Societies for Animal Protection

Title 1, Division 2, Part 9 deals with societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals under the California Corporations Code.

Section 10400 states that corporations for the prevention of cruelty to animals may be formed under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law by 20 or more persons, who must be citizens and residents of this state. 

Section 10403 provides that every corporation may take by gift, purchase, devise, or bequest, any property, real or personal, and hold it or dispose thereof at its pleasure; but no such corporation can hold real property the annual income of which exceeds $50,000.

Section 10404 states that any corporation, or humane officer thereof, may proffer a complaint against any person, before any court or magistrate having jurisdiction, for the violation of any law relating to or affecting animals and may aid in the prosecution of the offender before the court or magistrate.

Section 10405 requires all magistrates, sheriffs, and officers of police to aid any corporation, its officers, members, and agents, in the enforcement of all laws relating to or affecting animals.