Shafter Municipal Code Ch. 6.36 Rabies Quarantine and Procedures

To establish guidelines for the quarantine of all animal species subject to rabies, involved in the transmission of animal saliva making contact with human blood or any animal of a species subject to rabies which has been bitten by a known rabid or suspected rabid animal or has been in intimate contact with a rabid or suspected rabid animal.

(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)

"Quarantine" is defined as the limitation of freedom of movement of animals that have been exposed to communicable disease for a period of time equal to the longest usual incubation period of the disease in such manner as to prevent effective contact with those not so exposed. Dogs and cats are to be quarantined for a minimum of ten days and other animals are to be quarantined for a minimum of fourteen days, after the day of the infliction of the bite.

(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)

Any person having knowledge of the whereabouts of an animal known to have or suspected of having rabies shall report the facts immediately to the animal control officer, police officer, other authorized personnel or Shafter police department. The animal control officer, police officer, other authorized personnel or the Shafter police department will also be notified of any person or animal bitten by a rabid or suspected rabid animal.

(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)

The quarantine may be conducted at the home of the owner of the animal, at a licensed veterinary clinic, or at the Shafter animal shelter. The animal will be kept securely confined while under observation. Dogs or cats that have bitten a person and are not vaccinated for rabies shall be quarantined at the Shafter animal shelter and the owner shall be liable for the board and care fees. If it is deemed by the animal control officer, police officer, other authorized personnel or the Shafter police department that an animal, that has been vaccinated for rabies, cannot be properly quarantined on the premises of the owner, authorization to quarantine on the premise may be revoked at any time during the quarantine period. The owner will be liable for all fees incurred as a result of the impoundment. Quarantining an animal on the premise of the owner is solely at the discretion of the animal control officer, police officer, other authorized personnel or the Shafter police department, and in no way indicates that a future quarantine will be conducted in the same manner.

(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)

A. The animal may not be removed from the quarantined premises for any reason, without prior written permission from the animal control officer, police officer, other authorized personnel or the Shafter police department.

B. The animal may not be taken for walks or rides.

C. The animal must be under control of a responsible adult at all times.

D. The animal must not be permitted to come into contact with any other animals or humans, other than your immediate household. Note: All animals in the household will be quarantined and subject to the same requirements.

E. The animal must be confined under restraint on the owner's premise and may be allowed outside only if the owners' fence is sufficiently secure to prevent the animal from jumping, digging, or otherwise escaping. The owner must not allow other animals' access to their property where they could come into contact with the quarantined animal including cats, wild animals, etc.

F. The animal cannot be in any open or unfenced area.

G. The animal must be available for inspection or examination by authorized personnel at any time during the quarantine period.

H. The animal shall remain quarantined until released by the Shafter animal control officer, police officer, other authorized personnel.

I. If the quarantined animal becomes sick or dies, it is the owner's responsibility to notify the Shafter police department immediately. If the animal dies, do not dispose of the body. Instead, contact Shafter police department who will arrange for the pick up and transport of the animal to the health department for rabies analysis.

(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)

Any animal of a species subject to rabies which has been bitten by a known rabid or suspected rabid animal or has been in intimate contact with a rabid or suspected rabid animal shall be quarantined in a place and manner approved by the animal control officer, police officer, other authorized personnel, for a period of six months or destroyed, with the exception that the following alternatives are permitted in the case of dogs and cats as follows:

A. If a dog or cat over one year of age has been vaccinated against rabies within thirty-six months but not less than thirty days with a rabies vaccine of a type approved by the AVMA and quarantined in a place and manner approved by the animal control officer, police officer, other authorized personnel for a maximum immunity of thirty-six months, the dog may be revaccinated immediately (within forty-eight hours) and quarantined in a place and manner approved by the animal control officer, police officer, other authorized personnel for a period of thirty days following revaccination.

B. If a dog or cat under one year of age has been vaccinated against rabies within twelve months but not less than thirty days with a rabies vaccine of a type approved by the AVMA, the dog or cat may be revaccinated immediately (within forty-eight hours) in a manner prescribed by the animal control officer, police officer, other authorized personnel and quarantined in a place and a manner approved by the animal control officer, police officer, other authorized personnel for a period of thirty days.

(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)

Any person who, after notice, violates any order of the animal control officer, police officer, other authorized personnel concerning the isolation or quarantine of an animal of a species subject to rabies, that has bitten or otherwise exposed a person to rabies or who, after that order, fails to produce the animal upon demand of the animal control officer, police officer, other authorized personnel, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)

Any person who wilfully conceals information about the location or ownership of an animal subject to rabies that has bitten or otherwise exposed a person to rabies, with the intent to prevent the quarantine or isolation of that animal by the animal control officer, police officer, or other authorized personnel is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)