South Pasadena Municipal Code Div. 2 Rabid Dogs

• As to vaccination requirements for dogs, see § 5.41 of this Code.

Whenever any person shall observe or learn that a dog has shown symptoms of rabies or has acted in a manner which would lead a reasonable man to suspect that it might have rabies, he shall immediately notify the police department or health officer of such fact, and shall permit the police or health officer to examine such dog at any and all times. (Ord. No. 896, § 10; Ord. No. 1338, § 12.)

The police or health officer shall forthwith quarantine any dog suspected of rabies on the premises of the owner or order its removal to a safe place of detention selected by the health officer at the expense of the owner of the dog, until it is established to the satisfaction of the police or health officer that such dog has or has not rabies. No dog or other animal so quarantined shall immediately be killed, but shall be kept in quarantine until the police or health officer finds that further observation of the animal is not necessary for the determination of the presence or absence of rabies. (Ord. No. 896, § 10; Ord. No. 1338, § 12.)

It shall be the duty of all veterinarians and kennel operators to hold any dog in quarantine at the place where such veterinarian or kennel operator is treating or boarding a dog indicating symptoms of rabies, until the disposition of same is ordered by the health

officer. (Ord. No. 896 § 10.)

It shall be the duty of any person, veterinarian or kennel operator to surrender the carcass of any dog suspected of rabies, or such portion of the carcass as may be demanded, to the health officer after the death of such dog. (Ord. No. 896, § 10.)

Whenever any animal shall be bitten by a known rabid animal or has been in intimate contact therewith, no owner or person having the custody or possession of the animal so bitten, upon being informed thereof, shall fail, refuse or neglect to either forthwith kill such animal or quarantine it, as provided in section 5.55 hereof, for a period of six months. Any police or health officer is hereby given the authority, in his discretion, to kill or quarantine the animal so bitten in case the owner or person having custody or possession thereof shall fail to do so immediately, or in case the owner or person having the custody or possession thereof is not readily available. (Ord. No. 896, § 10; Ord. No. 1338, § 13.)

No person shall knowingly bring any dog into the city from any place where the disease of rabies is present or shall have been known to be present within six months prior thereto, without the permission of the health officer. (Ord. No. 896, § 10.)

Whenever the health officer finds that the disease of rabies is prevalent in the city or any territory adjacent thereto, he is hereby authorized and empowered, subject to the approval of the city council, to establish by order quarantine areas against such rabies, which quarantine areas may comprise the entire area of the city or such portion thereof as the health officer may designate. Such order shall be filed with the city clerk who shall present the same to the city council at its next regular or special meeting held thereafter. (Ord. No. 896, § 11.)

When and after such quarantine areas are established and for such period as the health officer may designate, it shall be unlawful within the city or any quarantine area designated by the health officer, for any person owning or harboring a dog to allow or permit such dog to be upon any public street, way or place or upon any private property other than that of the person owning or harboring the dog. (Ord. No. 896, § 12.)

Any employee who is a qualified humane officer or animal control officer under the laws of the state, may issue notices to appear in court as prescribed by state law for any violations of state and local animal control laws occurring within the city, including but not limited to violations of Chapter 5; provided, such employees shall not be authorized to take any person into custody even though the person to whom the notice is delivered does not give his written promise to appear in court. This section shall in no way limit the power of police officers of the city to issue citations and make arrests. (Ord. No. 1784, § 1.)