By Azhand Hakimi
Issue #1: What are the requirements for a dog to be vaccinated?
According to the San Diego County website, all dogs that are older than three months old and before they are five months old must be vaccinated for the rabies vaccine. San Diego County Code sections 62.610 and 62.620, and California Health and Safety Code 121690. Those who fail to have their dogs vaccinated for rabies will have to pay a heavy fine. Id. However, dogs that are allergic to the rabies vaccine, and if the rabies vaccine will severely hurt the dog are not required to get the rabies vaccine. Every year, the owners of these dogs have to show that their dogs are exempt from receiving the rabies vaccine. San Diego County Health and Safety Code §121690. The vaccines are available at a very low price at any county facility.
Issue #2: What are the requirements for a dog to have a microchip?
The San Diego County does not require dogs to have a microchip. https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/das/adopt/care/microchip.html. But it wise to have a microchip in your dog because in case your dog gets lost and is brought to a shelter, the shelter can scan the microchip and return the dog to its owners. The microchip will have the owners contact information so the shelter can contact the owners if the dog is brought to the shelters. Many animal shelters throughout the county provides low cost microchips. These microchips are injected into the dog. The procedure is very painless for the dog. Id. The microchips are available at a very low cost at any county facility.
Azhand Hakimi belongs to the COVID-19 projects at California Western School of Law.