§ 31103 Livestock Protection Dog Seizure

Food and Agricultural Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

Key Takeaways

•If a dog goes onto land where animals like cows or chickens are kept, the owner or worker of that land can catch or kill the dog.
•This rule doesn’t apply everywhere—some places have different rules.
•The owner or worker won’t get in trouble for catching or killing the dog in this situation.

Example

A dog runs into a farm where sheep are kept.

The farmer can stop the dog by catching it or even killing it if needed. The farmer won’t get in trouble for doing this because the law protects them in this case.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 31103 Livestock Protection Dog Seizure

Except in an area in which the provisions of Article 2 (commencing with Section 31151) of this chapter apply or as otherwise provided in Section 31104, any dog entering any enclosed or unenclosed property upon which livestock or poultry are confined may be seized or killed by the owner or tenant of the property or by any employee of the owner or tenant. No action, civil or criminal, shall be maintained against the owner, tenant, or employee for the seizure or killing of any such dog. (Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

livestock poultry seized or killed owner or tenant employee

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Food and Agricultural Code. Section 31103.

Key Takeaways

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Key Terms

Related Statutes

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Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References