Section 10.72.035 is hereby added to Chapter 10.72 of Title 10 of the Los Angeles County Code concerning animals, as adopted by Sec. 6-1.100, is hereby amended to read as follows:
10.72.035 Isolation – Animals with Rabies Symptoms; Biting Animals
A. The Director shall take up and place in isolation any dog or cat, whether licensed or not, which, in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian or the Health Officer, displays symptoms suggestive of rabies. Such isolation shall be at an animal shelter unless the owner of such dog or cat, with the approval of the Health Officer, arranges with a licensed veterinarian for such isolation in a private animal hospital or clinic. Any dog or cat placed in such isolation shall be kept strictly confined and under such observation as may be required by the Health Officer. Such isolation shall continue for at least ten (10) days from the date of the symptoms suggestive of rabies were first observed. Such isolation may be continued for a period longer than ten (10) days if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the Health Officer, such longer period is necessary. At the expiration of such ten (10) days or longer period, any dog or cat confined at an animal shelter shall be released upon payment of the fees set forth in paragraph E of this section if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the Health Officer, such dog or cat does not have rabies.
B. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Director may take up, impound, and isolate for the period required as specified in California Code of Regulations Title 17, Sections 2606 et seq., following the date of the alleged bite any animal of a type subject to rabies, which animal is reported to have bitten any person, whether or not such animal has been vaccinated with rabies vaccine and whether or not such animal displays any symptoms suggestive of rabies. The animal shall be impounded and isolated in the manner set forth in paragraph A of this section for the isolation of dogs or cats suspected of having rabies.
Any person who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older, however, may make a written request to the Director for the isolation of such biting animal, either in facilities provided by a licensed veterinarian, or in a licensed boarding kennel, or upon the private premises of the person making such request. If such request is approved by the Director, such biting animal shall not be taken up and impounded but shall instead be kept strictly confined and isolated in the facilities of the veterinarian or licensed boarding kennel or on such private premises for the isolation period. Upon the termination of the isolation period, animals isolated in an animal shelter shall be released upon the payment of the fees set forth in paragraph D of this section, if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian of the Health Officer, the animal does not have rabies, and animals isolated upon private property shall be released from such isolation if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the Health Officer, the animal does not have rabies.
C. Any person who, after requesting and obtaining approval for the keeping of a biting animal confined and isolated upon his private premises as provided in paragraph B of this section, fails for any reason whatsoever to keep such animal continuously confined and isolated upon his premises, either indoors or inside some enclosure, for the entire isolation period after such written request is presented to the Director shall be guilty of a violation of this Code pursuant to Section 1-2.01 of Chapter 2 of Title 1 of this Code. Any such animal, whether licensed or unlicensed, not continuously confined and isolated as set forth in this article may be taken up forthwith by the Director and isolated at an animal shelter.
D. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Director may impound and isolate, for the period required as specified in California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Sections 2606 et seq., following the date any animal of a type subject to rabies, which animal is suspected to have had contact with a wild animal of a type susceptible to rabies, whether or not such animal has been vaccinated with rabies vaccine, and whether or not such animal displays any symptoms suggestive of rabies. The animal may be impounded and shall be isolated in the manner set forth in paragraph A of this section for the isolation of dogs or cats suspected of having rabies.
E. Any animal isolated at the animal shelter as set forth in this section and found not to have rabies may be redeemed by the owner thereof by paying to the Director all applicable fees and by obtaining any necessary license tag. Any smaller animal may be redeemed in a similar manner. Any animal which is not so redeemed within seventy-two (72) hours after the expiration of the isolation period shall be deemed to have been abandoned and shall be disposed of as provided in Chapter 10.36 Impoundment of Title 10 of the Los Angeles County Code concerning animals.
(§ 23, Ord. 1374-NS, eff. April 26, 2001, as amended by part 2, Ord. 1579-NS, eff. August 17, 2012, as amended by part 4, Ord. 1658-NS, eff. January 18, 2019)
* Section 6-1.107 entitled “Temporary animal pounds,” recodified from Section 4434 T.O.O.C., repealed by Section 19, Ordinance No. 1374-NS, effective April 26, 2001.