Any animal that is subject to rabies which has been exposed to a known rabid animal or suspected rabid animal shall, upon notification of its owner, possessor or custodian, be:
(a) Immediately securely confined in a place and manner approved by the Health Officer for a period of six months; or
(b) Immediately destroyed unless the biting animal is determined by laboratory examination to be negative from rabies; except that in the case of dogs and cats, the following alternative is permitted:
(1) The dog or cat shall be revaccinated and then quarantined for a period of 30 days provided such dog or cat bas been vaccinated not less than 30 days, with a rabies vaccine approved by the California State Department of Public Health.
The Health Officer may, in his or her discretion, kill or quarantine the animal so bitten, in case the owner, possessor or custodian, thereof shall fail to do so immediately, or in case the owner, possessor or custodian thereof is not readily accessible or is not known.
The carcass of any dead animal exposed to rabies will, upon demand, be surrendered to the Health Officer. Upon the discretion of the Health Officer, the County Health Laboratory shall examine for rabies specimens of high-risk or medium-risk animals involved in a biting incident. Specimens of low-risk animals may be examined upon payment of reasonable laboratory fees.
(Am. Ord. 1512, passed - -1969; Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972; Am. Ord. 2354, passed - -1979)