Humboldt County Municipal Code Ch. 2 Compulsory Rabies Vaccination

Sections: Purpose. Vaccination Defined. Compulsory Vaccination. Certificate Contents. Filing Duplicate Certificates. Certificate Required before Licensing. Certificate Evidence of Vaccination. Certificate for Particular Dog. False Certification Prohibited. Required to Exhibit Certificate. Vaccination Ten Days after Arrival. Health Officer Approval of Vaccine and Certificates. Impounding Dogs Biting Humans. Penalty. 542-1. Purpose. It is hereby declared that this chapter is enacted for the purpose of the preservation of the public health, safety and welfare in connection with the protection of human beings from being bitten by dogs who do or might carry rabies virus. (Ord. 886, § 143, 10/24/1972) 542-2. Vaccination Defined. The word “vaccination” shall mean the vaccination of a dog by a duly licensed veterinarian with a canine anti-rabies vaccine which has been approved for two (2) year immunity by the Health Officer. (Ord. 886, § 130, 10/24/1972)

542-3. Compulsory Vaccination. No person shall own or harbor any dog over the age of four (4) months which has not been vaccinated by a duly licensed veterinarian within the next preceding two (2) year period. (Ord. 886, § 131, 10/24/1972) 542-4. Certificate Contents. After vaccinating any dog, such veterinarian shall sign a certificate in triplicate containing the following information: (a) The name, address and telephone number of the dog’s owner; (b) The description of the dog, including breed, color and sex; (c) The date of immunization; (d) The type of rabies vaccine administered; (e) The name of the vaccine manufacturer; and (f) The lot number of the vaccine used. Such veterinarian shall immediately present the original certificate to the owner or harborer of the dog, the duplicate copy of the certificate to the Animal Control Officer or to the appropriate City Clerk, and the triplicate copy shall be retained by the veterinarian. All such certificates shall be on a form approved by the Health Officer. (Ord. 886, § 132, 10/24/1972) 542-5. Filing Duplicate Certificates. The duplicate copy of the certificate shall be mailed to the Animal Control Officer for all dogs without the corporate limits of any city or to the City Clerk of the city within which the owner of the dog resides, which officer shall cause to be maintained alphabetically such duplicate certificates. (Ord. 886, § 133, 10/24/1972) 542-6. Certificate Required before Licensing. No person who owns or harbors a dog shall obtain a license for such dog pursuant to any existing or future Code section of the County of Humboldt providing for the licensing of dogs, without first having provided evidence that the dog has been vaccinated as provided in this chapter, and that the vaccine will be effective for the duration of the licensing period. (Ord. 886, § 135, 10/24/1972)

542-7. Certificate Evidence of Vaccination. Possession of a certificate of vaccination on a duly approved form signed by a duly licensed veterinarian shall be prima facie evidence of vaccination of the dog referred to thereon on the date indicated on said certificate. (Ord. 886, § 135, 10/24/1972) 542-8. Certificate for Particular Dog. No person shall represent that any vaccination certificate in his/her possession or under his/her control was issued as a result of the vaccination of any dog other than the dog that was in fact vaccinated. (Ord. 886, § 136, 10/ 24/1972) 542-9. False Certification Prohibited. No person shall make use of or have in his/her possession or under his/her control a stolen, counterfeit or forged vaccination certificate. (Ord. 886, § 137, 10/24/1972) 542-10. Required to Exhibit Certificate. No person who owns or harbors any dog shall fail or refuse to exhibit the certificate required herein upon demand of any peace officer, the Animal Control Officer or the Health Officer, or their authorized agents. (Ord. 886, § 138, 10/24/1972) 542-11. Vaccination Ten Days after Arrival. Any person who owns or harbors any dog which has been brought into the unincorporated area of Humboldt County shall, in the event such dog has not been vaccinated as provided herein, have a period of ten (10) days from and after the arrival of such dog in the unincorporated area of Humboldt County within which to comply with this chapter. (Ord. 886, § 139, 10/24/1972) 542-12. Health Officer Approval of Vaccine and Certificates. In furtherance of the program of the County of Humboldt of vaccination of dogs against rabies, the Health Officer is hereby authorized and directed as follows: (a) To approve such vaccine or vaccines as he/she may find suitable for providing, by inoculation, two (2) year immunity of dogs from rabies, and to promulgate his/her findings and approval.

(b) To prescribe the form or forms of certificates to be used by duly licensed veterinarians under the provisions hereof; and to distribute samples of such form or forms to duly licensed veterinarians practicing in this County upon request being made by them. (Ord. 886, § 140, 10/24/1972) 542-13. Impounding Dogs Biting Humans. The Animal Control Officer shall operate a pound for the purpose of isolating dogs that have bitten human beings. In each instance the dog shall be held for such time as is prescribed by the Health Officer; provided that when the Health Officer deems it proper, a licensed and vaccinated dog that has bitten a human being may be quarantined on the owner’s premises or in the care of a veterinarian or in a licensed kennel. If a dog is not claimed after the period of impoundment is ended, such dog may be destroyed. (Ord. 886, § 141, 10/24/1972) 542-14. Penalty. It is a misdemeanor to violate any of the provisions of this chapter. Every person convicted of a violation of any such provision shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or less than Twenty- five Dollars ($25.00), or by imprisonment in the County Jail for not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 886, § 142, 10/24/1972) § 543-1.