Placer County Municipal Code Art. 6.16 Rabies Prevention

It is the duty of any person having knowledge that any animal capable of transmitting rabies has bitten a human being within Placer County to immediately report the fact to the health department, the director of animal services or the sheriff and to furnish complete information thereof.

(Prior code § 3.74; Ord. 5653-B § 16, 2011)

A. The director of animal services shall ensure that all animals falling into the following categories shall be isolated or quarantined at the place and under the conditions prescribed by the health officer and pertinent state laws and regulations:

1. Known rabid animals;

2. Suspected rabid animals;

3. Animals that have bitten or otherwise potentially exposed a human to rabies;

4. Animals of a species subject to rabies which have been bitten by a known rabid or suspected rabid animal or have been in intimate contact with a rabid or suspected rabid animal.

B. If the place of quarantine designated by the health officer is the owner's residence, then a fee in an amount set forth in Section 2.116.110 shall be charged and collected.

C. It is unlawful for the owner or keeper of an animal to violate any of the conditions of isolation or quarantine prescribed by the health officer.

D. Alternatively, animals falling into the categories listed under subsection A may, depending on the circumstances or the wishes of the owner, be euthanized with the concurrence of, or at the direction of, the health officer. Such animals will be tested for rabies after euthanasia in an approved public health laboratory if this testing is determined to be necessary by the health officer.

(Prior code § 3.100; Ord. 5653-B § 17, 2011; Ord. 5741-B § 10, 2014)

Upon the death of any rabid animal, clinically suspected rabid animal, or animal which has bitten or otherwise exposed a human to rabies, the director of animal services shall obtain and turn over to the health officer the carcass of said animal or an adequate specimen thereof.

(Prior code § 3.102)

A. Every dog over four months of age shall have a medically current vaccination with a canine anti-rabies vaccine approved by the Health Department of the state of California. Such vaccination shall be administered by a veterinarian or as provided through county recognized vaccination clinics.

B. Every person who owns or comes to own an unvaccinated dog shall have 10 days in which to comply with the provisions of this section.

C. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary herein, no dog need be vaccinated for rabies where:

1. A licensed veterinarian has examined said dog and certified at such time that a vaccination would endanger the dog's health because of physiological reasons; and

2. Such certificate is presented to the health officer within five days of such examination; and

3. The health officer concurs in the opinion of the veterinarian, contained in such certificate, and endorses on such certificate his or her approval thereof. Such certificate must bear the date of issuance and must be renewed each year.

D. Every veterinarian, after vaccinating a dog for rabies, shall issue a certificate and furnish one copy of the certificate to the owner of the dog and one copy to the director of animal services or designee. The certificate shall be in the form prescribed by the director of animal services.

(Prior code § 3.104; Ord. 5653-B § 18, 2011)