Aliso Viejo Municipal Code Art. VIII Disease Control

This chapter shall in all respects be construed to supplement and harmonize with the provisions of the laws of the state pertaining to animal industry. [Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2009-108 § 1 (4-1-51)].

The city veterinarian shall be appointed by the city council in compliance with state and federal laws. [Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2009-108 § 1 (4-1-52)].

It shall be the duty of the city veterinarian, acting in cooperation with the state veterinarian, to enforce all laws of the state, the ordinances of the city and all orders of its city council pertaining to the health and sanitary condition of animals in the city. To this end he is authorized, upon approval of the city council, to establish, maintain and enforce such quarantine, sanitary, testing and immunizing measures and to promulgate such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary and proper. He shall supervise the examination and testing of animals or premises for the presence of contagious, infectious or communicable disease. He shall immediately report any human infectious or communicable disease found in animals to the health officer or his duly authorized deputy. [Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2009-108 § 1 (4-1-53)].

When the city veterinarian has determined that an infectious disease exists among animals in any area and the importation of animals from such area might spread such disease among the animals within the city, he shall notify the city council, designating and describing the area where such disease has been found and shall, with their approval, establish such quarantine restrictions as the circumstances shall warrant. The city council may refuse to permit shipments of animals from such areas to the city unless accompanied by a certificate signed by state or federal veterinarian certifying that the animals for which such certificate is issued are not infected with or exposed to an infectious disease. Any animals entering the city from any area so described and designated without such a certificate may be quarantined by the city veterinarian and confiscated or disposed of in such manner as to eliminate any danger of the animals within the city being exposed to infection from such disease. [Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2009-108 § 1 (4-1-54)].

The city veterinarian shall investigate all reports of the presence of infectious diseases affecting animals within the city. He is authorized to enter any premises where animals are kept, or on which he has reason to believe that animals are kept, in order to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter, and it shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with the official action of the city veterinarian or his authorized deputy. The city veterinarian may quarantine any animal suspected of being infected with or exposed to an infectious disease for a reasonable period of observation and until such tests as may be required to ascertain the presence or absence of an infectious disease are completed. Upon discovery of any infectious disease affecting animals in the city, the city veterinarian shall establish such quarantine, sanitary, testing, immunizing and control measures as may be necessary to control or eradicate such disease and prevent the spread thereof to other animals. The city veterinarian may quarantine any animal upon the land or premises where such diseased animal has been kept, and thereafter it shall be unlawful for any person to break such quarantine or to move or allow to be moved any such animals from within the premises thus quarantined, or across the quarantine line so established, without first obtaining permission from the city veterinarian. If, after inspection, the city veterinarian shall deem it proper to issue such a permit, he may cause such animal, premises and vehicles of transportation and any infected materials, equipment or effects to be properly cleaned and disinfected. [Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2009-108 § 1 (4-1-55)].

Cross-reference: interference with public officers prohibited, AVMC 8.20.040.

It shall be unlawful for any person, during the existence of such quarantine, to remove, tear, deface, mutilate, obscure or otherwise destroy or interfere with any placard, notice or proclamation declaring such quarantine. [Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2009-108 § 1 (4-1-56)].

All animals brought into the city in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to quarantine, examination and test, at the expense of the owner, by the city veterinarian, who may dispose of such animal to protect the public health and the health of domestic animals of the city. [Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2009-108 § 1 (4-1-57)].