Beaumont Municipal Code Ch. 6.14 Rabid Animals

If it appears to the Animal Services Officer, upon examination, that any dog or other animal has rabies, he/she shall cause such animal to be destroyed forthwith.

(Ord. 960, 10/20/09; §1)

A. Officers or persons capturing a dog or other animal which is suspected of being afflicted with rabies may separately confine such dog or other animal in some safe place and report the capture to the chief of police or his representative and submit such a dog or other animal to the chief of police or his representative for examination.

B. The Animal Services Officer, when called upon, shall examine or have examined every such animal and ascertain whether such animal is infected with rabies.

C. Owners of animals impounded for quarantine at a City or county facility shall be charged a daily quarantine fee in addition to the regular daily boarding fee.

D. Animal Services Officers investigating and authorizing a home quarantine shall collect a fee from the owner or custodian of the animal in an amount established from time-to-time by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. 960, 10/20/09; §1)

A. Whenever it is shown that any dog or other animal has bitten any person, the owner or person having custody or possession of such biting dog or other animal shall, upon order of the Animal Services Officer, quarantine it and keep confined for a period not to exceed 14 days, and shall allow the Animal Services Officer to make an inspection or examination of such dog or other animal at any time during such period; provided, that upon request of the owner, who shall assume any charges therefore, any dog or other animal with a valid vaccination may be confined by a licensed veterinary for observation, and a written release from such veterinary shall be required.

B. It is unlawful for any person knowing or suspecting a dog has rabies to allow such dog to be taken off his premises or beyond the City limits without the written permission of the Animal Services Officer. Every owner or other person having custody or control of the dog or other animal knowing the same is rabid shall immediately notify the Animal Services Officer or a police officer who shall make the determination to remove the dog or animal from the premises, leave it, or destroy it.

(Ord. 960, 10/20/09; §1)

Whenever any animal has been bitten by another animal having or suspected of having rabies, the owner or person having the custody or possession of the animal so bitten shall immediately notify the Animal Services Officer and shall restrain or confine such animal so as to make it impossible for such animal to bite any other animal or person.

(Ord. 960, 10/20/09; §1)

The Animal Services Officer shall have the power to quarantine any animal bitten or suspected of having been bitten by a rabid animal. Any animal of a species subject to rabies which has been bitten by a known rabid or suspected rabid animal or has been in intimate contact with a rabid or suspected rabid animal shall be quarantined in a place and manner approved by the Animal Services Officer, for a period of up to six months or destroyed, with the exception that the following alternatives are permitted in the case of dogs and cats as follows:

A. If a dog over one year of age has been vaccinated against rabies within eight months but not less than 30 days with a rabies vaccine of a type approved by the Animal Services Officer for a maximum immunity duration of at least eight months, the dog may be revaccinated immediately (within 48 hours) in a manner prescribed by the Animal Services Officer and quarantined in a place and manner approved by the animal control officer for a period of 30 days following revaccination.

B. If a dog under one year of age has been vaccinated against rabies within four months but not less than 30 days with a rabies vaccine of a type approved by the Animal Services Officer, the dog may be revaccinated immediately (within 48 hours) in a manner prescribed by the Animal Services Officer and quarantined in a place and manner approved by the animal control officer for a period of 30 days.

All costs of quarantine shall be paid for by the owner.

(Ord. 960, 10/20/09; § 1)

All dogs over four months of age shall be immunized against rabies in the manner set forth in Sections 6.14.070 through 6.14.090.

(Ord. 960, 10/20/09; §1)

Immunization or vaccination with the canine rabies vaccine, one injection or other approved method may be performed by any duly qualified, licensed physician or veterinarian.

(Ord. 960, 10/20/09; §1)

The person vaccinating each dog described in Section 6.16.070 shall issue a certificate of rabies vaccination.

(Ord. 960, 10/20/09; §1)

At the time of issuing the license required under Section 6.06.010 for all dogs in the City, the license collector or other proper official shall require the applicant for such a license to produce a certificate of rabies vaccination. The validity of such rabies certificate must extend through the license period.

(Ord. 960, 10/20/09; §1)

Failure to comply with quarantine requirements or failure to produce an animal for quarantine shall constitute a violation of this Chapter. Persons who violate a home quarantine, fail to produce an animal for quarantine upon demand, or in any other way interfere with rabies investigation, shall, in the discretion of the Animal Services Officer, be administratively cited under Section 1.17.100 et seq., or shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, pursuant to Section 041710 of the California Health and Safety Code and Section 9701 of the California Food and Agriculture Code, which is punishable by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period not to exceed one year, or by a fine of not less than $100.00, nor more than $1,000.00 per day of violation, or both fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. 960, 10/20/09; §1)