596.7. (a) (1) For purposes of this section, “rodeo” means a performance featuring competition between persons that includes three or more of the following events: bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, or team roping.
(2) A rodeo performed on private property for which admission is charged, or that sells or accepts sponsorships, or is open to the public constitutes a performance for the purpose of this subdivision.
(b) The management of any professionally sanctioned or amateur rodeo that intends to perform in any city, county, or city and county shall ensure that there is a veterinarian licensed to practice in this state present at all times during the performances of the rodeo, or a veterinarian licensed to practice in the state who is on-call and able to arrive at the rodeo within one hour after a determination has been made that there is an injury which requires treatment to be provided by a veterinarian.
(c) (1) The attending or on-call veterinarian shall have complete access to the site of any event in the rodeo that uses animals.
(2) The attending or on-call veterinarian may, for good cause, declare any animal unfit for use in any rodeo event.
(d) (1) Any animal that is injured during the course of, or as a result of, any rodeo event shall receive immediate examination and appropriate treatment by the attending veterinarian or shall begin receiving examination and appropriate treatment by a veterinarian licensed to practice in this state within one hour of the determination of the injury requiring veterinary treatment.
(2) The attending or on-call veterinarian shall submit a brief written listing of any animal injury requiring veterinary treatment to the Veterinary Medical Board within 48 hours of the conclusion of the rodeo.
(3) The rodeo management shall ensure that there is a conveyance available at all times for the immediate and humane removal of any injured animal.
(e) The rodeo management shall ensure that no electric prod or similar device is used on any animal once the animal is in the holding chute, unless necessary to protect the participants and spectators of the rodeo.
(f) A violation of this section is an infraction and shall be punishable as follows:
(1) A fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) for a first violation.
(2) A fine of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) and not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for a second or subsequent violation.
(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 714, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2008.)
Structure California Code