San Bernardino County Municipal Code Ch. 2 Rabies (biting and Bitten Animals: Vaccination and Licensing)

It shall be the duty of any person having knowledge that any animal subject to rabies, whether or not the animal is suspected of having rabies, has bitten any human being within the unincorporated areas of the County to immediately report that fact to the Health Officer or to the Sheriff with full information in regard to the incident.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972)

Upon receipt of a report that a person has been bitten by an animal subject to rabies (all warm-blooded mammals), any person authorized to enforce the provisions of this Chapter, is hereby empowered to enter upon any private property, including the home or residence where the biting animal is kept or has strayed, to inspect and strictly isolate, and to seize and impound if necessary, in a place and manner approved by the County Health Officer, any such animal for a period of ten days (for dogs and cats) and 14 days (for other animals). Excepted are rodents, (members of the order Rodentia) rabbits and hares (members of the order Lagomorpha).

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Health Officer may authorize, with permission of the owner, if known, and other legal restrictions permitting, the euthanasia of a biting animal for the purpose of laboratory examination for rabies using the fluorescent rabies antibody (FRA) test in the County Health Department Laboratory.

It shall be unlawful for any person to remove from any place of isolation or quarantine, any animal which has been isolated or quarantined under the provisions of this Chapter, without the consent of the Health Officer.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972)

It is the duty of any person having knowledge of the whereabouts of an animal known to have or suspected of having rabies to report the fact immediately to the Health Officer. If such person is the owner or possessor or has custody of such animal, he or she shall immediately confine it and keep said animal strictly confined until it shall be established to the satisfaction of said official that such animal has or has not rabies.

Where such owner or possessor does not have the proper facility for such confinement, or where the owner of such rabid or suspected rabid animal is not known, such animal shall be isolated in strict confinement under proper care and under the observation of a licensed veterinarian in a pound, veterinary hospital, or other adequate facility in a manner approved by the County Health Officer, and shall not be killed or released for at least ten days after the onset of symptoms suggestive of rabies. If such animal creates a menace to the public health and safety, the Health Officer or his or her representative may kill or destroy the animal forthwith and examine it for rabies in the laboratory using the fluorescent rabies antibody (FRA) test in the County Health Department Laboratory.

Whenever any such owned biting animal is quarantined in a place other than the premises of its owner, all expenses incurred in its confinement shall be the liability of the owner, possessor or custodian of such biting animal.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972)

Any animal that is subject to rabies which has been exposed to a known rabid animal or suspected rabid animal shall, upon notification of its owner, possessor or custodian, be:

(a) Immediately securely confined in a place and manner approved by the Health Officer for a period of six months; or

(b) Immediately destroyed unless the biting animal is determined by laboratory examination to be negative from rabies; except that in the case of dogs and cats, the following alternative is permitted:

(1) The dog or cat shall be revaccinated and then quarantined for a period of 30 days provided such dog or cat bas been vaccinated not less than 30 days, with a rabies vaccine approved by the California State Department of Public Health.

The Health Officer may, in his or her discretion, kill or quarantine the animal so bitten, in case the owner, possessor or custodian, thereof shall fail to do so immediately, or in case the owner, possessor or custodian thereof is not readily accessible or is not known.

The carcass of any dead animal exposed to rabies will, upon demand, be surrendered to the Health Officer. Upon the discretion of the Health Officer, the County Health Laboratory shall examine for rabies specimens of high-risk or medium-risk animals involved in a biting incident. Specimens of low-risk animals may be examined upon payment of reasonable laboratory fees.

(Am. Ord. 1512, passed - -1969; Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972; Am. Ord. 2354, passed - -1979)

It shall be the duty of any person authorized to enforce the provisions of this Chapter to post an appropriate sign in a conspicuous place at a location where a dog or cat or any biting, vicious or rabid animal is being quarantined or confined to warn the public of this fact. It shall be unlawful for anyone to obstruct the posting of such a sign or to remove or destroy such a posted sign without permission of the Health Officer.

