Humboldt County Grand Jury
• 2017-2018
• Agency Response
Response to:
Dogs on the Run
Response to Grand Jury Report Report Title: Dogs on the Run Report Date: 06/26/2018 Response by: Board of Supervisors
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F3, F4, F5, F6, F7
Findings and Recommendations 2 findings
F2
Page 2
Humboldt County Animal Codes need to be updated to reflect current medical practices to prevent owners of potentially dangerous and vicious dogs from avoiding serious consequences resulting from attacks. This puts the public at increased risk for attacks by dogs with known bite histories. Response: Disagree This finding is unwarranted, as the report fails to establish the relationship between Humboldt County Code and current medical practices as they pertain to dog bites.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Page 3
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends Humboldt County, the City of Eureka, and the City of Fortuna approve the amended Animal Codes recommended by the collaborative task force in Recommendation 1 by March 31, 2019. Response: This recommendation will not be implemented as it is unwarranted. Humboldt County Codes are continually revised and updated, and are current through Ordinance 2608, which passed on July 31, 2018. The most recent ordinance requires licensing and proof of rabies vaccination for all dogs owned in the unincorporated areas of the County. Title V, Division 4 of Humboldt County Code clearly defines and regulates dog ownership and control, including compulsory licensure and vaccination, as well as the identification, seizure, impoundment, and disposition of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs.
F8
Page 2
The Division of Environmental Health is tasked with handling all cases of possible rabies exposure, but receives no funds to carry out those duties, placing an undue burden on already busy employees and possibly hampering their effectiveness in a rabies outbreak. Response: Disagree This finding is unwarranted, as $11,850.00 was allocated in FY 2017-18 for the Division of Environmental Health’s Vector Control Program (1175406-2401), and only 17.6% of those funds were spent. The Vector Control Program was allocated another $11,850 for the current fiscal year. Historical review of Vector Control Program funds reveals that the funds allocated have been sufficient for the last twenty years. The Vector Control Program covers the cost of rabies testing and supplies used in the field. Staffing costs associated with vector control are not reimbursable through other sources and are covered with local funds transferred to the Consumer Protection budget.
No recommendations for this finding