Ventura County Municipal Code Art. 4 Rabies Control

(a) (1)

Every person owning, harboring, or keeping a dog, shall within thirty (30) days after such dog obtains the age of four (4) months, cause it to be vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian with a vaccine of a type approved by the State Department of Health as being suitable for use. Every person who violates the provisions of this Section is guilty of a misdemeanor/infraction. An Animal Control Officer, as defined in Section 4493-2, may issue an administrative citation assessing a civil penalty to that person in accordance with, and the person shall be subject to the administrative enforcement provisions set forth in, Article 8.

(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (1), a person owning, harboring or keeping a dog shall not be required to cause it to be vaccinated for rabies if the person obtains an exemption, on an annual basis, from the Ventura County health officer in compliance with Health and Safety Code Section 121690, subdivision (b). Any dog that is not vaccinated pursuant to this subdivision must be vaccinated for rabies within ten (10) days after the disease or disability on which the exemption is based ends.

(b) In order to ensure compliance with state law requiring rabies vaccination, all licensed veterinarians shall each month provide the Division, on paper or in an electronic form approved for use by the Director, the following information for each rabies vaccination that the veterinarian administers, or which is administered under the supervision of the veterinarian, to a dog that is required to be vaccinated under subdivision (a) of this Section in the preceding month:

(1) The name, residence address, telephone number and, if known, email address of the animal's owner;

(2) The name, age, sex (including spay/neuter status), species, breed, color and, if known, microchip number of the animal;

(3) The date on which the vaccination was administered, and the duration of the protection provided by the vaccination;

(4) The type of vaccination used and its corresponding lot number; and

(5) The name and license number of the veterinarian administering the vaccination and the name of the veterinary clinic/hospital at which the vaccination was administered.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4564, § 1, 4-21-2020; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

The Director shall provide facilities or clinics for the rabies vaccination of dogs or shall arrange for such vaccination at clinics operated by private veterinary groups or associations. No charge in excess of the actual cost therefor shall be made for vaccination at such facilities or clinics. The vaccination required hereunder may be obtained either at such facilities or clinics or from a licensed veterinarian of the owner's choice. Failure to display a valid vaccination certificate upon reasonable demand by the Director is prima facie evidence of non-vaccination.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

The Director shall take up and place in isolation any animal, licensed or not, which, in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian or the County Health Officer, displays symptoms suggestive of rabies. Such isolation shall be at an animal shelter unless the owner of such animal, with the approval of the County Health Officer, arranges with a licensed veterinarian for such isolation in a private animal hospital or clinic. Any animal placed in such isolation shall be kept strictly confined and under such observation as may be required by the County Health Officer. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4460, such isolation shall continue for at least ten (10) days from the date the symptoms suggestive of rabies are first observed. Such isolation may be continued for a period longer than ten (10) days if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the County Health Officer, such longer period is necessary. At the expiration of such ten (10) days, or longer period, any animal confined at an animal shelter shall be released upon payment of the fee set forth in Section 4459 if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the County Health Officer, such animal does not have rabies.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

It shall be the duty of every licensed veterinarian to report immediately to the Director any animal observed or diagnosed by the veterinarian as having rabies, or which the veterinarian has reason to suspect has rabies, or which he or she has reason to believe has been exposed to a potentially rabid animal through intimate contact. Every person who violates the provisions of this Section is guilty of an infraction.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

It shall be the duty of every physician or other person who treats any person for a bite inflicted by any animal to report immediately to the County Health Officer or the Director the name and address of each person receiving such treatment, and, upon request of the County Health Officer, to report to such officer such additional information relating to the bite or treatment as such officer may deem to be helpful in rabies control. Every person who violates the provisions of this Section is guilty of an infraction.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

Except as otherwise provided herein, the Director shall take up, impound and isolate any animal, licensed or not, of a species subject to rabies which animal is reported to have bitten or otherwise exposed any person, whether or not such animal has been vaccinated with rabies vaccine and whether or not such animal displays any symptom suggestive of rabies. The animal shall be impounded and isolated in the manner provided in Section 4453 for the isolation of animals suspected of having rabies. Except as otherwise provided in Title 17 California Code of Regulations Section 2606, subdivision (b), such isolation shall continue for at least ten (10) days from the date of the bite if the animal is a dog or cat or the period of time stated per species under California State Law. Any person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older may, however, make written request to the Director for the isolation of such biting animal either in facilities provided by a licensed veterinarian or in a licensed boarding kennel or upon the private premises of the person making such request. If such request is approved by the Director, such biting animal shall not be taken up and impounded but shall instead be kept strictly confined and isolated in such veterinarian's facilities or in a licensed boarding kennel or on such private premises for the isolation period. The Director shall post such private premises with conspicuous notice that an animal is being confined thereon to be observed for rabies. Upon termination of the isolation period, animals isolated in an animal pound shall be released upon payment of the fees set forth in Section 4459 if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the County Health Officer, the animal does not have rabies, and animals isolated upon private property shall be released from such isolation if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the County Health Officer, the animal does not have rabies.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

