It shall be the duty of any person having knowledge that any animal subject to rabies, whether or not the animal is suspected of having rabies, has bitten any human being within the city to immediately report that fact to the health officer or to the sheriff with full information in regard to the incident.
(Ord. 163 § 8(A), 1997)
Upon receipt of a report that a person has been bitten by an animal subject to rabies (all warm-blooded mammals), any person authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter, is empowered to enter upon any private property, including the home or residence where the biting animal is kept or has strayed, to inspect and strictly isolate, and to seize and impound if necessary, in a place and manner approved by the county health officer, any such animal for a period of ten days (for dogs and cats) and fourteen (14) days (for other animals). Excepted are rodents, (members of the order Rodentia) rabbits and hares (members of the order Lagomorpha).
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the health officer may authorize, with permission of the owner, if known, and other legal restrictions permitting, the euthanasia of a biting animal for the purpose of laboratory examination for rabies using the fluorescent rabies antibody (FRA) test in the county health department laboratory.
It is unlawful for any person to remove from any place of isolation or quarantine, any animal which has been isolated or quarantined under the provisions of this chapter, without the consent of the health officer.
(Ord. 163 § 8(B), 1997)
It is the duty of any person having knowledge of the whereabouts of an animal known to have or suspected of having rabies to report the fact immediately to the health officer. If such person is the owner or possessor or has custody of such animal, he shall immediately confine it and keep the animal strictly confined until it shall be established to the satisfaction of said official that such animal has or has not rabies.
Where such owner or possessor does not have the proper facility for such confinement, or where the owner of such rabid or suspected rabid animal is not known, such animal shall be isolated in strict confinement under proper care and under the conservation of a licensed veterinarian in a pound, veterinary hospital, or other adequate facility in a manner approved by the county health officer, and shall not be killed or released for at least ten days after the onset of symptoms suggestive of rabies. If such animal creates a menace to the public health and safety, the health officer or his representative may kill or destroy the animal forthwith and examine it for rabies in the laboratory using the fluorescent rabies antibody (FRA) test in the county health department laboratory.
Whenever any such owned biting animal is quarantined in a place other than the premises of its owner, all expenses incurred in its confinement shall be the liability of the owner, possessor or custodian of such biting animal.
(Ord. 163 § 8(C), 1997)
Any animal that is subject to rabies which has been exposed to a known rabid animal or suspected rabid animal shall, upon notification of its owner, possessor or custodian, be:
A. 
Immediately securely confined in a place and manner approved by the health officer for a period of six months; or
B. 
Immediately destroyed unless the biting animal is determined by laboratory examination to be negative from rabies; except that in the case of dogs and cats, the following alternative is permitted:
The dog or cat shall be revaccinated and then quarantined for a period of thirty (30) days, provided such dog or cat has been vaccinated not less than thirty (30) days, with a rabies vaccine approved by the California State Department of Public Health.
The health officer may, in his discretion, kill or quarantine the animal so bitten, in case the owner, possessor or custodian, thereof shall fail to do so immediately, or in case the owner, possessor or custodian thereof is not readily accessible or is not known.
The carcass of any dead animal exposed to rabies will, upon demand, be surrendered to the health officer.
Upon the discretion of the health officer, the county health laboratory shall examine for rabies specimens of high-risk or medium-risk animals involved in a biting incident. Specimens of low-risk animals may be examined upon payment of reasonable laboratory fees.
(Ord. 163 § 8(D), 1997)
It shall be the duty of any person authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter to post an appropriate sign in a conspicuous place at a location where a dog or cat or any biting, vicious or rabid animal is being quarantined or confined to warn the public of this fact. It is unlawful for anyone to obstruct the posting of such a sign or to remove or destroy such a posted sign without permission of the health officer.
(Ord. 163 § 8(E), 1997)
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to: (a) trap or capture skunks for pets; (b) trap, capture or hold skunks in captivity for sale, barter, exchange or gift; and (c) transport skunks from or into the city, except that the importation or exportation of skunks may be permitted by the health officer for recognized zoological gardens or research institutions.
(Ord. 163 § 8(F), 1997)
It is unlawful for any person within the city, to own, have an interest in, harbor and feed, or have the care, charge, custody or possession of a dog over the age of four months, whether such dog is confined or not, unless such dog has a current vaccination with the rabies vaccine approved by the California State Department of Public Health and is officially tagged as provided for in this chapter. The vaccine shall be used exclusively to vaccinate all dogs within the city. Vaccination with the vaccine shall be valid for a period not to exceed one year when administered to a dog under one year of age, or three years when administered to a dog over one year of age.
(Ord. 163 § 8(G), 1997)
The rabies vaccination shall be performed only by a veterinarian who is duly licensed to practice in the state of California. Vaccination for rabies may be done in any veterinary clinic or hospital or in a low-cost rabies vaccination clinic sponsored by the county or any incorporated city.
(Ord. 163 § 8(H), 1997)
A. 
Every resident in the city who owns, has an interest in, harbors and feeds, or has the care, charge, custody or possession of a dog four months of age or over, and whether such dog is confined or not, shall obtain a San Bernardino County dog license for such a dog. Each dog shall have a current rabies vaccination as evidenced by a valid rabies certificate issued by the veterinarian who performed the vaccination as a requisite to licensing; provided further that rabies vaccination certificate shall not be required if the license is obtained at the time the dog is vaccinated at a county or city low-cost clinic.
