The City of Hawthorne's Municipal Code (Title 6, Animals at Large) bars animals from running at large in public streets, parks, and other public places or on unenclosed premises unless restrained by a substantial chain or leash not exceeding six feet and in the control of a competent person. Hawthorne runs its own Animal Control.
Hawthorne adopts its own animal rules in Title 6 of the Hawthorne Municipal Code rather than relying on Los Angeles County's Title 10. The Animals at Large chapter provides that no animal shall stray or run at large in or upon any public street, park, or other public place, or on any unenclosed lot or premises, except where the animal is 'restrained by a substantial chain or a leash not exceeding six feet in length' and is in the charge, possession, care, custody, or control of a competent person. The code further treats an animal as being 'at large' whenever it is off the premises of its owner unless securely confined by a strong leash continuously and securely held by the owner, or confined within an automobile. Enforcement is handled by the City of Hawthorne Animal Control department (located at 4455 W. 126th Street; non-emergency line 310-349-2948), not the LA County Department of Animal Care and Control. Sheltering of stray and impounded animals is provided under contract by spcaLA at its South Bay Pet Adoption Center, 12910 Yukon Ave., Hawthorne. Owners whose animals run at large risk impoundment under the city's Impounding of Animals chapter (Chapter 6.04), with impound, board, and license fees due before the animal is released. The six-foot maximum mirrors the common California municipal standard and means retractable leads extended past six feet, long lines, or voice control alone do not satisfy the ordinance off the owner's own property.
An animal running at large off the owner's premises without a leash of six feet or less is an enforceable violation cited by Hawthorne Animal Control or police, and the animal may be impounded under Chapter 6.04. The owner must pay impound, board, and (where applicable) licensing fees and show a current rabies vaccination before release. Aggravated incidents involving biting or vicious animals are handled under the city's vicious/dangerous-animal and impounding provisions, and persons whose property hosts a vicious animal must warn meter readers, postal carriers, and others entering with implied consent.
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