Except as otherwise provided herein, the Director shall take up, impound, and isolate for the isolation period set forth in this Section any animal, licensed or not, of a species subject to rabies which animal has been bitten by or has been in contact with another animal that is rabid or suspected of having rabies. The animal shall be impounded and isolated in the manner provided in Section 4453 for the isolation of animals suspected of having rabies. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4460, such isolation shall be for a period of at least six (6) months, unless the animal is a dog or cat which has been vaccinated against rabies not less than thirty (30) days previously and such vaccination has not yet expired and such dog or cat is promptly revaccinated within forty-eight (48) hours of the exposure, in which case the isolation shall be for a period of at least thirty (30) days. Any person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older may, however, make written request to the Director for the isolation of such animal either in facilities provided by a licensed veterinarian or in a licensed boarding kennel or upon the private premises of the person making such request. If such request is approved by the Director, such animal shall not be taken up and impounded but shall instead be kept strictly confined and isolated in such veterinarian's facilities or in a licensed boarding kennel or on such private premises for the isolation period. The Director shall post such private premises with conspicuous notice that an animal is being confined thereon to be observed for rabies. Upon termination of the isolation period, animals isolated in an animal shelter shall be released upon payment of the fees set forth in Section 4459 if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the County Health Officer, the animal does not have rabies.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

(a) Any person who willfully 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 local health officer, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who willfully conceals information about the location or ownership of an animal subject to rabies that has bitten or otherwise exposed a person to rabies shall be given a notice of violation. The notice of violation shall quote pertinent provisions of Section 4458. If a person fails to comply with such a notice of violation within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of the notice of violation, an Animal Control Officer, as defined in Section 4493-2, may issue an administrative citation assessing a civil penalty to that person in accordance with, and the person shall be subject to the administrative enforcement provisions set forth in, Article 8. The civil penalty for failure to comply with such a notice of violation shall be assessed according to the schedule of rates and fees approved by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

(b) Every person who, after requesting and obtaining approval for the keeping of a biting animal confined and isolated upon their private premises, as provided in Section 4456 or Section 4457, fails for any reason whatsoever to keep such animal continuously confined and isolated upon that person's premises, either indoors or within an approved outdoor enclosure, for the entire applicable isolation period, is guilty of a misdemeanor/infraction. Any such animal, whether licensed or unlicensed, not continuously confined and isolated as required herein, may be taken up forthwith by the Director and isolated at the shelter for the duration of the isolation period, subject to the provisions of Section 4460. If a person fails for any reason whatsoever to keep such animal continuously confined and isolated upon that person's premises, the person shall be given a notice of violation that quotes pertinent provisions of Article 4, and an Animal Control Officer, as defined in Section 4493-2, may issue an administrative citation assessing a civil penalty to that person in accordance with, and the person shall be subject to the administrative enforcement provisions set forth in, Article 8. The civil penalty for such a violation shall be assessed according to the schedule of rates and fees approved by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

(c) Any person who, after notice, violates any order of the local health officer 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 local health officer is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the County jail for a period not to exceed one (1) year, or by fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00), nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), per day of violation, or by both fine and imprisonment. The person shall be given a notice of violation that quotes pertinent provisions of Article 4. In addition, an Animal Control Officer, as defined in Section 4493-2, may issue an administrative citation assessing a civil penalty to that person in accordance with, and the person shall be subject to the administrative enforcement provisions set forth in, Article 8. The civil penalty for such a violation shall assessed according to the schedule of rates and fees approved by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

Any animal isolated at the animal shelter as provided in Sections 4453, 4456 or 4457 and found not to have rabies may be redeemed at the end of the isolation period by the owner by paying to the Director all applicable fees and obtaining any necessary license. Any animal which is not so redeemed within seventy-two (72) hours after the expiration of the isolation period shall be deemed to have been abandoned and shall be disposed of as provided in Section 4432.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)

The Director shall collect from the owner of any animal isolated pursuant to this Article the applicable isolation fee prescribed by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

(Ord. No. 4457, § 1, 12-10-2013; Ord. No. 4587, § 1, 10-19-2021)