Sec. 4-51. - Rabies vaccination required.

(a)

Primary immunization. Every person owning, harboring, or keeping any dog shall, within 30 days after such dog attains the age of four months, cause it to be vaccinated against rabies. This immunization shall be known as the "primary immunization."

(b)

Revaccination intervals. Dogs shall be revaccinated one year after the primary immunization. Such dogs shall then be revaccinated at least every three years thereafter.

(c)

Approval of vaccine. All rabies vaccines shall be approved by the California Department of Health.

(Ord. No. 350, § 20, 7-10-73; Ord. No. 454, § 1, 4-22-86; Ord. No. 569, § 10, 2-3-98)

Sec. 4-52. - Rabies vaccination facilities; vaccination certificates.

The animal control officer may provide facilities for the rabies vaccination of dogs or may arrange for such vaccination at low cost public clinics. Blank forms shall be provided for the vaccination certificates required by this chapter. Failure to display a valid rabies vaccination certificate upon reasonable demand by the animal control officer is prima facie evidence of nonvaccination. The vaccination required herein may be obtained either at such facilities or clinics or from a licensed veterinarian of the owner's choice.

(Ord. No. 350, § 21, 7-10-73)

Sec. 4-53. - Isolation of suspected dogs.

The animal control officer shall take up and place in isolation any dog, licensed or not, which in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian or the county health officer, displays symptoms suggestive of rabies. Such isolation shall be at an animal pound unless the owner of such dog, with the approval of the county health officer, arranges with a licensed veterinarian for such isolation in a private animal hospital or clinic. Any dog placed in such isolation shall be kept strictly confined and under such observation as may be required by the county health officer. Such isolation shall continue for at least ten days from the date the symptoms suggestive of rabies were first observed. Such isolation may be continued for a period longer than ten days if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the county health officer, such longer period is necessary. At the expiration of such confinement, any dog confined at an animal pound shall be released upon payment of the fees set forth in section 4-75 if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the county health officer, such dog does not have rabies.

(Ord. No. 350, § 22, 7-10-73)

Sec. 4-54. - Responsibilities of veterinarians.

It shall be the duty of every licensed veterinarian to report immediately to the county health officer any animal observed by him which is diagnosed by him as having rabies or is suspected of having rabies.

(Ord. No. 350, § 23, 7-10-73)

Sec. 4-55. - Reporting of bite cases.

It shall be the duty of every physician, or other person, to report to the county health officer the name and address of any person treated for a bite inflicted by any animal, and report the biting of any animal of a species subject to rabies which has been bitten by a known or suspected rabid animal or has been in intimate contact with a rabid or suspected rabid animal, together with such other information as will be helpful in rabies control. The county health officer may follow the "Guidelines for Investigation of Animal Bites" established by the California Department of Health.

(Ord. No. 350, § 24, 7-10-73)

Sec. 4-56. - Biting animals.

Except as otherwise provided herein, the animal control officer shall take up, impound, and isolate for at least ten days following the date of the alleged bite, any animal of a type subject to rabies that 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 provided in section 4-53 above, for the isolation of dogs suspected of having rabies. Any person who is 18 years of age or older may, however, make written request to the county health officer 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 county health officer, such biting animal shall not be taken up and impounded but shall instead be kept strictly confined and isolated in such veterinarian's facilities or on such private premises for the isolation period. The animal control officer shall post such private premises, in a conspicuous place thereon, with notice that an animal is being confined thereon to be observed for rabies. Upon termination of the isolation period, animals isolated in an animal pound shall be released upon payment of the fees set forth in section 4-75 if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the county 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 county health officer, the animal does not have rabies. Any animal which is bitten by another animal may be isolated in accordance with the above provisions for a period up to six months.

(Ord. No. 350, § 25, 7-10-73)

Sec. 4-57. - Violation of isolation requirements.

Every person who, after requesting and obtaining approval for the keeping of a biting animal confined and isolated upon his private premises, as provided in section 4-56 of this chapter, fails for any reason whatsoever to keep such animal continuously confined and isolated upon his premises, either indoors or inside some enclosure, for a period of ten days after the day such written request is presented to the county health officer, is guilty of an infraction. Any such animal, whether licensed or unlicensed, not continuously confined and isolated as required herein shall be taken up forthwith by the animal control officer and isolated as provided in section 4-53 of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 350, § 26, 7-10-73; Ord. No. 377, § 8, 6-7-77)

Sec. 4-58. - Redemption of isolated animals.

Any animal isolated at the animal pound as provided in section 4-53, 4-56 or 4-57 of this article and found not to have rabies may be redeemed by the owner by paying to the animal control officer all applicable fees and by obtaining any necessary license. Any animal which is not so redeemed within 72 hours after the expiration of the isolation period shall be deemed to have been abandoned and shall be disposed of as provided in section 4-73 of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 350, § 27, 7-10-73)

Secs. 4-59—4-65. - Reserved.