Any doctor or any county official having knowledge of a human being having been bitten by any animal which may be a suspect rabies carrier shall report such incident to the county health officer. Any person may report any such incident to the county health officer. Upon the reporting of such incident to the health officer, the health officer, or his representative, shall forthwith request a field investigation by the animal control officer. (Ord. 388 § 1, 1974).

The animal control officer shall make an investigation and report to the county health officer. Based upon the facts contained within such report the health officer shall order quarantine of the biting animal in a secure place, the county animal shelter, or a private kennel as the health officer shall determine. (Ord. 388 § 2, 1974).

The animal control officer shall quarantine the animal as so ordered by the health officer. The owner of the biting animal shall be liable for all costs of impounding said animal and veterinary services, and shall pay such costs within ten days after billing by the county. (Ord. 388 § 3, 1974).

The health officer shall not order the quarantine of any biting animal in any other facility than the animal control shelter unless the owner and the person caring for said quarantined animal have agreed in writing that all costs will be billed the owner by the private individual and the county shall have no liability for such impounding. (Ord. 388 § 4, 1974).

The animal control officer shall report to the veterinarian assigned by the county pertaining to the animal so impounded within a period of time determined by the veterinarian as sufficient for his proper medical determination.
A. In the event the veterinarian at such time reports that the animal exhibits no clinical signs or symptoms of any systemic disease, the health officer shall authorize the release of said animal from impoundment.
B. In the event the veterinarian at such time reports that the animal exhibits clinical signs and symptoms of a systemic disease, then the health officer shall order the animal control officer to sacrifice said biting animal for further rabies examination and testing. The animal control officer shall forthwith notify the owner of the animal, if such owner is known, of the order to sacrifice said animal.
C. The animal control officer shall submit to the veterinarian assigned by the county the animal or any part thereof, required by said veterinarian for his purpose in submitting specimens of said animal to the state laboratory, or any state-licensed agency, for the fluorescent rabies antibody test(FRA). (Ord. 388-A § 1, 1979; Ord. 388 § 5, 1974).

Bites inflicted by “high risk species” such as the striped skunk, spotted skunk, fox, bat, coyote, bobcat, badger and weasel are considered to carry a relatively high order of risk of exposure. Such species, if captured alive, or found deceased, in connection with a biting incident, shall be sacrificed immediately for state laboratory examination using the FRA test. This sacrifice shall be at the animal control shelter, or at the point of capture, making sure the brain is not damaged. The animal control officer shall submit to the veterinarian assigned by the county the animal or any part thereof, required by said veterinarian for his purpose in submitting specimens of said animal to the state laboratory for the fluorescent rabies antibody test (FRA). (Ord. 388 § 6, 1974).

Deceased animals found on roadways or public areas of which no known human bite exposure has been reported do not require examination. The animal control officer shall accomplish the disposal of the carcasses found in public places. (Ord. 388 § 7, 1974).

A request directed to any county official to submit a specimen of any animal to the assigned county veterinarian which is not in connection with any reported biting incident for the purpose of a rabies examination, shall be done at the sole cost and expense of the person requesting such examination. Payment to the county shall be made in advance and if not paid the examination shall not be conducted. (Ord. 388 § 8, 1974).

A request to submit a specimen of any animal not listed in Section 6.12.060 which is in connection with any reported biting incident for the purpose of a rabies examination, shall be done at the sole cost and expense of the person requesting such examination. Payment to the county shall be made in advance and if not paid, the examination shall not be conducted. The California State Department of Health finds that the following animals play no role in the propagation of rabies in nature: Such species are: gophers, mice, hamsters, various squirrels, wild rats, pet white rats, wild mice, pet white mice, wild or domestic rabbits, guinea pigs, chipmunks, muskrats, moles, and chinchillas. (Ord. 388 § 9, 1974).

Any violation of this chapter is a misdemeanor.
(Ord. 388 § 10, 1974).

This chapter may be enforced by the county health officer by bringing an action in the superior court pursuant to the provisions for the issuing of a writ of mandate to compel any person to comply with the provisions hereof. (Ord. 388 § 11, 1974).