(Am. Ord. 1512, passed - -1969; Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972)

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to (a) trap or capture skunks for pets; (b) trap, capture or hold skunks in captivity for sale, barter, exchange or gift; and (c) transport skunks from or into the County, except that the importation or exportation of skunks may be permitted by the Health Officer for recognized zoological gardens or research institutions.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972)

It shall be unlawful for any person within the County of San Bernardino, outside municipal corporations, to own, have an interest in, harbor and feed, or have the care, charge, custody, or possession of a dog over the age of four months, whether such dog is confined or not, unless such dog has a current vaccination with the rabies vaccine approved by the California State Department of Public Health and is officially tagged as provided for in this Chapter. The vaccine shall be used exclusively to vaccinate all dogs within the County of San Bernardino. Vaccination with said vaccine shall be valid for a period not to exceed one year when administered to a dog under one year of age, or three years when administered to a dog over one year of age.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972; Am. Ord. 3402, passed - -1990)

(a) Said rabies vaccination shall be performed only by a veterinarian who is duly licensed to practice in the State of California. Vaccination for rabies may be done in any veterinary clinic or hospital or in a low-cost rabies vaccination clinic sponsored by the County or any incorporated city.

(b) A licensed veterinarian in the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health's jurisdiction who vaccinates an animal against rabies must immediately issue a certificate of vaccination signed by the veterinarian to the owner or custodian of the animal, stating:

(1) The name and address of the owner or custodian of the vaccinated animal;

(2) The type of vaccine used, the name of the manufacturer, the manufacturer's serial or lot number, and the date of the vaccination; and

(3) The breed, age, color, and sex of the vaccinated animal.

(c) A duplicate certificate of vaccination must be submitted to the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health via mail, electronic transmission, or personal delivery on the 10th of each month, for any animal so vaccinated during the previous month. Electronic transmission is preferred.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972; Am. Ord. 4473, passed - -2024)

(a) Every resident in the unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County who owns, has an interest in, harbors and feeds, or has the care, charge, custody, or possession of a dog four months of age or over, and whether such dog is confined or not, shall obtain a San Bernardino County dog license for such a dog. Each dog shall have a current rabies vaccination as evidenced by a valid rabies certificate issued by the veterinarian who performed the vaccination as a requisite to licensing. Provided further that rabies vaccination certificate shall not be required if the license is obtained at the time the dog is vaccinated at a County or City low-cost clinic.

(b) While a dog is being used as a guard dog within the unincorporated area of San Bernardino County, it must have a San Bernardino County dog license and the license tag must be securely fixed to the dog’s collar regardless of where the owner resides and whether a license has been obtained for that jurisdiction.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972; Am. Ord. 2354, passed - -1979)

Each application for a license shall be in writing upon a form to be furnished by the Health Officer, and shall contain such information as the Health Officer, by rule or regulation, shall require.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972)

Each application for a dog license shall be accompanied by a license fee as specified in the County Fee Schedule, and shall be obtained;

(a) Within a period of 30 days after expiration of a San Bernardino County dog license;

(b) Within 30 days after said dog attains the age of four months;

(c) Within 15 days after the purchase or obtaining control, care or custody of a dog which previously attained the age of four months, and provide further the proof of recent acquisition as indicated by the date of purchase receipt as shown at the time of application; or

(d) Within 30 days after the date of establishing residency in the County provided further that said dog had a current license from another county or a city, and within 15 days if said dog has no current license.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972; Am. Ord. 1795, passed - -1973; Am. Ord. 2000, passed - -1975; Am. Ord. 3208, passed - -1988; Am. Ord. 3402, passed - -1990)

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Chapter, a dog may be exempted from rabies vaccination if such vaccination would jeopardize the health of such dog due to infirmity or other disability provided the owner has in his possession a written certification from a licensed veterinarian attesting to such infirmity or disability. The owner or custodian of such dog shall, within ten days after the termination of such infirmity or disability, cause such dog to be vaccinated and licensed. Any such dog with infirmity or disability shall be securely confined within its owner’s or harborer’s premises so that it does not come in contact with any other animal or person.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972)

