Under Merced Municipal Code Section 6.04.070, no one may let a dog stray from their property unless it is restrained by a leash no longer than eight feet. Narrow exceptions cover law-enforcement, search-and-rescue, sanctioned training/competition, livestock herding, hunting in restricted shooting districts, and the fenced city dog park.
The City of Merced's own animal control rules are in Title 6, Chapter 6.04 of the Merced Municipal Code, administered by the Merced Police Department's animal control division (Sec. 6.04.010). Section 6.04.070 ("Dogs at large") states that no person shall permit or suffer a dog to stray from private property they own or possess unless the dog is restrained by a leash or lead not exceeding eight (8) feet in length. Five exceptions are listed: a dog assisting a peace officer or in search-and-rescue at law-enforcement request; a dog actually participating in a sanctioned training, obedience, exhibition or competition; a dog assisting in the herding or control of livestock; a dog hunting under direction within a restricted shooting district; or a dog within the perimeter fence of a designated city dog park. The code defines "at large" (Sec. 6.04.010E) for a dog or cat as being off the owner's premises and not under physical restraint. An owner of an at-large dog that causes injury through direct or indirect action is guilty of a misdemeanor (Sec. 6.04.070B). Owners must also curb dogs and immediately remove feces from public property (Sec. 6.04.060). This eight-foot leash standard mirrors the parallel Merced County leash rule, since the City contracts with the County for impoundment.
Letting a dog run at large violates Sec. 6.04.070 and Sec. 6.04.040. An at-large dog that causes injury is a misdemeanor under Sec. 6.04.070B, punishable per Chapter 1.12. Animals running at large are subject to impoundment at the county animal control center.
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