Blue Lake Municipal Code Ch. 6.12 Compulsory Rabies Vaccinations

The word "vaccination"

means the inoculation of a dog with an anti-rabies vaccine that has been approved for two-year immunity by the County Livestock Inspector of the County of Humboldt.

No person shall own or harbor any dog over the age of four months which has not been vaccinated by a duly licensed veterinarian within the next preceding two-year period.

A. After vaccinating any dog, the veterinarian shall sign a certificate in triplicate containing the following information:

1. The name and address of the owner or harborer of the vaccinated dog.

2. The kind of vaccine used and the date of vaccination.

3. The breed, color and sex of the vaccinated dog.

B. The veterinarian shall immediately present the original certificate to the City Clerk, and the triplicate copy shall be retained by the veterinarian. All such certificates shall be on a form approved by the County Livestock Inspector of the County of Humboldt.

C. The City Clerk shall retain and file his or her copy of the certificate.

A. No person who owns or harbors a dog shall obtain a license for the dog pursuant to any existing or future ordinance of the City of Blue Lake providing for the licensing of dogs without first having complied with Section 6.12.020 of this chapter.

B. Possession of a certificate of vaccination on a duly approved form signed by a duly licensed veterinarian shall be prima facie evidence of vaccination of the dog referred to thereon on the date indicated on the certificate.

C. No person shall represent that any vaccination certificate in his or her possession or under his or her control was issued as a result of the vaccination of any dog other than the dog that was in fact vaccinated.

D. No person shall make use of or have in his or her possession or under his or her control a stolen, counterfeit or forged vaccination certificate.

E. No person who owns or harbors any dog shall fail or refuse to exhibit the certificate required herein upon demand of any peace officer.

Any person who owns or harbors any dog which has been brought into the incorporated area of the City of Blue Lake shall, in the event the dog has not been vaccinated as provided in this chapter, have a period of 10 days from and after the arrival of such dog in the incorporated area of the City of Blue Lake within which to comply with this chapter.

This chapter is in furtherance of the program of the County of Humboldt of vaccination of dogs against rabies whereby the County Livestock Inspector of the County of Humboldt is authorized by the County and directed by the County as follows:

A. To approve such vaccine or vaccines as he or she may find suitable for providing, by inoculation, two-year immunity of dogs from rabies, to promulgate his or her findings and approval and to file a statement of his or her findings and approval in the office of the County Health Officer as a public record.

B. To prescribe the form or forms of certificates to be used by duly licensed veterinarians under the provisions of this chapter; to file the approved form or forms in the office of the County Health Officer of the County of Humboldt as a public record; and to distribute samples of the form or forms to duly licensed veterinarians practicing in this County upon request being made by them.

It is an infraction to violate any of the provisions of this chapter. Every person convicted of violation of any such provision shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500.00.