Farmersville Municipal Code Art. V Rabies Control

This chapter shall be in effect only at those times when the county of Tulare is not designated as a rabies area pursuant to Sections 121575 to 121710 of the Health and Safety Code of the state of California. During those periods when the county of Tulare or the city of Farmersville is designated as a rabies area, the provisions of said Sections 121575 to 121710 of the Health and Safety Code, and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, are applicable rather than the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

Whenever the owner of an animal observes or learns that such animal displays symptoms of rabies or acts in a manner which would lead to a reasonable suspicion that it may have rabies, such person shall immediately notify Farmersville animal control. Said person shall thereafter allow the health officer or their representative to make an inspection or examination of said animal.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

A. Whenever a physician, veterinarian or other medical professional has knowledge that a person has bitten by an animal, the responsible person shall immediately report the incident to the city of Farmersville and report (if known):

1. The name of the person bitten;

2. The address of the person bitten;

3. The time, location or address that such person was bitten;

4. The name of the animal owner;

5. The address of the animal owner.

B. Any animal which bites or otherwise exposes a person to rabies shall be isolated in strict confinement in a place and manner specified by an officer for the city of Farmersville.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

Title 17, Section 2606 of the California Code of Regulations, governs the isolation of animals susceptible to rabies.

A. Quarantine of Animals.

1. Dogs and cats shall be quarantined for a period of ten days after the day of infliction of a bite and in a manner and place approved by the officer.

2. Dogs and cats may be quarantined under proper care and observation for a period of five days after the day of infliction of a bite at a veterinarian hospital and released upon thorough examination by the veterinarian. Veterinary quarantine is at the expense of the owner.

3. Other animals shall be quarantined for a period of fourteen days after the day of infliction of a bite and in a manner and place approved by the officer.

B. Exposed Animals.

1. Dogs and cats over four months of age that have been exposed or bitten by a rabid or suspected rabid animal and are currently vaccinated (not within thirty days, nor more than thirty-six months), shall be revaccinated (within forty-eight hours) and quarantined for thirty days.

2. Any animal subject to rabies that has been exposed or bitten by a rabid or suspected rabid animal and there is no record of anti-rabies inoculation shall be quarantined at the animal shelter or a veterinarian for a period of six months or may be humanely destroyed pursuant to subsection C of this section.

C. Humane Destruction. Unless specifically required, the animal may be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian or at the animal shelter upon request of the owner and, if warranted, submitted for laboratory examination for rabies using the fluorescent antibody test in an approved public health laboratory. All fees incurred shall be the responsibility of the animal owner.

D. Wild Animals. Wild animals clinically suspected as having rabies that have not exposed or bitten any human or domestic animal shall be immediately and humanely destroyed and may be submitted for laboratory examination for rabies using the fluorescent antibody test in an approved public health laboratory.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

Unless requested by Tulare County Health Department, the following animals not subject to quarantine or laboratory examination:

A. Rodents (members of the order Rodentia); or

B. Rabbits or Hares (members of the order Lagomorpha).

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, an assistance dog shall not be quarantined in the absence of evidence that the dog has been exposed to rabies, unless the dog's owner fails to:

A. Keep the dog safely confined to the premises of the master; and

B. Make the dog available for examination at all reasonable times.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a dog used by any federal, state, county, city or city and county law enforcement 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 institute a "working quarantine" and make the dog available for examination at any reasonable time. The law enforcement agency shall notify the animal control officer if the dog exhibits any abnormal behavior.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

It shall be unlawful for the owner of the animal to violate the quarantine by:

A. Removing said animal from the premises where it is quarantined;

B. The animal running at large;

C. Destroying the animal without authorization from the officer;

D. Concealing the animal from the officer;

E. Disobeying any of the quarantine restrictions which have been imposed by the officer.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)