Mission Viejo Municipal Code Art. 4 Rabies Control

Footnotes:

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Cross reference— Health and sanitation, tit. 6.

Every person owning or harboring a dog four months of age or older, for 15 days or more, shall, if not currently vaccinated, have such dog vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian with a vaccine approved by the State Department of Health. Upon approval of the director, dogs that are ill may be given temporary deferment from the rabies vaccination requirements of this section if given an antirabies deferment from a licensed veterinarian; 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. 88-12, § 3(4-1-60), 6-27-88; Ord. No. 17-322, § 1(Exh. A), 1-10-17)

(a) The state director of health has declared the city a rabies area. The director is authorized under state law to quarantine suspected rabid animals. The director or his or her authorized deputies or agents are 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 (ten days for dogs and cats). The impounding officer shall make reasonable effort to immediately notify the owner and/or custodian of the animal before it has been impounded and the address of the facility to which it will be taken. If the owner and/or custodian is not present at the time of impounding, the above notice shall be posted on the property of such owner and/or custodian, if known. In lieu of impounding the animal, the director may, by serving a written notice upon the owner and/or custodian, require the owner and/or custodian 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. 88-12, § 3(4-1-61), 6-27-88; Ord. No. 17-322, § 1(Exh. A), 1-10-17)

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. 88-12, § 3(4-1-62), 6-27-88; Ord. No. 17-322, § 1(Exh. A), 1-10-17)

No person who owns or harbors any dog shall fail or refuse to produce for inspection his or her 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. 88-12, § 3(4-1-63), 6-27-88; Ord. No. 17-322, § 1(Exh. A), 1-10-17)

Each duly licensed veterinarian shall complete and sign a rabies certificate in triplicate after vaccinating any dog. The veterinarian shall keep one copy and shall give one copy to the owner of the vaccinated dog, which the owner shall retain in his or her possession. The veterinarian shall file the other copy with the director within the calendar month in which the vaccination occurred.

(Ord. No. 88-12, § 3(4-1-64), 6-27-88; Ord. No. 17-322, § 1(Exh. A), 1-10-17)