Kings County Municipal Code Art. III Rabies Control

(a) Primary immunization. Every person owning, harboring, or keeping any dog or cat shall, within 30 days after such animal 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 and revaccinated at least every three years thereafter.

(c) Approval of vaccine. All rabies vaccines shall be approved by the California Department of Health.

(Ord. No. 672, § 2, 6-30-15)

The animal control officer may provide facilities for the rabies vaccination of dogs and cats or may arrange for such vaccination at low cost public clinics. Blank forms shall be provided for the vaccination certificates required by this chapter. Failure to display a valid rabies vaccination certificate upon reasonable demand by the animal control officer is prima facie evidence of nonvaccination. The vaccination required herein may be obtained either at such facilities or clinics or from a licensed veterinarian of the owner's choice.

(Ord. No. 672, § 2, 6-30-15)

The animal control officer shall take up and place in isolation any dog or cat, which in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian or the county health officer displays symptoms suggestive of rabies. Such isolation shall be at the animal shelter unless the owner of the dog or cat, with the approval of the county health officer, arranges with a licensed veterinarian for such isolation in a private animal hospital or clinic. Any dog or cat placed in such isolation shall be kept strictly confined and under such observation as may be required by the county health officer. Isolation shall continue for at least ten days from the date the symptoms suggestive of rabies were first observed. The isolation may be continued for a period longer than ten days if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the County health officer, a longer period is necessary.

At the expiration of the isolation period, any dog or cat confined at the animal shelter shall be released upon payment of the fees set forth in section 4-75.

(Ord. No. 672, § 2, 6-30-15)

It shall be the duty of every licensed veterinarian to report immediately to the county health officer any animal observed by him which is diagnosed by him as having rabies or is suspected of having rabies.

(Ord. No. 672, § 2, 6-30-15)

It shall be the duty of every physician, or other person, to report to the animal control officer the name and address of any person treated for a bite inflicted by any animal, and any persons who have been bitten by any animal of a species subject to rabies infections, and any other information as required by the animal control officer.

(Ord. No. 672, § 2, 6-30-15)

Except as otherwise provided herein, the animal control officer shall take up, impound, and isolate for at least ten 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 such animal has been vaccinated with rabies vaccine and whether or not such animal displays any symptoms suggestive of rabies. The animal shall be impounded and isolated in the manner provided in section 4-53.

Any person who is 18 years of age or older may, however, make written request to the animal control officer for the isolation of such biting animal either in facilities provided by a licensed veterinarian or in a licensed boarding kennel or upon the private premises of the person making such request. If such request is approved by the animal control officer, such biting animal shall not be taken up and impounded but shall instead be kept strictly confined and isolated in such veterinarian's facilities or on such private premises for the isolation period.

Upon termination of the isolation period, animals isolated in the animal shelter shall be released upon payment of the fees set forth in section 4-75 if, in the opinion of the animal control officer, the animal does not have rabies. Animals isolated upon private property shall be released from isolation if, in the opinion of the animal control officer, the animal does not have rabies.

(Ord. No. 672, § 2, 6-30-15)

Every person who, after requesting and obtaining approval for the keeping of a biting animal confined and isolated upon his private premises, as provided in section 4-56 of this chapter, fails for any reason whatsoever to keep such animal continuously confined and isolated upon his premises, either indoors or inside some enclosure, for a period of ten days after the day such written request is presented to the animal control officer, is guilty of an infraction. Any such animal, whether licensed or unlicensed, not continuously confined and isolated as required shall be taken up forthwith by the animal control officer and isolated as provided in section 4-53 of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 672, § 2, 6-30-15)

Any animal isolated at the County shelter as provided in section 4-53, 4-56 or 4-57 and is found not to have rabies may be redeemed by the owner by paying to the animal control officer all applicable fees and by obtaining any necessary license. Any animal which is not so redeemed within 72 hours after the expiration of the isolation period shall be deemed to have been abandoned and shall be disposed of as provided in section 4-74 of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 672, § 2, 6-30-15)