Quarantine International: CDC regulates the importation of dogs and cats into the United States, but current PHS regulations (42 CFR No. 71.51) governing the importation of such animals are insufficient to prevent the introduction of rabid animals into the country. All dogs and cats imported from countries with endemic rabies should be currently vaccinated against rabies as recommended in this Compendium. The appropriate public health official of the state of destination should be notified within 72 hours of any unvaccinated dog or cat imported into his or her jurisdiction. The conditional admission of such animals into the United States is subject to state and local laws governing rabies. Failure to comply with these requirements should be promptly reported to the Division of Quarantine, CDC, 404-639-8107.

Interstate: Prior to interstate movement, dogs, cats, and ferrets should be currently vaccinated against rabies.

Los Angeles County

11.04.210 Confinement of biting animals -- Procedure generally.

The biting animal shall be quarantined, confined and observed for at least 14 days (dogs and cats, 10 days) after the day of infliction of the bite, with the exception that the following alternative to the 10-day isolation of dogs and cats is permitted: dogs or cats which have been isolated in strict confinement, under proper care and under observation of a licensed veterinarian, in a pound, veterinary hospital or other adequate facility, in a manner approved by the local health officer, may be released from isolation by the local 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. (Ord. 10728 § 1 (part), 1973: Ord. 7583 Part 2 § 219, 1959.)

11.04.220 Confinement of biting animals -- Alternate procedures.

A. The quarantine described in Section 11.04.210 may be made on the property of the person having charge, custody or control of such animal when adequate quarantine facilities are available; or, at the discretion of the director, such animal may be placed under quarantine and observation in any licensed boarding kennel.

B. Should the animal be relinquished by the owner to the director to be disposed of upon release from quarantine, the director may, at his discretion, impound such animal in an approved animal control facility. (Ord. 10728 § 1 (part), 1973: Ord. 7583 Part 2 § 220, 1959.)

11.04.225 Fee for Confinement of Biting Animals.

A. Under the conditions described in subsection B of this section, the county shall recover a fee of $50.00 for the costs incurred by the department in the confinement of a biting animal as described in Sections 11.04.200, 11.04.210 and 11.04.220. The county shall also recover any related costs, including care and feeding of the confined animal, and any reasonable costs that it may incur in connection with the collection of such fees.

B. The fee shall be assessed when:

1. The director or his designee confines an animal described in Section 11.04.200 on the owner or custodian's premises and the victim of the bite is not the owner or custodian of the animal; and

2. The victim was not engaged in an illegal activity against the person or on the property of the owner or custodian.

C. Notwithstanding the above, the fee shall not be assessed when the animal is a police dog or guide dog as defined in California Health and Safety Code Sections 1919 and 1919.1.

D. The director or his designee may waive, in full or in part, the above fee, if necessary to accomplish the protection of animal or public health, safety or welfare. (Ord. 93-0055 §11, 1993.)

11.04.230 Owner of biting animal -- Report required -- Examination of confined animal.

Whenever the owner or person having charge, custody or control of any animal observes or learns that such animal has bitten or otherwise exposed a human being, such owner or person having charge, custody or control of such animal shall report the incident at once to the director and shall confine such animal in an enclosure, or shall securely hold and restrain said animal, by chain or other device, for examination and observation by the director. No owner or person having charge, custody or control of such animal shall fail, refuse or neglect to allow the director to make an inspection or examination of such animal for the purpose of determining whether such animal has symptoms of rabies. (Ord. 10728 § 3 (part), 1973: Ord. 7583 Part 2 § 221, 1959.)

11.04.240 Owner of biting animal: Quarantine requirements - Examination of dead animal.

No owner or person having charge, custody or control of any animal biting or otherwise exposing a human being shall fail, refuse or neglect to confine in an enclosure, or securely hold and restrain such animal by chain or other device, upon the premises of the owner or person having charge, custody or control of such animal, for the period of quarantine as shown in Section 11.04.210. Should such animal die while under quarantine and observation, the owner or person having charge, custody or control of such animal shall surrender the carcass of such animal or such portion of the carcass as may be demanded by the director. (Ord. 10728 § 3 (part), 1973: Ord. 7583 Part 2 § 222, 1959.)

