Alturas Municipal Code Art. VI Rabies Control

It is unlawful for any person to own or harbor any dog or cat over the age of four months that has not been vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian, except those dogs and cats that are certified in writing by a licensed veterinarian as not being suitable subjects for vaccination due to health or age reasons. The written certification must be renewed at least once a year.

(Ord. No. 527, § 1, 2-21-2023)

Any person 18 years of age or older must report being bitten by any animal to the local law enforcement agency. Any guardian or parent of a person under the age of 18 ("minor") must report to the animal control officer if the minor is bitten by any animal. Any person 18 years of age or older who owns an animal will be required to report to the animal control officer if the animal has bitten any human being.

(Ord. No. 527, § 1, 2-21-2023)

Whenever the owner or person having the custody or possession of any animal observes or learns that such animal has shown symptoms of rabies, or has acted in a manner that would lead a reasonable person to suspect that it might have rabies, that owner or person having the custody or possession of such animal must immediately notify an animal control officer or health officer or his representative and must permit the animal control officer or health officer to make an inspection or examination of such animal.

Whenever it appears to an animal control officer or health officer that there is reason to believe that any dog or other animal has rabies, or has been exposed to rabies, the animal control officer or health officer may quarantine such animal until it can be established to the satisfaction of the animal control officer or health officer that such animal either does not have rabies, or that the owner is capable of quarantining the animal on the owner's property.

(Ord. No. 527, § 1, 2-21-2023)

Isolation of a biting animal may be allowed on the owner's property when the owner can provide proof that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies, and in the judgment of an animal control officer or their designee adequate facilities are provided to ensure adequate confinement and the owner is able and willing to satisfy the requirements of this subchapter. The animal control officer may revoke this determination at any time during the quarantine period.

When, in the judgment of an animal control officer or health officer, adequate facilities for confinement do not exist or the owner is unable or unwilling to properly supervise confinement of the animal, confinement must occur at an approved veterinary hospital or kennel, at the expense of the owner.

In cases where the owner does not desire to quarantine the biting animal, the owner may authorize euthanasia of the biting animal for the purpose of laboratory examination for rabies using the fluorescent rabies antibody (FRA) test in the health department laboratory at the owner's expense.

(Ord. No. 527, § 1, 2-21-2023)

If it appears to any animal control officer or any official of the board of health ("health officer"), upon examination, that an animal has rabies, the animal control officer or health officer may, after a quarantine period as provided in this chapter, euthanasia the animal forthwith.

(Ord. No. 527, § 1, 2-21-2023)