Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 7-26 Examination and destruction of rabid animals

(a) Dogs and cats, as well as other domestic mammals (excluding rodents and rabbits) involved in a bite to a human that breaks the skin are considered under state law to be rabies suspect.

(b) Consistent with state law, animals considered to be rabies suspect are required to be placed in quarantine, defined as strict confinement upon the private premises of the owner, or at a veterinary facility or animal shelter facility, in a closed cage, or paddock, isolated for a specified time.

(c) The rabies suspect animal will remain in quarantine until released by an animal services employee or a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state of California.

(Ord. No. 4948, 11-17-2015)

The county may direct the owner or custodian of any animal which is determined by the county to have bitten any person or other animal to comply with one of the following procedures if so required by the county:

(a) Quarantine the biting animal on the premises of the owner or custodian of such animal for a period of time determined by the county.

(b) Surrender the biting animal to the county for quarantine and impoundment for the period of time determined by the county.

(c) Surrender the animal to a licensed veterinarian for quarantine for the period of time determined by the county.

It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of a biting animal to fail to comply with the county's requirements set forth in this section.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or by state law, if the animal quarantined is determined not to be infected with rabies at the end of the period of isolation, it shall be released to the owner or custodian of the animal upon the payment of any fee, charge or penalty including any fee for veterinary services. If such fee, charge or penalty is not paid within five days after notification by the county such animal may be adopted, transferred or humanely euthanized.

(Ord. No. 4948, 11-17-2015)

It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to immediately notify the county health officer or designee of the observation or knowledge of any animal which shows symptoms of rabies or which acts in a manner which would lead a reasonable person to believe that the animal may have rabies.

(Ord. No. 4948, 11-17-2015)

The county shall investigate any report of any animal which shows symptoms of rabies or acts in a manner which would lead a reasonable person to believe that the animal may have rabies. Upon determination by the county health officer or designee that an animal may be infected with rabies, the owner or custodian of such animal shall be required by the county to comply with one of the following procedures:

(a) Surrender the animal to the county for quarantine and impoundment for the period of time determined by the county; or

(b) Surrender the animal to a licensed veterinarian for quarantine for the period of time determined by the county.

It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of an animal which may be infected with rabies to fail to comply with the county's requirements set forth in this section.

If the animal quarantined is determined not to be infected with rabies at the end of the period of quarantine, it shall be released to the owner or custodian of the animal upon the payment of any fee, charge or penalty including any fee for veterinary services. If such fee, charge or penalty is not paid within five days after notification by the county, such animal may be adopted, transferred or humanely euthanized.

(Ord. No. 4948, 11-17-2015)

The county shall cause any animal quarantined to be examined by the county health officer or designee. If the animal is determined to be possibly infected with rabies, the county health officer shall order in writing that the animal be humanely euthanized and tested for rabies. A copy of this order shall be given to the owner or custodian of the animal.

(Ord. No. 4948, 11-17-2015)