AB 2574: Potentially dangerous and vicious dogs: notice of owner’s or keeper’s rights.

This bill aims to regulate potentially dangerous and vicious dogs in California. It requires a city or county to establish an administrative hearing procedure to determine whether a dog should be declared potentially dangerous or vicious. The owner or keeper of the dog must be notified of the hearing and given the opportunity to present evidence as to why the dog should not be declared potentially dangerous or vicious. A law enforcement or animal control officer can seize and impound the dog if probable cause exists to believe it poses an immediate threat to public safety. The owner or keeper of the dog must be provided with a notice of rights, which includes a detailed description of the reason for the seizure and impoundment, as well as information on the hearing procedures. The court hearing the appeal must conduct the hearing de novo and decide the issue upon the preponderance of th…