Chapter 8.04
RABIES CONTROL
Sections:
8.04.010 Restrictions on keeping of animals capable of transmitting rabies.
8.04.030 Vaccination required.
8.04.040 Vaccination – Exemption.
8.04.050 Certificate of vaccination.
8.04.060 Quarantine and impoundment.
8.04.070 Animal bite – Victim report.
8.04.080 Animal bite – Medical report.
8.04.090 Notification of quarantine restrictions.
8.04.100 Quarantined animal at large.
8.04.110 Killing of animals suspected of having rabies.
8.04.120 Quarantine of guide dog serving blind master.
8.04.130 Quarantine of dog used by law enforcement agency.
8.04.010 Restrictions on keeping of animals capable of transmitting rabies.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, harbor, or possess within the City limits any animal capable of transmitting the rabies virus unless such animal can be properly immunized with a rabies vaccine approved by the California Department of Public Health. [Ord. 4-2013 §4, eff. 4-12-2013; Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 48-2008 §3, eff. 11-7-2008]
8.04.020 Rabies reports.
A. Rabies is declared to be a reportable disease. Every veterinarian practicing in this City and every person providing professional medical treatment for animal bites by an animal of a species subject to rabies shall immediately notify Animal Control within the proper jurisdiction, whenever rabies is suspected.
B. Every veterinarian, practicing within this City or having vaccinated any animal residing within City limits, shall provide Animal Control with a copy of every rabies immunization certificate which he or she issues for all animals immunized within the jurisdiction of such department. [Ord. 4-2013 §4, eff. 4-12-2013; Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 48-2008 §3, eff. 11-7-2008]
8.04.030 Vaccination required.
A. No person shall keep, harbor, or maintain any cat or dog over the age of four (4) months within the City limits unless such animal has been vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian with a rabies vaccine approved by and in the manner prescribed by the California Department of Public Health.
B. Every cat/dog shall have a medically current vaccination with an anti-rabies vaccine approved by the California Department of Public Health. A veterinarian shall administer the vaccination or as provided through County-recognized clinics, and a certificate of vaccination shall be issued to the owner. The certificate of rabies vaccination which accompanies the license application shall be valid if in compliance with the following immunization schedule:
1. Primary Immunization. Primary immunization shall be defined as the initial inoculation of an approved rabies vaccine administered to young cats/dogs between the ages of four (4) to twelve (12) months.
2. Revaccination Intervals. The interval for revaccination of cats/dogs administered primary immunization between the ages of four (4) to twelve (12) months will be twelve (12) months. The interval for primary or revaccination of cats/dogs administered rabies vaccines over the age of twelve (12) months shall be at least once (1) every three (3) years. [Ord. 4-2013 §4, eff. 4-12-2013; Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 48-2008 §3, eff. 11-7-2008]
8.04.040 Vaccination – Exemption.
No cat/dog need be vaccinated for rabies where a licensed veterinarian has certified that the vaccination would endanger the cat’s/dog’s health and the local health officer endorses on the certificate his or her approval. The certificate must bear the date of issuance and must be renewed each year. Any cat/dog subject to this exemption shall not be allowed off the premises of the owner. [Ord. 4-2013 §4, eff. 4-12-2013; Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 48-2008 §3, eff. 11-7-2008]
8.04.050 Certificate of vaccination.
A. A license shall not be issued for any dog that has attained the age of four (4) months or over unless a valid certificate of rabies vaccination is presented with the license fee. The certificate of vaccination must show all items required by State law, including the following:
