There are only three of them. That is the sum total of the Animal Control officers whose duty it is to assist residents in all the unincorporated areas of Humboldt County. However, with training, vacations, illness, and other commitments sometimes this means there are only two officers available, or possibly only one.

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Lt. Steve Knight said the officers make between 150-200 calls per month. An officer tries to make it down to Southern Humboldt once a week if possible to respond to reports ranging from loose animals, animal abuse, dog bites, and dogs who have not been vaccinated for rabies. Last year there were 17 confirmed rabies cases in Humboldt County.

The only vaccination that is required by pet owners is rabies, and that only includes dogs. You are not required to vaccinate your cats for rabies. That is where the problem sometimes comes in. Not only should all cats be vaccinated for rabies, but both cats and dogs should also be vaccinated for distemper and parvovirus, both very deadly, contagious, and often fatal diseases.

When you take your dog to the vet to have them vaccinated for rabies the veterinarian is required by law to notify the county. Animal Control then sends out

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notices requiring you to purchase a license. You must renew your dog’s license every year for a cost of $15 if your dog is spayed or neutered, $50 for unspayed or unneutered, and $10 if you are over 60 and your dog is spayed or neutered. The dog owner has 30 days to respond to the first notice. A second notice is sent and if no response is received, a third notice is sent with penalty fees. According to Lt. Knight the owner could technically be sent to collections for failure to pay the fee.

Any law enforcement officer can ask to see your proof of rabies certificate, so it’s a good idea to make sure your dog wears both their rabies and license tags. If you cannot show that your dog has been vaccinated a citation can be written requiring you to get your dog vaccinated.

If Animal Control receives a report about a dog biting someone several different actions can be taken. If a dog bites someone and they have not been vaccinated for rabies there is an automatic $100 bite penalty. On top of that there is a $17 per day boarding fee and a $45 impound fee. If the bite is minor and the dog has been vaccinated home quarantine can be granted at the officer’s discretion. However, the owner must meet certain criteria and have a securely fenced and safe area for the dog to be housed during the quarantine.

If the dog has a history of biting or aggression Animal Control can hold them until an administrative hearing takes place. The owner will be charged the boarding fees until the case is heard. This is a civil due process hearing with lawyers who volunteer to hear the cases and make the determination as to the fate of the dog. If the dog is deemed vicious the owner may be ordered to have the dog euthanized.

If a dog is picked up on the street or brought into the Humboldt County Animal Shelter in McKinleyville they are held for four business days, not including the day of impound. After this they are evaluated for temperament and placed up for adoption if they are deemed to be a good candidate. If they do not pass the temperament test and are found to be food, dog, or people aggressive they may be euthanized.

When asked if there were any problems with organized dog fighting in Humboldt County Lt. Knight said that there didn’t appear to be, however they have had a couple of instances where people have been street fighting their dogs. This is where two people simply meet and allow their dogs to fight to see who has the “better” dog.

The Humboldt County Animal Control facility is located at 980 Lycoming Avenue by the Arcata Airport in McKinleyville. If you would like more information, have lost your dog, or are looking for a family pet you can give them a call at 707-840-9132 or check for a pet at petharbor.com.