Chapter 6.36 — RABIES CONTROL

It shall be the duty of the poundmaster, and of any police officer of the city to take up all dogs found in the streets, lanes, alleys, parks or other public places, or upon any vacant, unoccupied or unenclosed lots, lands or premises within the corporate limits of the city. When such dog is taken up by a police officer, it shall be delivered by him to the poundmaster. All such dogs shall be impounded in the city pound.

(Ord. 4384 § 3.03(a), 1956)

The chief of police, the officers of the police department, the poundmaster, the deputy poundmaster or any person employed for that purpose by the board of directors shall be, and such person hereby is, authorized and directed to capture any dog or other stray animal, wild or domestic, found within the city not restricted or confined as required by the provision of Section 6.12.010 or by any order of the board of directors made pursuant to Section 6.36.120. Should he be unable to capture a dog or other stray animal, wild or domestic, of vicious and dangerous habits he is authorized to then and there kill and destroy such dog, or other stray animal, wild or domestic.

(Ord. 4661 § 5(b) (part), 1964: Ord. 4384 § 3.03(b), 1956)

A.

Every person except the poundmaster or the deputy poundmaster taking up any stray animal or any such animal which is running at large contrary to the provisions of this title shall within 6 hours thereafter give notice to the poundmaster or the police department, and shall, upon request of the poundmaster, surrender the animal.

B.

The notice shall consist of:

The fact that he has such animal in his possession;

The complete description of such animal;

The license number of such animal, if any, and by what county or municipal corporation issued, or that such animal has no license; and

The place where the animal is confined.

(Ord. 4661 § 5(b) (part), 1964: Ord. 4384 § 3.03(c), 1956)

Vaccination.

Every person keeping, harboring or having a dog four months of age or older in the city shall cause such dog to be initially vaccinated with a type of rabies vaccine approved by the California State Department of Health Services, and shall procure the license required by Chapter 6.16, within 30 days from the date the dog attains the age of four months or is first brought within the city. However, the above provision will not require initial vaccination of any dog brought into the city which has been vaccinated within the time periods set forth below, by a veterinarian licensed by the state or any other state or nation, with a rabies vaccine approved by the California State Department of Health Services for an immunity duration of at least 36 months:

Age of Dog Date of Vaccination

Prior to Time First

Kept Harbored or Brought Into City

Less than 12 months ..... Not more than 12 months

12 months or more ..... Not more than 30 months

Each such dog shall be accompanied by a certificate, issued by a licensed veterinarian, showing that the dog has been vaccinated within one of the above time periods.

(Ord. 6143 § 3 (part), 1986: Ord. 5574 § 7, 1982: Ord. 4661 § 5(b)(part), 1964: Ord. 4425 § 2 (part), 1957: Ord. 4384 § 3.03(d), 1956)

Every person keeping, harboring or having in the city a dog less than 12 months of age which has been initially vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the California State Department of Health Services shall cause such dog to be revaccinated within 12 months after such initial vaccination. Every person keeping, harboring or having a dog which has been vaccinated after receiving its initial vaccination, or which received its initial vaccination when it was 12 months or older, shall cause such dog to be vaccinated at least every 36 months, or earlier if required by Section 6.36.070. All revaccinations must be with a rabies vaccine approved by the California State Department of Health Services.

(Ord. 6143 § 3 (part), 1986: Ord. 5574 § 8, 1982: Ord. 4661 § 5(b) (part), 1964: Ord. 4425 § 2 (part), 1957: Ord. 4384 § 3.03(e), 1956)

Every person keeping, harboring or having in the city any dog required by this title to be vaccinated shall at all times while such dog is thus kept, harbored or had, have in his 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 Sections 6.36.040 and 6.36.050.

(Ord. 4425 § 2 (part), 1957: Ord. 4384 § 3.03(f), 1956)

Every person applying for a dog license shall present to the city license administrator a current valid official vaccination certificate issued by a veterinarian licensed by the state, or by any other state or nation, which shows that the dog has been vaccinated or revaccinated in accordance with Sections 6.36.040 and 6.36.050, and that the period of time elapsing from the date of vaccination or revaccination to the date of expiration of the license being issued does not exceed the maximum immunity duration period prescribed by the California State Department of Health Services for that specific type vaccine. However, the above provision will not require revaccination of a dog sooner than 12 months after initial vaccination of such dog, or sooner than 24 months following a vaccination if such dog was more than 12 months of age at the time of such vaccination.