1. The name, address, and telephone number of the dog’s owner;
2. The description of the dog, including breed, color, age, name, and sex;
3. The date of immunization;
4. The type of rabies vaccine administered;
5. The name of the manufacturer;
6. The lot number of the vaccine used.
B. Such certificates shall bear the signature of the veterinarian administering the vaccine or a signature authorized by him or her, and in addition such certificate shall be stamped, printed, or typed with his or her name, address, and telephone number for legibility. [Ord. 4-2013 §4, eff. 4-12-2013; Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 48-2008 §3, eff. 11-7-2008]
8.04.060 Quarantine and impoundment.
All animals in violation of the Rabies Control Act (Section 121575 et seq. of the California Health and Safety Code), or of the rabies control provisions of this chapter, shall be quarantined or impounded and shall be subject to destruction in some humane manner or to other disposition as provided by this chapter. [Ord. 4-2013 §4, eff. 4-12-2013; Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 48-2008 §3, eff. 11-7-2008]
8.04.070 Animal bite – Victim report.
Any person or parent or guardian of such person, or an owner of an animal, bitten or scratched by an animal of a species subject to rabies shall immediately report such incident to an Animal Control Officer or Animal Control Unit. [Ord. 4-2013 §4, eff. 4-12-2013; Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 48-2008 §3, eff. 11-7-2008]
8.04.080 Animal bite – Medical report.
Every veterinarian and every person providing professional medical treatment for animal bites by an animal of a species subject to rabies shall immediately notify Animal Control whenever rabies is suspected. [Ord. 4-2013 §4, eff. 4-12-2013; Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 48-2008 §3, eff. 11-7-2008]
8.04.090 Notification of quarantine restrictions.
A. An Animal Control Officer shall issue a written notice to the owner of or to any person harboring an animal within the City to quarantine such animal for a period of eleven (11) days, or for such period as required by State law, when an Animal Control Officer has received information that such animal has bitten or otherwise exposed any person or other animal. The animal shall not be released from such quarantine except by written permission from an Animal Control Officer.
B. Upon demand made by an Animal Control Officer, the owner shall forthwith surrender any animal which has bitten a human or other animal, or which is suspected of having been exposed to rabies, for supervised quarantine at the animal shelter, the costs of which shall be borne by the owner. The animal may be reclaimed by the owner if adjudged free of rabies and upon the payment of board fees as determined by resolution of the City Council and upon compliance with the licensing provisions. No impoundment fee shall be incurred under such circumstances. At the discretion of an Animal Control Officer, such quarantine may be on the premises of the owner. For stray animals whose ownership is not known, such quarantine shall be at the animal shelter. [Ord. 4-2013 §4, eff. 4-12-2013; Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 48-2008 §3, eff. 11-7-2008]
8.04.100 Quarantined animal at large.
It shall be unlawful for any person to allow any animal to run at large or fail to keep the animal quarantined after being so notified. [Ord. 4-2013 §4, eff. 4-12-2013; Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 48-2008 §3, eff. 11-7-2008]
8.04.110 Killing of animals suspected of having rabies.
No person shall kill, or cause to be killed, any rabid animal, any animal suspected of having been exposed to rabies, or any animal biting a human, unless in self-defense or the defense of others, nor remove such animal from the City without written permission from Animal Control. [Ord. 4-2013 §4, eff. 4-12-2013; Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 48-2008 §3, eff. 11-7-2008]
8.04.120 Quarantine of guide dog serving blind master.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a guide dog serving a blind master shall not be quarantined in the absence of evidence that he or she has been exposed to rabies unless his or her owner fails:
A. To keep the dog safely confined to the premises of the owner;
B. To keep the dog available for examination at all reasonable times. [Ord. 4-2013 §4, eff. 4-12-2013; Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 48-2008 §3, eff. 11-7-2008]
8.04.130 Quarantine of dog used by law enforcement agency.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a dog used by any State, County, City or City and County law enforcement agency shall not be quarantined after biting any person if such bite occurred while the dog was being used for any law enforcement purpose. The law enforcement agency shall make the dog available for examination at any reasonable time. The law enforcement agency shall notify Animal Control within its jurisdiction if the dog exhibits any abnormal behavior. [Ord. 4-2013 §4, eff. 4-12-2013; Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 48-2008 §3, eff. 11-7-2008]