Chula Vista Municipal Code Ch. 6.28 Animals

RABIES CONTROL*

Sections:

• 6.28.010 Repealed.

• 6.28.020 Vaccination – Required – Term.

• 6.28.030 Repealed.

• 6.28.040 Unvaccinated dogs prohibited when.

• 6.28.050 Vaccination – Exemptions permitted when.

• 6.28.060 Biting dog to be isolated when – Payment of expenses.

• 6.28.070 Duty to report animal suspected of having rabies.

• 6.28.080 Animals bitten by rabid animal – Quarantine or destruction required.

• 6.28.090 Enforcement and inspection. 6.28.100 Duty to report animal bites.

• For statutory provisions regarding rabies control, see Health and Saf. Code § 1900, et seq.

CROSS REFERENCE: For provisions regarding restraining dogs, see Ch. 6.24 CVMC.

It is unlawful for any person owning, having an interest in, harboring or having the care, charge, custody, control or possession of a dog to suffer, allow or permit such dog to go upon the public streets, alleys, parks and public places in the City, unless such dog has been vaccinated for rabies at intervals of not less than every 12 months, unless the City Manager or his or her designee of the City establishes by regulation a longer interval of time for such repeated vaccinations, the authority to do which is hereby conferred on him. (Ord. 3226 § 1, 2012; prior code § 4.25).

Except for a dog which has been exempted by this chapter from the requirements of vaccination, for the reason that it is less than four months of age, or that the provisions of CVMC 6.28.050 have been complied with, it is unlawful for any person to keep, harbor or maintain any dog in the City, unless such dog has been vaccinated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 3226 § 1, 2012; prior code § 4.28).

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code, a dog need not be vaccinated for rabies if a licensed veterinarian has examined the dog and certified that at such time vaccination would endanger the dog’s health because of its age, infirmity, debility or other physiological consideration, and such certificate is presented to the City Animal Care Facility Manager within 30 days of such examination and he concurs in the opinion of the veterinarian contained in such certificate and endorses on such certificate his approval. The City Animal Care Facility Manager is authorized to accept such endorsed certificates and statements in lieu of the proof of vaccination required by this title. The certificate of the veterinarian must bear the date of issuance and must be renewed each year. (Ord. 3226 § 1, 2012; prior code § 4.28.1).

If any dog shall bite any person or animal within the City, the owner or person having control of such dog shall, upon request of the City Animal Care Facility Manager, Animal Control Officer, Safety Officer, or any peace officer, deliver such dog to such officer to be isolated for 10 days, for the purpose of determining whether or not such dog is afflicted with rabies, and the owner or person having control of such dog shall pay all the expenses of the keeping of such dog during the time the dog shall be so isolated. (Ord. 3226 § 1, 2012; prior code § 4.29).

Whenever the owner or person having the custody of an animal shall observe or learn that such animal has shown symptoms of rabies, or is acting in a manner which would lead to the belief that such animal might have rabies, such owner or person having the custody or possession of such animal shall immediately notify the City Animal Care Facility Manager, and such person shall allow the City Animal Care Facility Manager or any peace officer of the City to make an inspection or examination of such animal until it shall be established to the satisfaction of the City Animal Care Facility Manager that such animal has or has not rabies. (Ord. 3226 § 1, 2012; prior code § 4.30).

Whenever any animal shall be bitten by another animal having rabies, the owner or person having the custody, possession, or control of the animal so bitten shall, upon being informed thereof, either kill such animal or quarantine it and keep it tied up for a period of six months, and the City Animal Care Facility Manager or the Chief of Police or other peace officer of the City shall have the power to kill, destroy or quarantine the animal so bitten in case the owner or person having the custody, control or possession thereof shall fail to do so immediately, or in the event the owner or person having the care, custody or control of such animal is not readily accessible. (Ord. 3226 § 1, 2012; prior code § 4.31).

All proper officials of the City are hereby authorized to examine and enter upon all private premises for the enforcement of this chapter, in accord with the right-of-entry provisions set forth in CVMC 1.16.010. (Ord. 3226 § 1, 2012; prior code § 4.32).

A. All persons bitten and the parents or guardians of minor children bitten by any animal, including but not limited to dogs, cats, skunks, foxes, bats, coyotes, bobcats, or any other animal of a species subject to rabies, shall notify the City Animal Care Facility Manager, Animal Control Officer, Safety Officer, or any peace officer as soon as possible thereafter. Physicians treating such bites and other persons having the knowledge of such bites shall also be required to make such notification.

B. Any person owning or having custody or control of any animal of a species subject to rabies which bites a person shall notify the City Animal Care Facility Manager, Animal Control Officer, Safety Officer, or any peace officer as soon as possible thereafter. Any person who violates any provision of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. 3226 § 1, 2012).