(a) An animal control officer, as defined in Section 830.9 of the Penal Code, a humane officer qualified pursuant to Section 14502 or 14503 of the Corporations Code, or a peace officer who detects a violation of Section 122351, subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 122353, paragraphs (3) or (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 122354, or Section 122355 shall issue a single notice to correct, which shall contain all of the following information:
(1) Specify each violation of this chapter found in the inspection.
(2) Identify the corrective action for each violation.
(3) Include a specific period of time during which the listed violation or violations must be corrected.
(b) After issuing a notice to correct pursuant to this section, the officer or another qualified officer of the issuing agency shall verify compliance with this chapter by conducting a subsequent investigation of the pet store in violation of this chapter within a reasonable period of time.
(c) An exact, legible copy of the notice to correct shall be delivered to the pet store operator at the time he or she signs the notice. In the alternative, the issuing agency may personally deliver the notice to the pet store operator within 48 hours of its issuance, excluding holidays and weekends. The signing of the notice is an acknowledgment of receipt, and does not constitute an admission of guilt.
(d) A pet store operator who fails to comply with a notice to correct is guilty of an infraction.
(e) A pet store operator who violates the same provision of this chapter on more than one occasion within a 12-month period, at the same location, is not eligible to receive a notice to correct, and is guilty of an infraction on the second violation, and is guilty of a misdemeanor on the third or subsequent violation.
(f) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a pet store operator is guilty of a misdemeanor if the pet store operator violates any provision listed in subdivision (a), and by doing so, the pet store operator causes or allows harm or injury to an animal, or allows an animal to be subject to an unreasonable risk of harm or injury.
(Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 703, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2008. Section operative January 1, 2009, pursuant to Section 122361.)