Chapter 6.20 RABIES

Chapter 6.20
RABIES

Sections:

6.20.010 Animals suspected of having rabies.

6.20.020 Confinement of animals suspected of having rabies.

6.20.010 Animals suspected of having rabies.

Whenever the owner or person having the custody or possession of a dog or other animal shall observe or learn that such dog or other animal shows symptoms of rabies, or acts in a manner which would lead to a reasonable suspicion that it may have rabies, or if such dog or other animal bites any person, such owner or person having the custody or possession of such dog or other animal shall immediately notify the county director of health services, or his representative, or the chief animal control officer, to make an inspection or examination of such dog or other animal, until it shall be established to the satisfaction of the official that it has or has not rabies. (Ord. 531 Exh. A(part), 2018: Ord. 241 §1(part), 1981).

6.20.020 Confinement of animals suspected of having rabies.

Whenever it is shown that any dog or other animal has bitten any person, or whenever any dog or other animal has shown symptoms of rabies, or acts in such manner as to lead the county director of health services to believe that such might have rabies, the owner or person having possession of such dog shall upon order of the county director of health services, or the chief animal control officer, quarantine it and keep it tied up or confined for a period of ten (10) days, and shall allow the county director of health services or the chief animal control officer or his representative to make an inspection or examination thereof at any time during such period. In lieu of such confinement the owner or person having possession of such dog or other animal may have the dog confined in an establishment controlled and supervised by a licensed veterinarian for a period of not less than five (5) days, after which the dog or other animal may be released from the veterinary establishment upon the certification of the veterinarian controlling or supervising the establishment that the dog or other animal displays no symptoms whatsoever of rabies, and upon vaccination and licensing under the provisions of this title. (Ord. 531 Exh. A(part), 2018: Ord. 241 §1(part), 1981).

6.20.030 Destruction of rabid animals.

If it appears to the county director of health services, or his representative, upon the examination provided for by section 6.20.020 that a dog or other animal has rabies, he may kill and destroy such animal forthwith. (Ord. 531 Exh. A(part), 2018: Ord. 241 §1(part), 1981).

6.20.040 Quarantine of bitten animals.

Whenever any animal is bitten by another animal having rabies, the owner or person having the custody or possession of the animal so bitten shall, upon being informed thereof, either kill such animal or quarantine it, and keep it confined or tied up for a period of six (6) months. The county director of health services or his representative shall have power, in his discretion, to kill or quarantine the animal so bitten, in case the owner or person having custody or possession thereof fails to do so immediately, or in case the owner or person having the custody or possession thereof is not readily accessible. (Ord. 531 Exh. A(part), 2018: Ord. 241 §1(part), 1981).

6.20.050 Quarantine because of rabies.

Whenever the disease known as rabies is developed in any dog or other animal in the city, the county director of health services shall be, and is, authorized to declare a quarantine in a specified area in such city which shall include the location where the animal so affected with rabies is found and a sufficient area contiguous thereto to safeguard against the spread of the disease in such areas. "Quarantine" shall be defined for the purpose of this chapter as meaning the strict confinement, upon the private premises of the owners or an establishment controlled and supervised by a licensed veterinarian, under restraint by a chain leash and chain collar or closed cage or paddock, of all animals specified by the quarantine order. Forthwith upon the declaration of any such quarantine by the county director of health services, he shall give notice in writing to the chief animal control officer of the city, who shall cause to be gathered in and promptly destroyed all dogs which they or any of them may find other than those securely confined in such quarantined area as hereinabove described. (Ord. 531 Exh. A(part), 2018: Ord. 241 §1(part), 1981).