Article 4 — Rabies Control

Every person owning, harboring, or keeping any dog shall, within 30 days after such dog attains the age of four months, cause it to be vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian with a vaccine of a type approved by the State Department of Health as being suitable for use. Every person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor/infraction. An Animal Control Officer, as defined in Section 5-4.102, may issue an administrative citation assessing a civil penalty to that person in accordance with, and the person shall be subject to the administrative enforcement set forth in, Chapter 1-6 of the Municipal Code.

In order to ensure compliance with State law requiring rabies vaccination, all licensed veterinarians shall each month provide the Division, on paper or in an electronic form approved for use by the Director, the following information for each rabies vaccination that the veterinarian administers, or which is administered under the supervision of the veterinarian, to a dog that is required to be vaccinated under this section in the preceding month:

• (a) The name, residence address, telephone number and, if known, email address of the animal's owner;

• (b) The name, age, sex (including spay/neuter status), species, breed, color and, if known, microchip number of the animal;

• (c) The date on which the vaccination was administered, and the duration of the protection provided by the vaccination;

• (d) The type of vaccination used and its corresponding lot number; and

• (e) The name and license number of the veterinarian administering the vaccination and the name of the veterinary clinic/hospital at which the vaccination was administered.

• (§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

The Director shall provide facilities or clinics for rabies vaccinations of dogs or shall arrange for such vaccinations at clinics operated by private veterinary groups or associations. No charge in excess of the actual cost therefor shall be made for vaccinations at such facilities or clinics.

The vaccinations required by the provisions of this chapter may be obtained either at such facilities or clinics or from a licensed veterinarian of the owner's choice. Failure to display a valid vaccination certificate upon reasonable demand by the Director is prima facie evidence of non-vaccination.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

The Director shall take up and place in isolation any dog, licensed or not, which, in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian or the County Health Officer, displays symptoms suggestive of rabies. Such isolation shall be at an animal shelter unless the owner of such dog, with the approval of the County Health Officer, arranges with a licensed veterinarian for such isolation in a private

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City of Ojai, CA

SANITATION AND HEALTH

§ 5-4.403

§ 5-4.407

animal hospital or clinic. Any dog placed in such isolation shall be kept strictly confined and under such observation as may be required by the County Health Officer. Such isolation shall continue for at least 14 days from the date the symptoms suggestive of rabies were first observed. Such isolation may be continued for a period longer than 14 days if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the County Health Officer, such longer period is necessary. At the expiration of such 14 days, or longer period, any dog confined at an animal shelter shall be released upon the payment of the fees required by Section 5-4.408 of this article if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the County Health Officer, such dog does not have rabies. (§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

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

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

It shall be the duty of every physician, or other person, to report to the County Health Officer the name and address of any person treated for a bite inflicted by any animal, together with such other information as will be helpful in rabies control.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the Director shall take up, impound, and isolate for 14 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 5-4.403 of this article for the isolation of dogs suspected of having rabies.

Any person who is 18 years of age or older may, however, make a written request to the Director 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 Director, 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. The Director shall post such private premises, in a conspicuous place thereon, with a notice that an animal is being confined thereon to be observed for rabies.

Upon the termination of the isolation period, animals isolated in an animal shelter shall be released upon the payment of the fees required by the provisions of Section 5-4.408 of this article if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the County Health Officer, the animal does not have rabies, and animals isolated upon private property shall be released from such isolation if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the County Health Officer, the animal does not have rabies.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

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City of Ojai, CA § 5-4.407

OJAI CODE

§ 5-4.408

It shall be unlawful for any person who has obtained approval for the keeping of a biting animal confined and isolated upon his or her private premises, as provided in Section 5-4.406 of this article, to fail for any reason to keep such animal continuously confined and isolated upon his or her premises, either indoors or inside some enclosure, for a period of 14 days after the day such written request is presented to the Director. Any such animal, whether licensed or unlicensed, not continuously confined and isolated as required by this article shall be taken up forthwith by the Director and isolated as provided in Section 5-4.403 of this article.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by Part 3, Ord. 508, eff. July 24, 1975, and § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

Any dog isolated at the animal shelter, as provided in Sections 5-4.403, 5-4.406, and 5-4.407 of this article, and found not to have rabies may be redeemed by the owner by paying to the Director all applicable fees and by obtaining any necessary license tag.

Any cat or smaller animal may be redeemed in a similar manner. 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 5-4.302 of Article 3 of this chapter.

(§ 2, Ord. 422, eff. April 23, 1971, as amended by § 4, Ord. 933, eff. September 23, 2022)

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City of Ojai, CA

SANITATION AND HEALTH

§ 5-4.501

§ 5-4.505