Blythe Municipal Code Ch. 6.20 Miscellaneous—quarantine—rabies—suppression

A. If it shall appear to the animal control officer that any animal has rabies, the animal control officer may destroy such animal forthwith, or may hold such animal for further examination or observation for such time as the animal health officer may determine to be appropriate. If the animal is destroyed the head of the animal shall be submitted to the county health department for examination.

B. Whenever any animal has been bitten by an animal which has rabies, which exhibits any symptoms of rabies or which is otherwise suspected of having, or having been exposed to rabies, the owner or person having custody of such bitten animal shall immediately notify the animal control officer, and shall immediately confine the animal and maintain that confinement until it is established to the satisfaction of the animal control officer that such animal does not have rabies. The animal control officer shall have the power to quarantine any such animal, or impound it at the owner's expense if the owner or the person having custody of such animal shall fail, refuse, or is unable, in the opinion of the animal control officer, to adequately confine such animal immediately, or in the event the owner or person having custody of such animal is not readily accessible.

C. Whenever it is shown that any licensed animal has bitten any person, the owner or person having custody of such animal shall, upon the order of the animal control officer, quarantine such animal and keep it confined at the owner's expense for a minimum period of ten days for dogs and cats and fourteen days for all other animals, and shall allow the animal control officer to make an inspection or examination of such animal at any time during such period of quarantine. Animals quarantined pursuant to this subsection shall not be removed from the premises upon which such animal is quarantined without permission of the animal control officer. The animal control officer is authorized to impound any animal at the owner's expense in the event the owner or person having custody of such animal fails or refuses to so confine such animal. Animals quarantined pursuant to this subsection shall remain under quarantine until notice is given by the animal control officer that such quarantine is terminated. Whenever it is shown that any unlicensed animal has bitten any person that the animal control officer is authorized to impound and quarantine the animal at the owner's expense.

D. The animal control officer may, in his discretion, post or cause to be posted an appropriate sign on any premises where an animal is quarantined pursuant to this title, for the purpose of warning the public of the fact of such quarantine. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove a sign pursuant to this subsection without the permission of the animal control officer.

E. Whenever the animal control officer shall determine that an epidemic of rabies exists or is threatened, the animal control officer shall have the authority to take such measures as may be reasonably necessary to prevent the spread of the disease, including but not limited to the declaration of quarantine against any or all animals in any area of the city as the animal control officer may determine and define, for a period of not more than one hundred and twenty days. An additional or extended quarantine period may also be declared if such additional or extended quarantine period shall be deemed necessary by the animal control officer for the protection and preservation of the public health, peace and safety. Any quarantine declared pursuant to this subsection, other than as restricted in this title, such conditions as the animal control officer may determine and declare.

F. No person shall bring a dog into an incorporated area of the city from any county, city, state, or country in which a reported case of rabies exists or has existed within the preceding six months.

G. In order to protect the public health from the hazard of rabies which has been found to exist in skunks, a quarantine is imposed to continue until released by the animal control officer, whereby it is prohibited to trap or capture skunks for pets; to trap, capture, or hold skunks in captivity for any reason; to transport skunks from or into the city except pursuant to a permit issued by the California Department of Health Services pursuant to Title 17, California Administrative Code, Section 2606.8.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

A. Any animal which is abandoned or treated in a cruel or inhumane manner, or which is willfully or negligently allowed to suffer torture or unnecessary pain is in violation of this subsection, and may be impounded and disposed of in a humane manner.

B. At least five working days prior to the impoundment of any animal pursuant to subsection A of this section, written notice shall be made by personal delivery or registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the last known address of the owner or person entitled to possession of such animal, of such person's right to a hearing as to whether or not such impoundment is justified. In the event the owner or person entitled to possession of such animal requests a hearing prior to impoundment, no impoundment shall take peace until the conclusion of such hearing, except as otherwise provided in this title. If, in the opinion of the AC immediate impoundment is necessary for the preservation of the public health or safety or the health or safety of the animal, the preimpoundment hearing shall be deemed waived; provided, however, that in such case the owner or person entitled to possession of such animal shall be given at least five working days' notice as provided in this subsection of his right to a post-post-impoundment hearing. In the event a post-impoundment hearing is requested, it shall be conducted by the AC personally or by a designated employee who shall not have been directly involved in the subject action, within five days of the date the request is made, and the animal which is the subject of such hearing shall not be destroyed or otherwise disposed of prior to the conclusion of the hearing. Notice of the time, date and place of such hearing shall be given to the owner or person entitled to possession of the animal which is the subject of such hearing. Within ten days after the conclusion of the hearing, the AC shall render, in writing, his findings, decision and order thereon and shall give notice of said findings, decision and order to the owner or person entitled to possession of the subject animal. Service of such notice shall be made by personal delivery or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. If the impoundment is found to be unjustified, the animal which is the subject of such hearing shall be returned, without charge, to the owner or the person entitled to possession of such animal.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)