Hanford Municipal Code Ch. 6.20 Rabies

A. Primary immunization. Every person owning, harboring or keeping any dog or cat shall, within 30 days after such dog or cat attains the age of four months, cause it to be vaccinated against rabies. This immunization shall be known as the primary immunization.

B. Revaccination intervals. Dogs and cats shall be revaccinated one year after the primary immunization. Such dogs and cats shall then be revaccinated at least every three years thereafter.

C. Approval of vaccine. All rabies vaccines shall be approved by the California Department of Health.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

Whenever the owner of an animal observes or learns that such animal shows 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 the county health officer. Said person shall thereafter allow the health officer or their representative to make an inspection or examination of said animal.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

The animal control officer or animal shelter shall take up and place in isolation any rabid animal or suspected rabid animal, whether licensed or not, which, in the opinion of a veterinarian or county health officer, displays symptoms suggestive of rabies. Such animals shall be isolated in strict confinement at the animal shelter, veterinary hospital, or other adequate facility in a manner approved by the health officer, and said animal shall not be destroyed or released from confinement for at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms suggestive of rabies. Such isolation may be longer under the advice of the county health department or veterinarian. At the expiration of the confinement, any animal confined shall be released upon payment of fees, and, if in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian or county health officer, the animal does not have rabies.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

Whenever the owner of an animal has knowledge that such animal has bitten any person, the owner shall immediately report that fact to the county health officer and report the name and address of the person bitten and the time and place that such person was bitten. Upon learning of a dog bite, the animal control officer shall take up, impound and isolate, for at least 10 days following the date of the alleged bite, any animal of a type subject to rabies that is reported to have bitten any person whether or not that animal displays any symptoms suggestive of rabies. However, any person 18 years of age or older may make a written request to the county health officer for the isolation of such biting animal either in an alternate licensed veterinary clinic or animal kennel at the expense of the owner or upon the private premises of the person making the request. If such request is approved, the animal shall be strictly confined. If the quarantine is upon the premises of the owner of the animal, the animal shall be confined within a locked enclosure so constructed that the animal cannot escape or have contact with any other animal or human being other than the person responsible for its care or, at the discretion of the health officer, the animal may be kept under restraint by leash in charge of a responsible person, or under such restrictions as the health officer may prescribe. Said animal shall be kept in quarantine until the health officer gives written authorization for the release of the animal from quarantine. The animal control officer shall post such private premises, in a conspicuous place thereon, with notice that an animal is being confined thereon to be observed for rabies. If in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or county health officer the animal does not have rabies, the animal shall be released from isolation. Any animal bitten by another animal may be isolated in accordance with the above provisions for a period not to exceed six months. Upon termination of the isolation period, animals isolated in the animal shelter shall be released upon payment of the fees set forth by council resolution.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

Any animal of a species subject to rabies which has been bitten by a known or suspected rabid animal, or has been in intimate contact with a rabid or suspected rabid animal, shall be quarantined by the owner in a place and manner approved by the health officer, for a period of up to six months or destroyed; provided, however, that the following alternatives are permitted in the case of dogs and cats: If the dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies within three years but not less than 30 days with a live virus vaccine, or within one year but not less than 30 days with a killed virus vaccine, as those types of vaccines are defined in Section 2606 et seq., of Title 17 of the California Administrative Code, the dog or cat may be revaccinated in a manner approved by the health officer and quarantined in a place and manner approved by the health officer for a period of 30 days.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

When any animal is quarantined by the county health officer, it is unlawful for the owner of the animal to violate the quarantine by removing said animal from the premises where it is quarantined, allowing it to run at large, destroying it without authorization from the health officer, concealing it from the health officer, or disobeying any of the quarantine restrictions which have been imposed by the health officer. Any such animal, whether licensed or unlicensed, not continuously confined as required shall be taken up forthwith by the animal control officer and confined in accordance with this chapter.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

Following the determination that an animal is not rabid, any animal isolated in the animal shelter as provided for under this chapter may be redeemed by the owner by paying to the animal shelter, or designee, all applicable fees and by obtaining any necessary license. Any animal which is not so redeemed within 72 hours shall be deemed to have been abandoned and shall be disposed of as provided for by animal shelter regulations.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)