(a) Except as provided in this section, this chapter does not affect any law, ordinance, or regulation regarding estrays, the shelter director, other animal control officer, or a public animal control agency or shelter within the limits of any city or county where those laws, ordinances, or regulations are in force.

(b) Upon the impounding of any bovine animal, horse, mule, sheep, swine, burro, alpaca, llama, or goat, the shelter director, other animal control officer, or public animal control agency or shelter shall immediately notify the secretary. Upon receipt of that notice, the secretary shall take possession of any bovine animal and shall manage it pursuant to this chapter.

(c) Any city, county, or city and county that establishes or has established laws, ordinances, or regulations regarding estrays, may opt to follow those laws, ordinances, or regulations instead of this chapter in the handling of estrays that are not bovine animals in accordance with the applicable laws, ordinances, or regulations of the city, county, or city and county.

(d) This section does not authorize any act that violates § 597 of the Penal Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 7, Sec. 5. (AB 1553) Effective January 1, 2020.)