A. 
Every person owning, harboring, or keeping a dog or cat shall, within 30 days after such dog or cat obtains the age of four 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.
B. 
Notwithstanding subsection A, a person owning, harboring, or keeping a dog or cat 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 or cat that is not vaccinated pursuant to this subsection shall be vaccinated for rabies within 10 days after the disease or disability on which the exemption is based ends.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
Any veterinarian who vaccinates a dog or cat for rabies shall certify such vaccination by properly completing a rabies certificate in a form approved by the city or its authorized agent.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
The shelter director shall seize 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. Isolation of any other animal for suspected rabies is at the discretion of the impounding animal compliance officer. 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 6.20.090, such isolation shall continue for at least 10 days from the date the symptoms suggestive of rabies are first observed. Such isolation may be continued for a period longer than 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 10 days, or longer period, any animal confined at an animal shelter shall be released upon payment of the fee set forth in Section 6.20.100 if, in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or the county health officer, such animal does not have rabies.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
It shall be the duty of every licensed veterinarian to report immediately to the county shelter 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.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
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 shelter director the name and address of each person receiving such treatment and, upon request of the shelter director, to report to such officer such additional information relating to the bite or treatment as shelter director may deem to be helpful in rabies control.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
A. 
Any person, who is 18 years of age or older may make a written request to the shelter director for the isolation of a biting animal either:
1. 
In facilities provided by a licensed veterinarian; or
2. 
In a licensed boarding kennel; or
3. 
Upon the private premises of the person making the request.
B. 
If such request is approved by the shelter director, the isolated biting animal shall be kept strictly confined and isolated in accordance with the shelter director's orders, and a conspicuous notice on a sign and with wording approved by the shelter director shall be posted on the premises that an animal is being confined on the property to be observed for rabies.
C. 
At the end of the isolation period, animals shall not be released from the place of isolation designated by the shelter director until the fees set forth by resolution of the city council are paid, and in the opinion of any licensed veterinarian or shelter director, the animal does not have rabies.
D. 
The shelter director shall be notified prior to releasing an animal from isolation. The shelter director may require any veterinarian to submit a written opinion to the shelter director that the animal does not have rabies.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
A. 
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any animal that is a member of a species subject to rabies and that has been bitten by or has been in contact with another animal that is rabid or suspected of having rabies shall be impounded and isolated in the same manner described in this title for the isolation of animals suspected of having rabies.
B. 
Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.20.100 of this chapter, such isolation shall be for a period of at least six months, unless the animal is a dog or cat which has been vaccinated against rabies and the vaccination occurred 30 or more days previously and such vaccination has not yet expired, and such dog or cat is promptly revaccinated. In such cases, the isolation shall be for at least 30 days.
C. 
Any person who is 18 years of age or older may make a written request to the shelter director for the isolation of such bitten or exposed animal in the same manner that a biting animal is isolated in accordance with this chapter. If the request is approved by the shelter director, then all of the requirements in this chapter for the isolation of a biting animal apply.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
A. 
It is unlawful for any persons with approval for the keeping of a biting animal confined and isolated upon their private premises as provided for in Section 6.20.060 or Section 6.20.070 of this chapter, to fail for any reason whatsoever to keep the animal continuously confined and isolated upon their premises, either indoors or inside some enclosure, for the entire applicable isolation period.
B. 
Any animal whether it is licensed or unlicensed, that is subject to isolation under this title and the requirements of the isolation are violated, shall then be seized by the shelter director without delay and isolated at the animal shelter for the duration of the isolation period, subject to the provisions of Section 6.20.100 of this chapter.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
Any animal isolated at the shelter director as provided in Section 6.20.030, 6.20.060 or 6.20.070 of this chapter and found not to have rabies may be redeemed at the end of the isolation period by the owner by paying to the shelter director all applicable fees and obtaining any necessary license.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
A. 
The shelter director shall collect from the owner of any animal isolated pursuant to this chapter the applicable isolation fee prescribed by resolution of the city council.
B. 
In cases where the animal is to be isolated at some place other than the shelter, the fee applicable to such isolation shall be paid in advance before approval by the shelter director of such isolation as an alternative to isolation in the shelter.
C. 
If the person who owns, harbors, or keeps the animal fails to pay all applicable animal isolation or licensing fees, then the animal is deemed to be an abandoned animal to the extent permitted by law.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)