SOP-21 Animal Bite Reporting Police Services Division
SOP-21
March 24, 2016
SUBJECT: Animal Bite Reporting
PURPOSE: To establish a reporting procedure for animal bites in accordance with
sections 6.10.010 and 6.04.120 of the Rohnert Park Municipal Code.
I. ROHNERT PARK MUNICIPAL CODE §:
1) 6.10.010 – Animal Control Officers, Powers and Duties
2) 6.04.120 - Potentially dangerous and dangerous animals—Determination and appeal
II. PROCEDURE: ANIMAL BITES TO HUMANS
1) When the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety receives a report of an animal
bite to a human, the following procedure shall be followed:
a) The investigating officer shall obtain as much information about the incident as
possible and make a determination as to whether the animal is Dangerous/Potentially
Dangerous. The criteria for Dangerous/Potentially Dangerous animals can be found
on the back of the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Police and Fire Services
Potentially Dangerous and Dangerous Animals: Notice of Conditions Imposed and
Right to Request Hearing form.
b) If the animal is not deemed Dangerous/Potentially Dangerous, the investigating
Officer shall document the incident on the County of Sonoma Animal Bite/Exposure
Report form and an Incident crime report. The officer shall instruct the animal’s
owner to confine the animal on the owner’s property for ten (10) days. If the animal
is a stray or the officer does not feel that the animal can be adequately confined on the
owner’s property, the officer shall, when practical, impound the animal and secure it
in the appropriate isolation area in the Rohnert Park Animal Shelter. The
investigating officer, upon completing the investigation, shall immediately send the
County of Sonoma Animal/Bite Exposure Report to Dispatch. Dispatch shall
immediately fax the report to Sonoma County Animal Care and Control (SCACC),
who will then follow up on all quarantines.
c) If the officer determines the animal is Dangerous/Potentially Dangerous, they shall
complete the County of Sonoma Animal Bite/Exposure Report form, the Rohnert
Park Department of Public Safety Police and Fire Services Potentially Dangerous and
Dangerous Animals: Notice of Conditions Imposed and Right to Request Hearing
form and an Incident crime report. An animal deemed Dangerous shall, when
practical, be impounded and placed in the isolation area at the Rohnert Park Animal
Shelter. The investigating officer, upon completing the investigation, shall
immediately send the County of Sonoma Animal/Bite Exposure Report to Dispatch.
Dispatch shall immediately fax the report to Sonoma County Animal Care and
Control (SCACC). Upon receiving the report, the animal control officer (Shelter
Supervisor) shall follow up on cases involving a Dangerous/Potentially Dangerous
animal to ensure that the conditions imposed are being met.
d) In the event the animal lives outside of Rohnert Park, the investigating officer
shall complete an investigation as outlined above with the following exceptions:
1) The investigating officer will not be required to complete the Rohnert Park
Department of Public Safety Police and Fire Services Potentially Dangerous and
Dangerous Animals: Notice of Conditions Imposed and Right to Request Hearing
form.
2) Dispatch shall fax the County of Sonoma Animal/Bite Exposure Report to
to the Sonoma County Animal Care and Control (SCACC) as outlined above.
Sonoma County Animal Care and Control (SCACC) will follow up on the
animals residing in Sonoma County but outside of Rohnert Park. If the animal
lives outside of Sonoma County, SCACC will forward the report to the county in
which the animal resides.
III. PROCEDURE: ANIMAL BITES TO OTHER ANIMALS
1) When the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety receives a report of an animal
bite to another animal, the following procedure shall be followed:
a) The investigating officer shall obtain as much information about the incident as
possible and make a determination as to whether the animal is Dangerous/Potentially
Dangerous. The criteria for Dangerous/Potentially Dangerous animals can be found
on the back of the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Police and Fire Services
Potentially Dangerous and Dangerous Animals: Notice of Conditions Imposed and
Right to Request Hearing form.
b) If the animal is determined to be Dangerous, the Officer shall document the
incident in an Incident crime report and, if practical, impound the animal. An
impounded animal shall be placed in the appropriate isolation area in the Rohnert
Park Animal Shelter.
c) If the animal is determined to be Potentially Dangerous, the Officer shall
document the incident in an Incident crime report and the Rohnert Park Department of
Public Safety Police and Fire Services Potentially Dangerous and Dangerous
Animals: Notice of Conditions Imposed and Right to Request Hearing form. Upon
receiving the report, the animal control officer (Shelter Supervisor) shall follow up on
cases involving a Dangerous/Potentially Dangerous animal to ensure that the
conditions imposed are being met. No quarantine is required (in this instance) for a
Potentially Dangerous animal.
d) In the event the animal lives outside of Rohnert Park, the above procedure shall be
followed with the exception of completing the Public Safety Police and Fire Services
Potentially Dangerous and Dangerous Animals: Notice of Conditions Imposed and
Right to Request Hearing form. SCACC need not be notified.
IV. IMPOUNDING ANIMALS
Officers shall make every effort to impound an animal as outlined above. Animals,
however, should be treated as any other property when it comes to seizing them pursuant
to this SOP. The decision on whether or not to seize an animal not in a public place shall
be based on the Fourth Amendment, policy, case law, and other procedures governing
search/seizure of property.
V. HEARING
Pursuant to RPMC 06.04.120 and 06.10.010, an applicant, license holder or owner of an
animal that has been deemed Dangerous or Potentially Dangerous my request a hearing to
contest such determination. In the event a hearing is requested, an appointment will be
made and the hearing will be conducted by the On-duty Patrol Sergeant/Supervisor and
the Animal Shelter Supervisor. After such hearing is completed, the On-duty
Sergeant/Supervisor will complete a “Notice of Designation” letter and process
accordingly.
DATE ISSUED: February 27, 2014
DATE REV: March 24, 2016