A. 
The owner or custodian of a dog must have the dog vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian, with a rabies vaccine approved by the California Department of Health Services for use in dogs, within 30 days after the dog becomes three months of age or within 30 days after obtaining or bringing a dog three months of age or older into the City of Santee. A dog owner or custodian must also have the dog receive subsequent vaccinations at the intervals required by the California Department of Health Services.
B. 
The owner or custodian of a dog must retain the rabies certificate for inspection and produce the certificate when requested by: (1) any person who enforces this code; (2) any person bitten by the dog; or (3) any law enforcement officer. No person who possesses a rabies certificate may refuse to produce the certificate when it is requested pursuant to this section.
(Ord. 559 § 3, 2019)
A. 
A veterinarian who vaccinates a dog for rabies must certify the vaccination by properly completing the "license application-rabies certificate form" the authorized agency issues or another rabies vaccination form approved by the authorized agency. In order to be complete, the vaccination certificate must contain all the following: (1) the dog owner's first and last name, street address and mailing address, if different, and telephone number; (2) the dog's name and description, including breed, color, sex and if known, day, month and year of birth; (3) the type, lot number, and manufacturer of the rabies vaccine; (4) the date of vaccination; and (5) the signature, or an authorized signature, of the veterinarian administering the vaccine.
B. 
A veterinarian who vaccinates a dog for rabies must forward to the authorized agency a copy of each completed form at least once a month.
(Ord. 559 § 3, 2019)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the owner or custodian of a dog is not required to have the dog vaccinated for rabies during an illness if a licensed veterinarian has examined the dog and certifies in writing that vaccination should be postponed because of a specified illness. A dog's old age, weakness or pregnancy is not considered a valid reason to excuse a dog from receiving a rabies vaccination. An exemption certificate is subject to the authorized agency's approval and is only valid for the duration of a dog's illness. An exemption from vaccination does not exempt a dog owner or custodian from the requirement to obtain a license for a dog.
(Ord. 559 § 3, 2019)
An animal owner or custodian whose animal exhibits rabies symptoms or acts in a manner which would lead a reasonable person to suspect that the animal may have rabies, must notify the authorized agency or the Health Officer and comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding suspected cases of rabies. An animal owner or custodian of an animal that is suspected of having rabies must also comply with all instructions and orders from the authorized agency and the Health Officer.
(Ord. 559 § 3, 2019)
A. 
A person bitten and the parents or guardians of a minor child bitten by a dog, cat, skunk, fox, bat, coyote, bobcat or other animal of a species subject to rabies must notify the authorized agency or the Health Officer as soon as practicable after the bite.
B. 
A physician treating a bite and any other person that knows of a bite by an animal of a species subject to rabies must notify the authorized agency or the Health Officer as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the bite.
C. 
An animal owner or custodian of an animal of a species subject to rabies which bites a person must notify the authorized agency or the Health Officer as soon as practicable after the person knows of the bite.
D. 
A person having knowledge of a bite by an animal subject to rabies, who fails to report the bite within 24 hours of the bite, must be deemed to have violated this section unless the person establishes that it was impossible for that person to report the bite earlier.
(Ord. 559 § 3, 2019)
A. 
The authorized agency, a licensed veterinarian or the Health Officer may order the owner or custodian of a suspected rabid animal to deliver the animal to be confined and isolated under the care and observation of a licensed veterinarian at an animal shelter, veterinary hospital or other facility as approved by the authorized agency or the Health Officer. The order may also include a prohibition against destroying the animal.
B. 
It is unlawful for a person to fail to comply with an order which the authorized agency or the Health Officer issues under this section. The authorized agency or the Health Officer, however, may grant permission to destroy the animal for the purpose of laboratory examination.
(Ord. 559 § 3, 2019)
A. 
The authorized agency or the Health Officer may order any dog, cat, skunk, fox, bat, coyote, bobcat or other animal of a species subject to rabies which has bitten or exposed a person to rabies to be impounded and isolated in strict confinement as approved by the authorized agency or the Health Officer and observed for at least 14 days after the bite or other exposure, except that a dog or cat need only be observed for at least 10 days. No person is permitted to release an animal impounded or confined under this section until the authorized agency or the Health Officer examines the animal and approves its release.
B. 
As an alternative to the 10-day isolation of dogs and cats referred to in subsection A, dogs and cats which have been isolated in strict confinement under proper care and observation as approved by the authorized agency or the Health Officer may be released from isolation by the authorized agency or the Health Officer after five days of veterinary observation if upon conducting a thorough physical examination on the fifth day or more after infliction of the bite, the observing veterinarian certifies that there are no clinical signs or symptoms of any disease.
C. 
Notwithstanding the requirements in subsection A, the authorized agency or the City Health Officer may authorize, with the consent of the owner, if known, that the impounded animal be euthanized for the purpose of laboratory examination.
(Ord. 559 § 3, 2019)
A. 
An animal of a species subject to rabies, which has been bitten by or had intimate contact with an animal known to be rabid or suspected of being rabid, must be confined and isolated as approved by the authorized agency or the Health Officer and observed for a period of six months or destroyed.
B. 
Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection A, if a dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days prior to possible rabies exposure with a type of vaccine and within the time period approved by the California Department of Health Services the dog or cat may be: (1) revaccinated within 48 hours as prescribed by the authorized agency or the Health Officer; (2) confined and isolated as approved by the authorized agency or the Health Officer; and (3) observed for a period of 30 days following revaccination.
(Ord. 559 § 3, 2019)