6.24 — RABIES CONTROL

Every person keeping, harboring or having a dog over the age of four months in the City shall cause such dog to be vaccinated with a type of rabies vaccine approved by the Los Angeles County Health Officer within a period of 30 days from the date such dog was harbored, kept or had within the City, or within 30 days from the date the dog attains the age of four months; provided, however, that the provision shall not apply so as to require the vaccination of any dog which has been vaccinated with an approved vaccine by a person licensed by the State of California, or by any other state or nation, to practice veterinary medicine where such vaccine has been completed within the period of time as prescribed in this article.

If the dog's vaccination was performed at an age of under 12 months, it must have been completed within one year prior to the date such dog was first kept, harbored or brought into the City. If the dog was last vaccinated at an age over 12 months, it must have been completed within 36 months prior to the date such dog was first kept, harbored or brought into the City. (Prior code § 6-5.1; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Every person keeping, harboring or having in the City a dog which has received its initial rabies vaccination shall cause such dog to be revaccinated 12 months after the initial vaccination with an approved type of rabies vaccine. Such dog who has received vaccination after the initial vaccination or such dog who has received its initial vaccination over 12 months of age shall be revaccinated no sooner than 24 months with an approved type of rabies vaccine. (Prior code § 6-5.2; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Every person keeping, harboring or having any dog required by this article to be vaccinated shall at all times while such dog is thus kept, harbored or had, have in his or her possession a certificate issued by a person licensed by the State of California or any other state or nation to practice veterinary medicine, which certificate shall specify that such dog has been vaccinated in accordance with the provisions of this article. (Prior code § 6-5.3; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

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City of Norwalk, CA

ANIMALS

§ 6.24.040

§ 6.24.080

Article II

Quarantine Requirements for Rabies Suspects

It is unlawful for any person having knowledge of the whereabouts of an animal known to have or suspected of having rabies or which has shown symptoms of rabies, to fail, refuse or neglect to immediately notify the Executive Director, or to fail, refuse or neglect to allow the Executive Director to make an inspection or examination of such animal until it shall be established to the satisfaction of the Executive Director whether such animal is infected with rabies. The Executive Director shall likewise be notified of any person bitten by an animal of a species subject to rabies, whether or not the animal is suspected of having rabies. (Prior code § 6-8.1; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Whenever any person having charge, care, control, custody or possession of any dog has knowledge that such dog has bitten any person, such person shall report that fact in writing to the Executive Director. The report shall State the name and address of the person bitten and the time and place at which such person was bitten. (Prior code § 6-8.2; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Whenever it is shown that any dog or other animal has bitten any person, no owner or person having custody or possession of such dog or other animal, upon order of the Executive Director, any police officer, or the Health Officer, shall fail, refuse or neglect to quarantine such animal and keep it securely confined on a chain or in a closed cage or paddock for a period of 10 days, or shall fail, refuse or neglect to allow the Executive Director to make an inspection or examination at any time during this period. No such dog or other animal shall be removed without written permission of the Executive Director or the Health Officer. (Prior code § 6-8.3; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, a dog used by any law enforcement agency shall not be quarantined after biting any person if such bite occurred while the dog was being used for any law enforcement purpose. The law enforcement agency shall make the dog available for examination at any reasonable time and shall notify the Health Officer if the dog exhibits any abnormal behavior.

(Prior code § 6-8.4; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, a guide dog serving a blind master shall not be quarantined, in the absence of evidence that it has been exposed to rabies, unless its master fails:

• A. To keep it safely confined to the premises of the master;

• B. To keep it available for examination at all reasonable times.

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City of Norwalk, CA

NORWALK CODE

§ 6.24.080

§ 6.24.090

(Prior code § 6-8.5; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Whenever it is suspected that any animal shall have been bitten by another animal having or suspected of having rabies, the latter shall be quarantined and examined in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.24.060.

(Prior code § 6-8.6; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

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City of Norwalk, CA

ANIMALS

§ 6.28.010

§ 6.28.040