuse/Neglect' (one of its listed complaint categories) and refer for prosecution under California Penal Code §597(b). Penal Code §597(b) requires any person with custody of an animal to provide 'proper food, drink, or shelter, or protection from the weather,' and §597(a)/(b) violations are punishable as either a misdemeanor or a felony ('wobbler') with fines up to $20,000 and possible jail or prison time. Stockton also enforces general property-maintenance and sanitary-nuisance rules under SMC Ch. 15.24 (Property Maintenance Code, 2024 IPMC effective April 3, 2025) when hoarding produces fecal accumulations or vermin.
First offense under SMC 6.04.390/400 (over the cap): notice from Animal Services with deadline to come into compliance; failure to comply can be charged as a misdemeanor under the general SMC penalty provisions plus administrative citations ($100 / $200 / $500). Cruelty/neglect under Cal. Penal Code §597(b) is a wobbler with fines up to $20,000 per count and up to three years' jail/prison. Animals can be seized and the owner billed for veterinary and impound costs.
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