Chapter 6.24 — RABIES

It is unlawful for any person having in confinement animals suspected of rabies not to report the suspicion to the health officer and to submit such animals to the examination of the health officer or representative.

(Prior code § 2-38)

It is the duty of the health officer, when called upon, to examine, or have examined, any animal if it is suspected of having rabies, and to ascertain whether or not such animal is afflicted with rabies.

(Prior code § 2-39)

Animals suspected of having rabies shall not be killed but shall be kept in confinement until the health officer or representative finds that further observation of the live animal is not necessary for the determination of the presence or absence of rabies. After the permission of the health officer has been secured, the animals afflicted with rabies may be killed. The person or officer capturing any such animal shall, if the owner of it is known to the health officer, notify such owner that such animal has been captured. If any animal is found not to be afflicted with rabies and is not reclaimed by the owner of it or other person claiming it within five days after capture, such animal shall be killed in some humane manner by the person capturing it, or the officer to whom the animal was delivered.

(Prior code § 2-40)

Whenever it is shown that any animal has bitten any person, the owner or person having the custody or possession thereof shall, upon order of the health officer, deliver such animal to the poundmaster who shall quarantine it and keep it tied up or confined; dog and cats shall be confined for a period of ten days, all other animals two weeks. The health officer may make an inspection or examination of the animal at any time during this period. If it appears to the health officer, upon examination as aforesaid, or otherwise, that the animal has rabies, he shall kill it forthwith.

(Prior code § 2-41)

Whenever any animal is bitten by another animal having rabies, the owner or person having the custody or possession of the animal so bitten shall, upon being informed thereof, either kill such animal or quarantine it and keep it tied up or confined for a period of six months. The health officer shall have power, in his discretion, to kill or quarantine the animal so bitten, in case the owner or person having custody or possession thereof shall fail to do so immediately or in case the owner or person having custody of it is not readily accessible.

(Prior code § 2-42)

It is unlawful for any person to bring an animal into the city from any place in which rabies has been known to exist within six months previously, except upon the written permission of the health officer. Such permission is to be granted only upon the condition that the animal, whenever in the city during a subsequent period of six months, will be confined or muzzled.

(Prior code § 2-43)

During the existence of rabies, or if such existence is suspected, the health officer is empowered to order all dogs in the city be muzzled, and to disobey such order is a misdemeanor.

(Prior code § 2-44)

Except as provided in this chapter, no dog of the age of four months or older shall be permitted in the city without having been vaccinated for rabies within a period of less than thirty months; provided, that no license shall be issued as required by this title for any dog with respect to which dog a period of thirty months since its last vaccination will expire prior to the expiration of the license year or term for which such license is to be issued. Evidence of compliance with this section shall be a valid official vaccination certificate as issued by a doctor of veterinary medicine, which certificate shall be produced for inspection by any official of the city authorized to administer any provision of this title. The owner of any dog subject to the provisions of this section shall cause to be attached to a collar or harness to be worn by such dog a tag or emblem with sufficient inscription on it from which it can be established that such dog has been vaccinated and the date of the vaccination.

(Prior code § 2-45)

A.

All dogs under four months of age and until thirty days have elapsed following a first rabies vaccination shall be confined to the premises of or kept under physical restraint by its owner, keeper or harborer.

B.

Notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the contrary, all dogs shall be vaccinated when required by the provisions of Chapter 3 of Division 3 of the Health and Safety Code of the state.

(Prior code § 2-46)