Any person who obtains a license not in conformity with any of the provisions of § 32.0211 shall pay a penalty fee as specified in the County Fee Schedule in addition to the regular license fee.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972)

The San Bernardino County dog license shall remain valid for a period not less than one month and not greater than 36 months.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972; Am. Ord. 3402, passed - -1990)

When the original license tag is lost, a duplicate tag shall be obtained upon submission to the Health Officer such proof as he or she may require. The cost of each duplicate tag shall be as specified in the County Fee Schedule.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972)

It shall be the responsibility of every County resident who owns, harbors, cares for, or has in custody a licensed dog, to securely attach or fasten the license tag to the dog’s collar or harness so that such tag is worn by the dog at all times except while such dog remains indoors or in any enclosed yard or pen where the dog cannot escape.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972)

It shall be unlawful for any person to place upon or attach to a dog any false, counterfeit or unauthorized tag for the purpose of evading the provisions of this Chapter.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972)

It shall be unlawful to attach a license tag on a dog to which said tag was not originally issued.

It shall be unlawful to attach a license tag to any dog that does not have a current rabies vaccination.

It shall be unlawful for an unauthorized person to remove from any dog, any collar or harness or other device to which is attached a San Bernardino County license tag for the current year or remove such tag therefrom.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972)

(a) The Health Officer may, upon his or her discretion, issue a license without payment of the required license fee to an owner or custodian of a dog, if such dog meets the following conditions:

(1) Such dog is a guide dog and the owner is blind or deaf and can submit proof that such dog has been successfully trained to lead the blind or aid the deaf as a guide dog.

(2) Such dog is a service dog and the owner is handicapped and can submit proof that such dog has been successfully trained to aid the handicapped as a service dog.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972; Am. Ord. 3402, passed - -1990)

San Bernardino County license is not required for the following categories of dogs, however, they must have a current rabies vaccination:

(a) Any dog within the unincorporated areas of the County when the owner thereof resides in any municipality within the County, and such dog is wearing or has attached to it a license tag for the current year issued by such municipality.

(b) Any dog owned by or in the charge of any person who is a nonresident of the County and is traveling through the County or temporarily sojourning therein for a period of not exceeding 30 days.

(c) Any dog brought into the County and kept therein for a period not exceeding 30 days for the exclusive purpose of entering the same in any bench show or dog exhibition or field trials or competition.

(d) Any dog brought or sent into the unincorporated territory of the County from any point outside thereof for the exclusive purpose of receiving veterinary care in any dog hospital, in the event that such dog is kept at all times strictly confined within such hospital.

(e) Dogs kept for the sole purpose of being used for research in research institutions approved by the California State Department of Public Health.

(f) Dogs over four months of age which are offered for sale in a duly licensed pet shop or dog kennel. However, all Pit Bulls (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any mixed breed of a dog which contains, as an element of its breeding, any of these breeds so as to be identifiable as partially of the breeds listed herein), used for breeding and housed, harbored, or otherwise kept in a licensed dog kennel, must be licensed pursuant to § 32.0209.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed --1972; Am. Ord. 4114, passed - -2010)

If a currently licensed dog is sold or title to the dog is otherwise transferred to a new owner, such new owner may apply to the Health Officer for a transfer of such dog’s tag and license and pay a transfer fee as specified in the County Fee Schedule. Upon receipt of such application fee, the Health Officer shall issue a certificate of transfer of such tag and the name and addresses of the owner and new owners.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972; Am. Ord. 3402, passed - -1990)

Each San Bernardino County dog license shall expire on the date recorded on the license receipt and shall be renewed:

(a) Prior to expiration or within a period of 30 days after expiration.

(b) Within 120 days after license expiration, or 30 days after expiration of the vaccination, whichever date is later if rabies vaccination expires during the period of July 1, 1990, through October 31, 1990.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972; Am. Ord. 3402, passed - -1990)

The Health Officer shall have the authority to enter upon any area or premises to enforce the provisions of this Chapter.

(Am. Ord. 1764, passed - -1972)