Dana Point Municipal Code Ch. 10.02 Disease Control

Every person owning or harboring a dog, four months of age or older, for 15 or more days, shall have such dog vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Said person shall maintain a current vaccination certificate.

(Added by Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

Each duly licensed veterinarian, after vaccinating any dog, shall sign certificate of vaccination containing all information required by the County Health Officer. The veterinarian shall present the certificate to the owner of the vaccinated dog, which the owner shall retain in his or her possession. The veterinarian shall also deliver a list of vaccinated dogs to the Authority on a monthly basis. He or she shall retain a record of all animals that have been vaccinated.

(Added by Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

The vaccination requirement for rabies shall not apply to a dog if a licensed veterinarian has examined the dog and certified at such time rabies vaccine may endanger the dog's health because of its age, infirmity, debility or other physiological considerations, and said dog is kept in the house or in a fenced yard adequate to confine the animal at all times. The deferment shall be valid only during the period that vaccination would endanger the dog's health as said period is shown by the certificate of a licensed veterinarian.

(Added by Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

No person who owns or harbors any dog shall fail or refuse to exhibit his or her copy of the rabies vaccination certificate, anti-rabies inoculation deferment form upon demand of any person charged with the enforcement of this Title.

(Added by Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

Any person having knowledge of the whereabouts of an animal known to have or suspected of having rabies shall report the facts immediately to the County Health Officer or the General Manager or authorized agent of the Authority. In those areas declared by the Director of the State Department of Public Health to be regarded as rabies areas (Section 1901.2 of the California Health and Safety Code), the General Manager shall be notified when any person is bitten by an animal of a species subject to rabies, whether or not the animal is suspected of having rabies. The County Health Officer shall be notified by the General Manager on any animal bite reported.

(Added by Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

Upon receipt of a report that a person has been bitten or is otherwise exposed by an animal of a species to rabies (all warm-blooded animals), the General Manager or authorized agent, at his or her discretion, shall have such animal isolated in strict confinement under proper care and observation of a licensed veterinarian in a veterinary hospital or other adequate facility. The animal shall be observed for at least 14 days (dogs and cats shall be observed for 10 days) after the date of the bite, with the following exception: dogs and cats may be released after five days of veterinary observation if the observing veterinarian certifies that there are no clinical signs or symptoms of disease.

(Added by Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

The General Manager or authorized agent is empowered to enter upon any private property, including the home or residence where the animal is kept or has strayed, to inspect, and if necessary, to seize and impound any animal suspected of being rabid. The impounding officer shall make reasonable effort to immediately notify the owner or custodian of the animal before it has been impounded and the address of the facility to which it will be taken. If the owner or custodian is not present at the time of impounding, the above notice shall be posted on the property of such owner or custodian, if known. In lieu of impounding the animal, the officer may, by serving a written notice upon the owner, require the owner to quarantine the animal for such period.

(Added by Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

No person shall disobey any quarantine order issued by the General Manager or remove from its place of confinement any animal under quarantine without the permission of the General Manager.

(Added by Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

Any animal of a species subject to rabies which has been bitten by a known or suspected rabid animal or has been exposed by contact with a rabid or suspected animal shall be quarantined in a place and manner approved by the General Manager for a period of six months, or destroyed, with the exception that the following alternative is permitted in the case of dogs and cats: If the dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies: (a) Within two years, but not less than 30 days with a canine live-virus rabies vaccine; or (b) Within one year but not less than 30 days with canine killed-virus rabies vaccine, the dog or cat may be revaccinated in a manner prescribed and quarantined in a place and manner approved by the General Manager for a period of 30 days.

(Added by Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

No owner or person shall remove or cause to be removed from any place of isolation or quarantine any animal which has been isolated or quarantined without the consent of the General Manager.

(Added by Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

If upon examination the General Manager or authorized agent determines that any animal is afflicted with rabies, he or she may cause such animal to be destroyed in a humane manner; provided, however, when any animal shall be known to have bitten, scratched or otherwise exposed a person or animal to rabies, such animal shall be quarantined for such time as may be prescribed by law.

(Added by Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)

The General Manager or authorized agent may authorize, with permission of the owner and following other legal restrictions, the euthanasia of a biting animal for the purpose of laboratory examination for rabies in an approved laboratory. Costs of quarantining an animal shall be the responsibility of the owner. If any rabid animal, clinically suspected rabid animal, or biting animal dies or has been killed, adequate specimens shall be obtained and examined in an approved public health laboratory. No person shall destroy or allow to be destroyed the brain of an animal of a species subject to rabies that has bitten or otherwise exposed a person before the destruction of such brain has been authorized by the County Health Department.

(Added by Ord. 96-01, 1/9/96; amended by Ord. 25-16, 11/18/2025)