Upon receipt of a report that a person has been bitten by an animal subject to rabies (all warm-blooded mammals), any person authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter, is empowered to enter upon any private property, including the home or residence where the biting animal is kept or has strayed, to inspect and strictly isolate, and to seize and impound if necessary, in a place and manner approved by the county health officer, any such animal for a period of ten days (for dogs and cats) and fourteen (14) days (for other animals). Excepted are rodents, (members of the order Rodentia) rabbits and hares (members of the order Lagomorpha).
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the health officer may authorize, with permission of the owner, if known, and other legal restrictions permitting, the euthanasia of a biting animal for the purpose of laboratory examination for rabies using the fluorescent rabies antibody (FRA) test in the county health department laboratory.
It is unlawful for any person to remove from any place of isolation or quarantine, any animal which has been isolated or quarantined under the provisions of this chapter, without the consent of the health officer. (Ord. 163 § 8(B), 1997)