Palm Desert Municipal Code Ch. 6.16 Biting

A. If it appears to the health officer that any animal has rabies, the health officer may euthanize such animal immediately or may hold such animal for further examination or observation for such time as the health officer may determine to be appropriate.

B. Whenever any animal has been bitten by an animal which has rabies, which exhibits any symptoms of rabies, or which is otherwise suspected of having or having been exposed to rabies, the owner or person having custody of such bitten animal shall immediately notify the health officer, and shall immediately confine the animal and maintain that confinement until it is established to the satisfaction of the health officer that such animal does not have rabies. The health officer shall have the power to quarantine any such animal, or impound it at the owner's expense if the owner or person having custody of such animal fails, refuses, or is unable, in the opinion of the health officer, to adequately confine such animal immediately, or in the event the owner or person having custody of such animal is not readily accessible.

C. Whenever it is shown that any animal has bitten any person, the owner or person having custody of such animal shall, upon the order of the health officer, quarantine such animal and keep it confined at the owner's expense for a minimum period of 10 days for dogs and cats and 14 days for all other animals, and shall allow the health officer to make an inspection or examination of such animal at any time during such period of quarantine. Animals quarantined pursuant to this subsection shall not be removed from the premises upon which such animal is quarantined without permission of the health officer. The health officer is hereby authorized to impound any animal at the owner's expense in the event the owner or person having custody of such animal fails or refuses to so confine such animal. Animals quarantined pursuant to this subsection shall remain under quarantine until notice is given by the health officer that such quarantine is terminated.

D. The health officer may, in their discretion, post or cause to be posted an appropriate sign on any premises where an animal is quarantined pursuant to this title for the purpose of warning the public of the fact of such quarantine. It is unlawful for any person to remove a sign posted pursuant to this subsection without the permission of the health officer.

E. Whenever the health officer shall determine that an epidemic of rabies exists or is threatened, the health officer shall have the authority to take such measures as may be reasonably necessary to prevent the spread of the disease, including, but not limited to, the declaration of quarantine against any or all animals in any area of the city as the health officer may determine and define, for a period of not more than 120 days. An additional or extended quarantine period may also be declared if such additional or extended quarantine period shall be deemed necessary by the health officer for the protection and preservation of the public health, peace and safety. Any quarantine declared pursuant to this subsection, other than as restricted herein, shall be upon such conditions as the health officer may determine and declare.

F. No person shall bring a dog into an incorporated area of the city from any city located in the county of Riverside in which a reported case of rabies exists or has existed within the past six months, nor shall any person bring a dog into the incorporated area of the city from any other county, city, state, or country in which a reported case of rabies exists or has existed within the preceding six months.

G. In order to protect the public health from the hazard of rabies which has been found to exist in skunks, a quarantine is imposed indefinitely until released by the health officer, whereby it is prohibited to trap or capture skunks for pets; to trap, capture, or hold skunks in captivity for any reason; to transport skunks from or into the city except pursuant to a permit issued by the California Department of Public Health Services pursuant to Title 17, California Administrative Code, Section 2606.8.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)

If it appears to the animal control officer or to the health officer that any dog or other animal has rabies, they may euthanize the animal immediately, or hold the animal for further examination for such time as they may consider advisable.

(Ord. 874 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1437, 12/11/2025)