2005 California Corporations Code Sections 10400-10406 ANIMALS

10400.  Corporations for the prevention of cruelty to children or
animals, or both, may be formed under the Nonprofit Public Benefit
Corporation Law, Part 2 (commencing with Section 5110) of this
division by 20 or more persons, who shall be citizens and residents
of this state.
10401.  All articles of incorporation of such corporations filed
with the Secretary of State shall be endorsed by the Department of
Justice or by a judge of the superior court of the county in which
the principal office of the corporation is located, as evidence of
necessity.
10402.  The endorsement of a judge of the superior court shall not
be granted, however, unless the endorsement of the Department of
Justice has been first refused or withheld for more than 90 days.  If
the endorsement of the Department of Justice is withheld for more
than 90 days, or refused, application may be made to the judge of the
superior court of the county in which the principal office of the
corporation is located, and if, after giving due consideration to the
necessity of such corporation and assuring himself that the
incorporators are acting in good faith, the judge so desires, he may
endorse the articles.
10403.  Every such 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 shall hold real
property the annual income of which exceeds fifty thousand dollars
($50,000).
10404.  Any such corporation, or any member or officer thereof, may
prefer a complaint against any person, before any court or magistrate
having jurisdiction, for the violation of any law relating to or
affecting children or animals, and may aid in the prosecution of any
such offender before such court or magistrate.
10405.  All magistrates, sheriffs, and officers of police shall, as
occasion may require, aid any such corporation, its officers,
members, and agents, in the enforcement of all laws relating to or
affecting children or animals.
10406.  This part applies to all corporations for the prevention of
cruelty to children or animals, whether formed prior to or after May
20, 1905, but does not apply to any association, society, or
corporation which uses or specifies a name or style the same, or
substantially the same, as that of any previously existing society or
corporation in this State organized for a like purpose.