The document establishes a uniform procedure for animal control officers to initiate and use door tags. Door tags are used to provide written information to citizens when contact is made or attempted, such as notifying a resident that their animal has been impounded. The door tag form includes fields to identify the officer and activity, note the reason for contact such as impounding an animal, and allow comments. Alternate language door tags are available to provide information to non-English speakers.

1. Number: 300.14
SUBJECT: USE OF A DOOR TAG Page: 1
Date: 6/13/97
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 2/16/12
I. PURPOSE
To establish a uniform procedure for the initiation and use of an OC Animal Care Door Tag.
II. POLICY
The principle use of a Door Tag is to provide a citizen with information in written form
concerning actions taken by an Animal Control Officer (ACO.) The most frequent use of
a Door Tag is leaving notice at a residence when the occupant is not home. The Door Tag
may also be given to a citizen to communicate information in written form.
The Door Tag may be used at the discretion of an ACO. However, in certain circumstances,
State law requires specific information be left at a location where an animal has been
impounded without the owner’s knowledge. Compliance with this law is achieved by
leaving a properly completed Door Tag.
At no time will a Door Tag be used as a threat to comply with any ordinance or law. The
pre-printed information is informative in nature; any additional written information is
intended to be informative and non-threatening.
Alternate Language Door Tags are also available for staff to utilize as a means of
providing excellent customer service to the community.
III. SCOPE
Applicable to all Field Operations personnel.
IV. FORMS
Door Tag
V. REFERENCES
Not applicable.
VI. DEFINITIONS

2. Number: 300.14
SUBJECT: USE OF A DOOR TAG Page: 2
Date: 6/13/97
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 2/16/12
Not applicable.
VII. PROCEDURE
A. See Attachment:
1. Activity #: Enter Complete Chameleon Activity Number as it relates to the
call (e.g. A12-123456)
2. DATE: enter the date the Door Tag is initiated (e.g., 12/21/12 or
December 21, 2012).
3. TIME: enter the time the Door Tag is initiated using conventional time
(e.g., 9:35 AM).
4. Enter the first initial, last name and badge number of the officer initiating
the Door Tag.
5. Any reason for contact that is not listed on door tag, mark this box and
note the specific reason for your visit in the Comments section on the back
of the Door Tag
6. If an owned animal has been impounded, mark this box. On the line
provided, enter the sex, breed and color of the animal. For an animal
impounded from private property without the animal owner’s knowledge, a
Door Tag with the appropriate information must be left in accordance with
applicable law.
7. If an animal with unconfirmed owner information has been impounded,
mark this box. On the line provided, enter the sex, breed and color of the
animal. For an animal impounded from private property without the
animal owner’s knowledge, a Door Tag with the appropriate information
must be left in accordance with applicable law.
8. If contact was attempted regarding quarantine, mark this box. Provide
additional information on the reverse side of the Door Tag in the
comments section (see #14).
9. If the Door Tag is to establish the time and date of a possible abandonment
of an animal, mark this box. Indicate the date and time the animal was
observed by the officer initiating the Door Tag (will correspond with
sections 1 & 2). However, in the event the ACO believes an animal may
have been abandoned and will need to be impounded, the ACO may
choose to leave a Pre Seizure Notice and Declaration of Ownership and
Right to Keep Animal Form.

3. Number: 300.14
SUBJECT: USE OF A DOOR TAG Page: 3
Date: 6/13/97
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 2/16/12
10. If contact was attempted regarding a nuisance complaint pursuant to
OCCO 4-1-48, mark this box. Provide additional information in the
Comments section on the reverse side of the Door Tag if necessary.
11. If contact was attempted regarding a barking dog complaint pursuant to
OCCO 4-1-59 mark this box. Provide additional information in the
Comments section on the reverse side of the Door Tag if necessary.
12. If contact was attempted regarding an animal being tethered under Health
& Safety Code 122335, mark this box. Provide additional information in
the Comments section on the reverse side of the Door Tag if necessary
(e.g.: California Penal Code 597 Crimes Against Animals).
13. If contact was attempted regarding a licensing discrepancy, mark this box.
Provide additional information in the Comments section on the reverse
side of the Door Tag as necessary.
14. If contact was attempted regarding a kennel permit and/or licensing
discrepancy, mark this box. Provide additional information in the
Comments section on the reverse side of the Door Tag as necessary.
15. If contact was unsuccessful while attempting a quarantine release and you
observe the animal healthy, mark this box. Provide additional information
in the Comments section on the reverse side of the Door Tag in the
comments section as necessary.
16. If an animal was impounded from private property, mark this box. This
box is to be marked in conjunction with sections 4 & 5 above as required
by law.
17. The ACO is to mark the appropriate ordinances to communicate additional
legal information to the intended recipient.
18. COMMENTS: Provide additional information that is appropriate,
important, or relevant to the call you are responding to.
Examples of appropriate wording are as follows:
“Please contact the Rabies Control Desk at (note the appropriate phone number)
to advise when an adult will be home for quarantine purposes.”
“Please contact OC Animal Care at (note the appropriate phone number) as soon
as possible regarding a complaint we’ve received alleging abandonment of your
animal(s)”.

4. Number: 300.14
SUBJECT: USE OF A DOOR TAG Page: 4
Date: 6/13/97
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 2/16/12
“Please contact this agency at (note the appropriate phone number) to advise
when you will be home for contact regarding a nuisance complaint we’ve
received”.
“Please contact this agency at (note the appropriate phone number) regarding a
dog licensing discrepancy”.
“Please contact this agency at (note the appropriate phone number) to advise
when you will be home for contact regarding a permitting issue”.
“Your dog, a red Chow mix, was observed healthy in your backyard and is now
released from quarantine. For more information, contact the Rabies Control Desk
at (note the appropriate phone number)”.
If an officer leaves a Door Tag for a reason other than those addressed on the
front side, the Comment section may be used to provide additional information.
(e.g.: “Your dog was observed stray on the street in front of your home. I was able
to confine it to your rear yard. Please ensure your dog is confined at all times.”)
NOTE: There may be times where leaving a door tag may compromise the
success of an investigation or case. In these instances, the Field Sergeant or
Watch Commander may give approval not to leave a Door Tag assuming the
notification is not required by law.