Laguna Niguel Municipal Code Art. 3 Rabies Control

Every person owning or harboring a dog four months of age or older for 15 days or more shall, if the dog is not currently vaccinated, have such dog vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian with a vaccine approved by the state department of health. By obtaining an antirabies deferment from a licensed veterinarian, and upon approval of the director, dogs that are ill may be given temporary deferment from rabies vaccination requirements; old age of the dog, however, shall not be a basis for such deferment. Such a deferred dog shall be vaccinated within ten days of the conclusion of the deferment period.

(Ord. No. 2022-215, § 3, 6-7-22)

(a) The state director of health has declared the county a rabies area. The director is authorized under state law to quarantine suspected rabid animals or animals that are suspected or reported of biting a human causing a break in the skin by the tooth or teeth of an animal. The director or his authorized agent is hereby empowered to enter upon any private property, including the home or residence where the animal is kept or has strayed, to inspect, and, if necessary, to seize and impound any animal suspected of being rabid for a period of 14 days, or ten days for dogs and cats. The impounding officer shall make a reasonable effort to immediately notify the owner or custodian of the animal before it is impounded and notify the owner or custodian of the address of the facility to which it will be taken. If the owner or custodian is not present at the time of impounding, the notice shall be posted on the property of such owner or custodian, if known. In lieu of impounding the animal, he may, by serving a written notice upon the owner, require the owner to quarantine the animal for such period.

(b) No person shall disobey any quarantine order issued by the director or remove from its place of confinement any animal under quarantine without the permission of the director.

(Ord. No. 2022-215, § 3, 6-7-22)

Any person having knowledge of the location of an animal suspected of having rabies, or of any person having been bitten or scratched by any warm-blooded mammal, or of any signs of disease or unusual behavior in any animal under quarantine, shall immediately report such facts to the director.

(Ord. No. 2022-215, § 3, 6-7-22)

No person who owns or harbors any dog shall fail or refuse to exhibit his copy of the rabies vaccination form, antirabies inoculation deferment form or health certificate upon demand by any person charged with the enforcement of this division.

(Ord. No. 2022-215, § 3, 6-7-22)

Each duly licensed veterinarian, after vaccinating any dog, shall complete and sign a rabies certificate in triplicate. He shall keep one copy and shall give one copy to the owner of the vaccinated dog, which the owner shall retain in his possession. He shall file the other copy with the director on a monthly basis.

(Ord. No. 2022-215, § 3, 6-7-22)