B. 
While a dog is being used as a guard dog within the city, it must have a San Bernardino County dog license and the license tag must be securely fixed to the dog’s collar regardless of where the owner resides and whether a license has been obtained for that jurisdiction.
(Ord. 163 § 8(I), 1997)
Each application for a license shall be in writing upon a form to be furnished by the health officer, and shall contain such information as the health officer, by rule or regulation, shall require.
(Ord. 163 § 8(J), 1997)
Each application for a dog license shall be accompanied by a license fee as specified in the county fee schedule, and shall be obtained:
A. 
Within a period of thirty days after expiration of a San Bernardino County dog license;
B. 
Within thirty (30) days after the dog attains the age of four months;
C. 
Within fifteen (15) days after the purchase or obtaining control, care or custody of a dog which previously attained the age of four months, and provide further the proof of recent acquisition as indicated by the date of purchase receipt as shown at the time of application;
D. 
Within thirty days after the date of establishing residency in the county provided further that, the dog has a current license from another county or a city, and within fifteen (15) days if the dog has no current license.
(Ord. 163 § 8(K), 1997)
Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, a dog may be exempted from rabies vaccination if such vaccination would jeopardize the health of such dog to infirmity or other disability provided the owner has in his possession a written verification from a licensed veterinarian attesting to such infirmity or disability. The owner or custodian of such dog shall, within ten days after the termination of such infirmity or disability, cause such dog to be vaccinated and licensed. Any such dog with infirmity or disability shall be securely confined within its owner’s or harborer’s premises so that it does not come in contact with any other animal or person.
(Ord. 163 § 8(L), 1997)
Any person who obtains a license not in conformity with any of the provisions of Section 6.08.110, shall pay a penalty fee as specified in the county fee schedule in addition to the regular license fee.
(Ord. 163 § 8(M), 1997)
When the original license tag is lost, a duplicate tag shall be obtained upon submission to the health officer such proof as he may require. The cost of each duplicate tag shall be as specified in the county fee schedule.
(Ord. 163 § 8(O), 1997)
It shall be the responsibility of every city resident who owns, harbors, cares for, or has in custody a licensed dog, to securely attach or fasten the license tag to the dog’s collar or harness so that such tag is worn by the dog at all times except while such dog remains indoors or in any enclosed yard or pen where the dog cannot escape.
(Ord. 163 § 8(P), 1997)
It is unlawful for any person to place upon or attach to a dog any false, counterfeit or unauthorized tag for the purpose of evading the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 163 § 8(Q), 1997)
It is unlawful to attach a license tag on a dog to which the tag was not originally issued.
It is unlawful to attach a license tag to any dog that does not have a current rabies vaccination.
It is unlawful for an unauthorized person to remove from any dog, any collar or harness or other device to which is attached a San Bernardino County license tag for the current year or remove such tag therefrom.
(Ord. 163 § 8(R), 1997)
The health officer may, upon his or her discretion, issue a license without payment of the required license fee to an owner or custodian of a dog, if such dog meets the following conditions:
A. 
Such dog is a guide dog and the owner is blind or deaf and can submit proof that such dog has been successfully trained to lead the blind or aid the deaf as a guide dog.
B. 
Such dog is a service dog and the owner is handicapped and can submit proof that such dog has been successfully trained to aid the handicapped as a service dog.
(Ord. 163 § 8(S), 1997)
San Bernardino County license is not required for the following categories of dogs, however, they must have a current rabies vaccination:
A. 
Any dog owned by or in the charge of any person who is a nonresident of the city and is traveling through the city or temporarily sojourning therein for a period of not exceeding thirty (30) days;
B. 
Any dog brought into the city and kept therein for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days for the exclusive purpose of entering the same in any bench show or dog exhibition or field trials or competition;
C. 
Any dog brought or sent into the city from any point outside thereof for the exclusive purpose of receiving veterinary care in any dog hospital, in the event that such dog is kept at all times strictly confined within such hospital;
D. 
Dogs kept for the sole purpose of being used for research in research institutions approved by the California State Department of Public Health;
E. 
Dogs over four months of age which are offered for sale in a duly licensed pet shop.
(Ord. 163 § 8(T), 1997; Ord. 303 § 6, 2010)
If a currently licensed dog is sold or title to the dog is otherwise transferred to a new owner, such new owner may apply to the health officer for a transfer of such dog’s tag and license and pay a transfer fee as specified in the county fee schedule. Upon receipt of such application fee, the health officer shall issue a certificate of transfer of such tag and the name and addresses of the owner and new owners.
(Ord. 163 § 8(U), 1997)
Each San Bernardino County dog license shall expire on the date recorded on the license receipt and shall be renewed prior to expiration or within a period of thirty (30) days after expiration.
(Ord. 163 § 8(V), 1997)
Any person who violates any section of this chapter, or who breaches or violates any condition of a permit, approval or license issued pursuant to this chapter, may be guilty of an infraction or may be issued an administrative citation. Any person authorized to enforce this chapter may use the administrative citations procedures set forth in Section 11.0208 (Administrative Citations Actions) of the San Bernardino County Code to enforce this chapter.
(Ord. 163 § 8(X), 1997; Ord. 302 § 3, 2010)