ANSWER:

You must notify the County Department of Animal Services if your dog bites someone. (San Diego County Code 62.615)

By law, the dog is required to be quarantined for 10 days from the date of the bite. The place and manner of the quarantine is at the discretion of County Animal Services. If this is your dog’s first reported minor bite of a person we may not impound your dog.This quarantine is required even if your dog has a current rabies vaccination.

You may be allowed to quarantine the dog at your home if you have a secure enclosure that will isolate the dog from other people and animals during the quarantine period.

If you fail to keep the dog isolated, you can be charged with a misdemeanor and the dog could be impounded for the remainder of the quarantine period.

The dog cannot be released until approved by County Animal Services. Our staff will contact you after the quarantine to see if your dog is healthy and is not showing signs of rabies.  

The above rules are put into place to help ensure public safety and deterrence of any future bites to others. These rules are designed to prevent future injury once an injury occurs. As a responsible dog owner, you must follow these rules in case of a bite.

If you, or someone you know, has been injured in a California dog bite attack, first download my free injury guidebook BY CLICKING THIS LINK. The book will let you know about what you can expect, your legal rights, and if you even need a lawyer for your dog bite.

If you have further questions or concerns, and you would like to speak to me for free, you can call me direct at (619) 813-7955. I will be more than happy to point you in the right direction for your injury case.

Mark Blane
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San Diego Personal Injury Lawyer | California Car Accident Attorney