Downey Municipal Code Part 8 Quarantine Requirements: Rabies Suspects

It shall be unlawful for any person having knowledge of the whereabouts of any animal known to have or suspected of having rabies or which has shown symptoms of rabies, to fail, refuse or neglect to immediately notify the Director, or to fail, refuse or neglect to allow the Director to make an inspection to the satisfaction of said official that such animal has or does not have rabies. The Director shall be notified by any person who has been bitten or by the doctor caring for this person or by the adult responsible for this person if a minor, when the bite is by an animal of the mammal species whether or not the animal is suspected of or has rabies.

(Added by Ord. 806, adopted 11-26-85)

Whenever any person having charge, care, control, custody or possession of any dog has knowledge that such dog has bitten any person, the persons having charge, care, control, custody or possession of such dog shall report said fact in writing forthwith to the Director. The report shall state the name and address of the person bitten and the time and place such person was bitten.

(Added by Ord. 806, adopted 11-26-85)

Whenever it is shown that any dog or other animal has bitten any person, no owner or person having the custody or possession thereof, upon order of the Director, any Police Officer, or the Health Officer, shall fail, refuse or neglect to quarantine such animal and keep it securely confined on a chain or in a closed cage or paddock for a period of 10 days, or shall fail or neglect to allow the Director to make an inspection or examination thereof at any time during said period. No such dog or animal shall be removed without written permission of the Director, any Police Officer or the Health Officer or his deputies.

(Added by Ord. 806, adopted 11-26-85)

Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, a dog used by any Federal or governmental agency shall not be quarantined after biting any person if such bite occurred while the dog was being used for any law enforcement purpose. The law enforcement agency shall make the dog available for examination at any reasonable time. The law enforcement agency shall notify the local health officer if the dog exhibits any abnormal behavior.

(Added by Ord. 806, adopted 11-26-85)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a guide dog serving a blind master shall not be quarantined, in the absence of evidence that he or she has been exposed to rabies, unless his or her master fails:

(a) To keep him or her safely confined to the premises of the master.

(b) To keep him or her available for examination at all reasonable times.

(Added by Ord. 806, adopted 11-26-85)

Whenever it is suspected that any animal shall have been bitten by another animal having, or suspected of having rabies, all rules and regulations under Section 4240 shall apply where applicable substituting the word "animal" or "dog."

(Added by Ord. 806, adopted 11-26-85)