Ridgecrest Municipal Code § 3-79 Reports of dog biting

Whenever the owner or person having the care, custody, or control of an animal shall observe or learn that such animal shows symptoms of rabies, or acts in a manner which would lead to a reasonable suspicion that it may have rabies, such owner or person having the custody or possession of such animal shall immediately notify the health officer. The health officer shall cause an inspection or examination of such animal to be made by a licensed veterinarian until the existence or nonexistence of rabies in such animal is established to the satisfaction of such veterinarian.

(Code 1980, § 5-7.1; Ord. No. 85, § 28)

Any person owning or having the care, custody, or control of any dog that bites any person and any person bitten by such dog may report the same to the health officer. The animal control officer shall also be notified and he shall place said dog under regulation and quarantine under direction of the health officer for such time as may be required by state law or the rules and regulations of the state department of public health. Said regulation or quarantine may be had at the home of the owner or possessor of said dog or at such other place as may be designated by the health officer, and said dog shall be kept securely enclosed and under strict observation.

(Code 1980, § 5-7.2; Ord. No. 85, § 29)

Whenever any animal shall be bitten by another animal suspected of having rabies, the owner or person having the custody or possession of the animal so bitten shall, upon being informed thereof, notify the health officer and either kill such animal or quarantine it and keep it confined or tied up for such time as may be required by state law or the rules and regulations of the state department of public health; and the health officer shall have power, in his discretion, to quarantine the animal so bitten in case the owner or person having custody or possession thereof shall fail to do so immediately or in case he is not readily accessible.

(Code 1980, § 5-7.3; Ord. No. 85, § 30)

If it shall appear to the health officer from the report of a licensed veterinarian that an animal is afflicted with rabies, he shall kill and destroy such animal forthwith and/or shall take such other action as in his discretion he deems necessary to prevent the spread of such disease.

(Code 1980, § 5-7.4; Ord. No. 85, § 31)