Solano County Municipal Code Art. IX Rabies

4-150 Animals biting persons--quarantine

Whenever it is shown that any dog, cat or other animal capable of being infected or transmitting the rabies virus in accordance with State Code (17 Cal. Code of Regulation, Section 2606) has bitten any person, no owner or persons having custody or possession thereof, upon order of the director or the department of health services, shall fail, refuse or neglect to quarantine such animal. Such animal shall be impounded at the county shelter or an approved kennel for a period of ten days, or at a veterinary hospital for five days. In the event this is a first offense for the animal which possesses a valid rabies certificate, at the option of the rabies control officer, the animal may be quarantined at the owner’s home. In such case, the animal control officer shall leave written quarantine procedure, including a notice to the owner, stating that if the animal is found at large during the quarantine, the animal will be impounded at the county shelter and the owner will be issued a citation. Notwithstanding impoundment fees elsewhere in this chapter, the impoundment fee for a quarantined animal shall be determined by ordinance by the board of supervisors.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-151 Same--reporting facts to animal control division

Whenever any person having charge, care, control, custody or possession of any animal capable of being infected with or transmitting the rabies virus, has knowledge that such animal has bitten any person, the person having charge, care, control, custody or possession of such animal shall report such fact forthwith to the division of animal control. The report shall state the name and address of the person bitten, and the time and place such person was bitten.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-152 Submission of rabies vaccination records by veterinarian

Every licensed veterinarian in the county shall submit, at a frequency to be determined by the animal control director, but not more frequently than every two weeks, a record of the names and addresses of the owners of those dogs and cats to which he or she has administered rabies vaccinations, and a brief description of the animal vaccinated during the immediately preceding reporting period.

(Ord. No. 1207, §1; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-153 Quarantine

(a) The director shall ensure that all animals falling into the following categories shall be isolated or quarantined or destroyed and a rabies specimen taken at the animal shelter or at such other place and under such conditions as are prescribed by the county health officer or authorized according to other applicable state laws and regulations:

(1) Known rabid animals;

(2) Suspected rabid animals;

(3) Animals that have bitten or otherwise exposed a human to rabies; and

(4) Animals of a species subject to rabies which have been bitten by a known rabid or suspected rabid animal or have been intimate contact with a known rabid or suspected rabid animal.

(b) In those circumstances where the bite or exposure to rabies occurred while the victim was on the property of the owner of the animal or when the victim is a member of the family or household of the owner, and when the animal is currently vaccinated against rabies and, as applicable, licensed as required by the provisions of this chapter, and not subject to Article IV of this chapter, the animal may, at the discretion of the director, be quarantined on the property of the owner provided the following are complied with:

(1) The owner of said animal can and does agree to ensure its confinement for the period of quarantine, and

(2) The owner agrees, upon demand of the director during the period of quarantine, to surrender the animal to the director, and

(3) The owner agrees to immediately notify the director if the animal escapes, becomes ill, bites again, or dies.

(c) It is unlawful for the owner or keeper of an animal to violate any of the conditions of isolation or quarantine prescribed by the health officer or director.

(Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-154 Delivery of carcass

Upon the death of any known rabid animal, suspected rabid animal, or animal which has bitten or otherwise exposed a human to rabies, the director shall obtain and hold for the county health officer the carcass of the animal or an adequate specimen thereof.

(Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-155 Epidemics

The health officer may determine and declare that a rabies epidemic or other unusually dangerous health situation exists among dogs, cats, or other animals in the county, or in any part thereof. Upon making of such a declaration, the health officer shall prepare and promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary for the conduct of all persons within the area where the dangerous condition exists, and such rules and regulations as are necessary for the control of animals within the area. These rules and regulations of the health officer may include, but are not limited to, quarantine, vaccination and destruction of diseased or suspected rabid or stray animals, upon adoption by resolution of the board of supervisors. It shall be the duty of the director to comply with all directives of the health officer in the enforcement of such rules and regulations. A violation of any such rules and regulations shall be deemed a violation of this article.

(Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-156 Vaccination

(a) Every dog over four months of age shall have a medically current vaccination with an appropriate anti-rabies vaccine approved by the United States Department of Health Services.

(b) Every cat over four months of age shall have a medically current vaccination with an appropriate anti-rabies vaccine approved by the United States Department of Agriculture.

(c) Every person who owns or comes to own an unvaccinated dog or cat over four months of age shall have fourteen (14) calendar days in which to comply with the provisions of this article.

(d) Every veterinarian, after vaccinating a dog or cat for rabies, shall issue certificate to the owner. The certificate shall include the following information:

(1) The owner’s full name, address, and telephone number;

(2) The breed, age, sex, and color or markings of the animal;

(3) The date of immunization;

(4) The type of vaccine administered;

(5) The name of the vaccine manufacturer;

(6) The lot number of the vaccine used; and

(7) The signature of the veterinarian administering the vaccination or his/her agent.

(e) If a copy of the certificate is on file with the director, the director may provide a duplicate copy, after payment of copying fees, to the owner of any animal.

(f) The owner must maintain the certificate of vaccination, or a copy thereof, and must, upon demand of a public or peace officer acting within the course and scope of employment, display said certificate for examination.

(g) Upon written proof provided by a veterinarian that an animal has a medical condition which would cause it to be endangered by receiving anti-rabies vaccination and upon written acceptance of such proof, the director may exempt the animal from the vaccination requirement herein so long as the animal is confined at all times.

(Ord. No. 1444, §1)