No city dog license shall be issued until such vaccination certificate is presented, except where the person applying for the dog license presents an exemption certificate, issued in conformance with the requirements of the California State Department of Health Services and signed by a licensed veterinarian, certifying that for a specified period vaccination would not be the proper practice of veterinary medicine due to illness, age, infirmity or disability of the dog in question. Exemption certificates must be approved by the city health officer.

(Ord. 6143 § 4 (part), 1986: Ord. 4661 § 5(c), 1964: Ord. 4431 § 1, 1957: Ord. 4425 § 2 (part), 1957: Ord. 4384 § 3.03(g), 1956)

Officers or persons capturing dogs under the provisions of Sections 6.36.020 and 6.36.030 shall separately confine such dogs captured by them in some safe place, and shall report the capture to the health officer or his deputies and shall submit such dog to the examination of the health officer or his deputies, and it shall be the duty of the health officer, when called upon, to examine or have examined such dog, and to ascertain whether or not such dog is affected with rabies. Dogs captured under said sections shall not be killed, but shall be kept in confinement until the health officer or his deputies shall find that further observation of the animal is not necessary for the determination of the presence of rabies, or absence of rabies.

(Ord. 4425 § 2 (part), 1957: Ord. 4384 § 3.03(i), 1956)

It shall be unlawful for any person having knowledge of the whereabouts of an animal known to have or suspected of having rabies or having shown symptoms of rabies to fail, refuse or neglect to immediately notify the health officer or his deputies, or to fail, refuse or neglect to allow the health officer or his deputies to make an inspection or examination of such animal until it shall be established to the satisfaction of said official that such animal has or has not rabies. The health officer or his deputies 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.

(Ord. 4425 § 2 (part), 1957; Ord. 4384 § 3.03(j), 1956)

Whenever it is shown that any dog or other animal has bitten any person, no owner or person having the custody or possession thereof, upon order of the health officer, shall fail, refuse or neglect to quarantine the animal and keep it securely

confined on a chain or in a closed cage or paddock for a period of 14 days (dogs and cats, 10 days), or shall fail, refuse or neglect to allow the health officer or his deputies to make an inspection or examination thereof at any time during said period. No such dog or animal shall be removed without written permission of the health officer or his deputies.

(Ord. 5574 § 9, 1982: Ord. 4425 § 2 (part), 1957; Ord. 4384 § 3.03(k), 1956)

Whenever any animal is ordered isolated as provided in Section 6.36.110 the premises of confinement shall be placarded. The placard shall state the authority for isolation and date and location of isolation. It is unlawful for any person to obscure, deface or remove the placard without written permission of the health officer or his deputies.

(Ord. 4425 § 2 (part), 1957; Ord. 4384 § 3.03(1), 1956)

If it is established to the satisfaction of the health officer or his deputies that any dog or other animal has rabies, the health officer shall cause such dog or other animal to be humanely killed forthwith.

(Ord. 4425 § 2 (part), 1957; Ord. 4384 § 3.03(m), 1956)

Whenever any animal shall be bitten by a known rabid animal or has been in intimate contact therewith, no owner or person having the custody or possession of the animal so bitten, upon being informed thereof, shall fail, refuse or neglect to either kill such animal or isolate it, as provided in Section 6.36.110, for a period of 6 months. The health officer or his deputies shall have power, in his discretion, to kill or quarantine the animal so bitten in case the owner or person having custody or possession thereof fails to do so immediately, or in case the owner or person having custody or possession thereof is not readily accessible.

(Ord. 4425 § 2 (part), 1957; Ord. 4384 § 3.03(n),1956)

For the period during and for 6 months after the presence of rabies in the city, it is unlawful for any person to take any dog or permit any dog to go from the city to any city or county in which rabies does not exist, or has not been known to exist within the preceding 6 months' period, without permission of the health officer.

(Ord. 4425 § 2 (part), 1957; Ord. 4384 § 3.03(o), 1956)

Whenever any person having charge, care, control, custody or possession of any dog has knowledge that such dog has bitten any person, the person having charge, care, control, custody or possession of such dog shall report said fact in writing forthwith to the health officer or his deputies. The report shall state the name and address of the person bitten and the time and place such person was bitten.

(Ord. 4425 § 2 (part), 1957; Ord. 4384 § 3.03(q), 1956)

During such time as Los Angeles County is declared to be a rabies area under the state law, the provisions of Title 17 of the California Administrative Code shall supersede contrary provisions of this title.

(Ord. 4661 § 8(e), 1964: Ord. 4384 § 3.03(r), 1956)