Riverside Municipal Code Ch. 8.16 Rabies Control

Every person keeping, maintaining or having custody or control of a dog over the age of four months in the City shall cause said dog to be vaccinated with a type of canine rabies vaccine approved by the California Department of Health within a period of 30 days from the date such dog was first maintained, kept or had within the City, or within 30 days from the date the dog attains the age of four months.

(Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

Every person keeping, harboring, or having a dog in the City, which dog has been vaccinated shall cause such dog to be revaccinated before the expiration of the period of immunity accepted by the California Department of Health for that type of canine rabies vaccine with which the dog was vaccinated.

(Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

Every person keeping, harboring, or maintaining in the City any dog required by the provisions of this chapter to be vaccinated shall at all times, while such dog is kept, harbored or maintained, have in his possession a certificate issued by a duly licensed veterinary surgeon, which certificate shall specify that such dog has been vaccinated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Said certificate shall include the name, address and telephone number of the dog's owner; the name of the dog; a description of the dog, including breed, color, distinctive markings, and sex; date of immunization; the type of rabies vaccine administered; the name of the manufacturer; and the lot number of the vaccine used. Such certificates shall bear the signature of the veterinarian administering the vaccine or a signature authorized by him, and in addition such certificate shall be stamped, printed or typed with his name, address and telephone number for legibility.

(Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

Whenever any dog or other animal has been bitten by an animal infected with or reasonably suspected of being infected with rabies, the owner of the animal so bitten shall immediately restrain or confine such animal in such a way as to make it impossible for such animal to bite any other animal or person and to forthwith notify the City Animal Control Director or his/her designee. The City health officer or Animal Control Director or his/her designee shall have the power to quarantine any animal so bitten or suspected of having been bitten by a rabid animal for such period of time as he may determine not to exceed six months.

(Ord. 7362 §1, 2017; Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

Whenever any dog or other animal has bitten, scratched, or otherwise exposed any person or animal to the possible infection of rabies, the owner shall, upon order of the City health officer, any peace officer, or Animal Control Director or his/her designee, quarantine such animal and keep it tied up or securely confined for a period of not to exceed 15 days, during which period of time it shall be the duty of the City health officer or Animal Control Director or his/her designee to make an examination of such animal.

(Ord. 7362 §1, 2017; Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

Whenever the owner of an animal observes or learns that such animal shows symptoms of rabies or acts in a manner which reasonably indicates that it may be infected with rabies, such owner shall forthwith isolate and restrain such animal and shall immediately notify the Animal Control Director or his/her designee thereof.

(Ord. 7362 §1, 2017; Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

If it appears to the City health officer or City Animal Control Director or his/her designee or his representative upon examination or otherwise of a dog or other animal that such animal has rabies, he may forthwith kill and destroy such dog or other animal.

(Ord. 7362 §1, 2017; Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

Upon the receipt by the Animal Control Director or his/her designee of any dog or other animal, if the Animal Control Director or his/her designee would have reason to believe that the same is afflicted with rabies or hydrophobia or has been bitten by any animal afflicted with or suspected of being afflicted with rabies or hydrophobia, the Animal Control Director or his/her designee shall separately confine and keep so confined such animal. If upon an examination, the Animal Control Director or his/her designee determines that such dog or other animal is afflicted with rabies, he shall kill such animal at such time. It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Director or his/her designee to keep every such animal suspected of having rabies or hydrophobia so confined for such time as he deems necessary and such animal shall not be redeemed or released except upon an order in writing signed by the Animal Control Director or his/her designee. Nothing in this title shall be construed as permitting the redemption of any dog having or suspected of having been infected with rabies or hydrophobia.

(Ord. 7362 §1, 2017; Ord. 4112 § 1 (part) 1974)

No person shall bring an unvaccinated dog into the City from another city or town or other place in or outside of the County in which rabies exists or has existed within six months previously, nor shall any person take an unvaccinated dog or permit or encourage an unvaccinated dog to go from the City, at a time when rabies exists therein or has existed therein within six months previously, to any other city or town or other place in or outside of the County in which rabies does not exist or has not been known to be present within six months.

(Ord. 4112 § 1 (part), 1974)

A. Any veterinarian who administers a rabies vaccination or supervises the administering of a rabies vaccination shall provide to the City of Riverside Public Works Director, or his or her designee, the following information:

1. The full name and residence address of the owner of all of vaccinated dogs;

2. The name, age, sex, species, breed and color of all dogs that have been vaccinated;

3. The date the vaccination was administered;

4. The type of vaccination used and the vaccine's expiration date;

5. The name of the veterinary clinic and veterinary license number of the veterinarian administering or supervising the vaccination;

6. Alternatively, a photocopy or other facsimile of the certificate required by Section 8.16.030 may be provided to the City.

B. Any such information requested in subsection A shall be sent to the City of Riverside Public Works Director at 3900 Main Street, Riverside, California, 92522, or his/her designee, within 30 days of the administering of the rabies vaccination. The information requested may be transmitted in the form of a paper copy or in an electronic format approved by the City of Riverside.

C. The information provided to the City of Riverside in subsection A shall be considered confidential and shall not be used, released or distributed for any purpose except to ensure compliance with existing federal, state, county, or city laws or regulations, as set forth in California Health and Safety Code Section 121690.

D. Any veterinarian or person under this chapter who fails to provide the information requested may be subject to all lawful legal remedies to enforce this chapter, including but not limited to those set forth in Chapter 1.17 of this Code.

(Ord. 6973 §§ 1, 2, 2008)