11.04.250 Destroying quarantined animal prohibited -- Exception.

It is unlawful for any owner or person having charge, custody or control of any animal that has bitten or otherwise exposed a human being or is suspected of having rabies to destroy such animal, or have such animal destroyed, during the quarantine period, unless permission is granted by the director. (Ord. 10728 § 3 (part), 1973: Ord. 7583 Part 2 § 223, 1959.)

11.04.260 Suspected rabid animals -- Owner report and confinement duty.

Whenever the owner or person having charge, custody or control of any animal learns or observes that such animal has shown symptoms of rabies or has acted in a manner which would give said person or owner reason to believe that said animal has rabies, it shall be unlawful for such owner or person having charge, custody or control of such animal to fail, refuse or neglect to notify the director at once and to confine such animal in an enclosure, or to securely hold and restrain such animal by chain or other device until it shall be established that such animal does not have symptoms of rabies, or to fail, refuse or neglect to allow the director to inspect or examine such animal for symptoms of rabies. (Ord. 10728 § 3 (part), 1973: Ord. 7583 Part 2 § 224, 1959.)

11.04.270 Quarantine of animals coming in contact with rabid animals.

Animal contacts of a known rabid or suspected rabid animal shall be quarantined in a place and manner, and for a period of time, designated by the director. (Ord. 10728 § 3 (part), 1973: Ord. 7583 Part 2 § 225, 1959.)

California

121580 Quarantine defined.

"Quarantine," as used in this chapter, means the strict confinement, upon the private premises of the owner, under restraint by leash, closed cage, or paddock, of all animals specified in the order of the department.

121600 Quarantine, animals; area.

If upon the investigation the department finds that rabies exists, a quarantine shall be declared against all animals as are designated in the quarantine order, and living within the area specified in the order.

121605 Investigation.

Following the order of quarantine the department shall make or cause to be made a thorough investigation as to the extent of the disease, the probable number of persons and animals exposed, and the area found to be involved.

121610 Regulations in lieu of quarantine.

The department may substitute for the quarantine order regulations as may be deemed adequate for the control of the disease in each area.

121615 Duty to enforce.

All peace officers and boards of health shall carry out the provisions of this chapter.

121620 Power to destroy or detain animals.

During the period for which any quarantine order is in force any officer may kill or in his or her discretion capture and hold for further action by the department any animal in a quarantine area, found on public highways, lands, and streets, or not held in restraint on private premises as specified in this chapter.

121625 Power to enter and examine premises.

Any proper official within the meaning of this chapter may examine and enter upon all private premises for the enforcement of this chapter.

121630 Violation; punishment.

Except as provided in Sections 121705 and 121710, every person who possesses or holds any animal in violation of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of an infraction, punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000).

Quarantine Guidelines for Biting Animals

One essential component of effective rabies control is the management of dogs and cats known to or suspected to have been exposed to rabid (or suspect rabid) animal, or to have bitten or exposed a person. Based upon the circumstances involved in the bite and the vaccination status of the animal involved, one of the following quarantine plans will be required at the discretion of the animal control officer involved.

Quarantine Plans:

Close Observation the animal is kept on owner's premises and the owner shall be informed of potential rabies. The owner shall be required to notify enforcing agency of unusual behavior or change in health status of pet.

Strict Confinement the animal shall be kept on designated property - in the house, garage, or other escape-proof building or enclosure approved by the local director of health. The animal shall be leash-walked under immediate control of an adult on property designated for confinement. The owner shall be informed of potential rabies and given instructions in writing. The owner is required to notify immediately enforcing agency of unusual behavior or change in health status of pet.

Quarantine Animal shall be confined off owner's property in a designated facility, i.e., animal shelter, veterinary hospital or qualified commercial kennel. Strict quarantine on owner premises shall be possible at discretion of animal control.

In case of death of quarantined animal, contact local animal control or health official. DO NOT DISPOSE OF ANIMAL!

Facility used for quarantine shall be verifiable (i.e., subject to unannounced periodic spot checks).