Brawley Municipal Code Art. IV Rabies Suspects

The police department and/or animal control officer are hereby authorized to take up and impound any rabies suspect which has bitten any person and impound such rabies suspect for a period of ten days pending ascertaining whether or not such rabies suspect has rabies, unless the owner confines the rabies suspect inaccessible to persons or animals for a period of not less than ten days after such biting has taken place. For such purpose the police and/or animal control officer are hereby authorized to enter on private property and inspect or take up such rabies suspect, and it is hereby declared unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to obstruct or interfere with the police department and/or animal control officer while engaged in the performance of duties prescribed by the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 486, § 5; Ord. No. 92-02, § 1; Ord. No. 96-04, § 1.)

At the expiration of the ten day period a rabies suspect impounded as provided by section 4.20 shall be released to its owner or keeper upon payment of per day charge for the period it has been impounded as determined by city resolution, unless such rabies suspect has rabies, in which case it shall be destroyed by the city or a licensed veterinarian.

(Ord. No. 486, § 5; Ord. No. 96-04, § 1.)

In the event of a declaration of quarantine for rabies or other animal disease by the state or local health authorities, the police officers, animal control officer of the city, and health officers are authorized to take any action required by the quarantine order and regulations promulgated under the order of quarantine.

(Ord. No. 500, § 4; Ord. No. 96-04, § 1.)

The period from January 16 to and including March 1 of each year, commencing with the calendar year 1970, is hereby declared an annual quarantine period affecting all dogs within the city. During such animal quarantine period all dogs shall be confined and restrained to the premises of the owner in such manner that the dog cannot leave the premises of its own volition.

During the annual quarantine period any dog running at large or not so confined and restrained shall be subject to capture and impounding by the city and if not redeemed within seventy-two hours thereafter shall be humanely disposed of by a veterinarian.

Any member of the city police department shall be empowered to enter onto private property in the enforcement of this ordinance.

(Ord. No. 617, § 1; Ord. No. 96-04, § 1.)