SEC. 62.616. CONFINEMENT AND ISOLATION OF SUSPECTED RABID ANIMALS.

(a) A veterinarian who vaccinates a dog for rabies shall certify the vaccination by properly completing the "license application - rabies certificate form" the County issues or another rabies vaccination form the County approves. In order to be complete, the vaccination certificate shall contain all the following:

(1) The dog owner's first and last name, street address and mailing address, if different, and telephone number.

(2) The dog's name and description, including breed, color, sex and if known, day, month and year of birth.

(3) The type, lot number, and manufacturer of the rabies vaccine.

(4) The date of vaccination.

(5) The signature, or an authorized signature, of the veterinarian administering the vaccine.

(b) A veterinarian who vaccinates a dog for rabies shall forward to the Department a copy of each completed form at least once a month.

(Amended by Ord. No. 7906 (N.S.), effective 6-20-91; repealed and added by Ord. No. 8211 (N.S.), effective 4-1-93; amended by Ord. No. 8353 (N.S.), effective 3-3-94; repealed and added by Ord. No. 8422 (N.S.), effective 8-11-94; repealed and readopted by Ord. No. 9098 (N.S.), effective 12-16-99; repealed and readopted by Ord. No. 9274 (N.S.), effective 12-15-00; repealed and readopted by Ord. No. 9420 (N.S.), effective 2-2-02; amended by Ord. No. 10036 (N.S.), effective 2-26-10; amended by Ord. No. 10927 (N.S.), effective 1-10-25)

SEC. 62.613. EXEMPTION FROM RABIES VACCINATION DURING ILLNESS.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the owner or custodian of a dog shall not be required to have the dog vaccinated for rabies during an illness if a licensed veterinarian has examined the dog and certifies in writing that vaccination should be postponed because of a specified illness. A dog's old age, weakness or pregnancy is not considered a valid reason to excuse a dog from receiving a rabies vaccination. An exemption certificate is subject to the Department's approval and shall only be valid for the duration of a dog's illness. An exemption from vaccination does not exempt a dog owner or custodian from the requirement to obtain a license for a dog.

SEC. 62.614. REPORTING SUSPECTED CASE OF RABIES.

An animal owner or custodian whose animal exhibits rabies symptoms or acts in a manner which would lead a reasonable person to suspect that the animal may have rabies, shall notify the Department or the Health Officer and comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding suspected cases of rabies. An animal owner or custodian of an animal that is suspected of having rabies shall also comply with all instructions and orders from the Department and the Health Officer.

SEC. 62.615. REPORTING OF BITES.

(a) A person bitten and the parents or guardians of a minor child bitten by a dog, cat, skunk, fox, bat, coyote, bobcat or other animal of a species subject to rabies shall notify the Department or the Health Officer as soon as practicable after the bite.

(b) A physician treating a bite and any other person that knows of a bite by an animal of a species subject to rabies shall notify the Department or the Health Officer as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the bite.

(c) An animal owner or custodian of an animal of a species subject to rabies which bites a person shall notify the Department or the Health Officer as soon as practicable after the person knows of the bite.

(d) A person having knowledge of a bite by an animal subject to rabies, who fails to report the bite within 24 hours of the bite, shall be deemed to have violated this section unless the person establishes that it was impossible for that person to report the bite earlier.

SEC. 62.616. CONFINEMENT AND ISOLATION OF SUSPECTED RABID ANIMALS.

(a) The Department or the Health Officer may order the owner or custodian of a suspected rabid animal to deliver the animal to be confined and isolated under the care and observation of a licensed veterinarian at an animal shelter, veterinary hospital or other facility as approved by the Department or the Health Officer. The order may also include a prohibition against destroying the animal.

(b) It shall be unlawful for a person to fail to comply with an order the Department or the Health Officer issues under this section. The Department or the Health Officer, however, may grant permission to destroy the animal for the purpose of laboratory examination.

SEC. 62.617. ISOLATION OF BITING ANIMALS.

(a) The Department or the Health Officer may order any dog, cat, skunk, fox, bat, coyote, bobcat or other animal of a species subject to rabies which has bitten or exposed a person to rabies to be impounded and isolated in strict confinement as approved by the Department or the Health Officer and observed for at least 14 days after the bite or other exposure, except that a dog or cat need only be observed for at least 10 days. No person shall release an animal impounded or confined under this section until the Department or the Health Officer examines the animal and approves its release.

(b) As an alternative to the 10 day isolation of dogs and cats referred to in subsection (a), dogs and cats which have been isolated in strict confinement under proper care and observation as approved by the Department or the Health Officer may be released from isolation by the Department or the Health Officer after five days of veterinary observation if upon conducting a thorough physical examination on the fifth day or more after infliction of the bite, the observing veterinarian certifies that there are no clinical signs or symptoms of any disease.

(c) Notwithstanding the requirements in subsection (a), the Department or the Health Officer may authorize, with the consent of the owner, if known, that the impounded animal be euthanized for the purpose of laboratory examination.

SEC. 62.618. ANIMALS POSSIBLY EXPOSED TO RABIES.

(a) An animal of a species subject to rabies, which has been bitten by or had intimate contact with an animal known to be rabid or suspected of being rabid, shall be confined and isolated as approved by the Department or the Health Officer and observed for a period of six months or destroyed.

(b) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (a), if a dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies at least thirty days prior to possible rabies exposure with a type of vaccine and within the time period approved by the California Department of Health Services: (1) the dog or cat may be revaccinated within 48 hours as prescribed by the Department or the Health Officer, (2) confined and isolated as approved by the Department or the Health Officer and (3) observed for a period of thirty days following revaccination.

SEC. 62.619. FEES AND EXPENSES FOR CONFINEMENT AND IMPOUNDMENT.

The owner of an animal which is confined pursuant to this article shall pay all County fees and expenses related to the cost of impounding, boarding and examining the animal and the altering deposit, when required by this chapter.

ARTICLE 3. DOG LICENSES

Disclaimer: This Code of Ordinances and/or any other documents that appear on this site may not reflect the most current legislation adopted by the Municipality. American Legal Publishing provides these documents for informational purposes only. These documents should not be relied upon as the definitive authority for local legislation. Additionally, the formatting and pagination of the posted documents varies from the formatting and pagination of the official copy. The official printed copy of a Code of Ordinances should be consulted prior to any action being taken. For further information regarding the official version of any of this Code of Ordinances or other documents posted on this site, please contact the Municipality directly or contact American Legal Publishing toll-free at 800-445-5588.

Hosted by: American Legal Publishing

Back to Code Library

Previous Doc

Next Doc