[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
No owner of any dog, cat or other animal subject to rabies shall
abandon such animal in the City.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
A.
Any dog, cat or other animal which exhibits objective symptoms of
rabies, after written certification by the Animal Control Officer
to the owner, shall be quarantined. The animal may be held for ten
(10) calendar days at the City's animal shelter for clinical observation,
and, if alive after this period, shall be returned to the owner after
payment of the shelter service fine provided for in this Article.
The animal's owner may alternatively elect to quarantine for a similar
ten (10) calendar day period. If such animal shall die during the
observation period, regardless of location, the head shall be removed
and submitted to a qualified laboratory for examination.
B.
Before an animal quarantined hereunder shall be returned to the owner,
or if quarantined by the owner, before such quarantine shall be lifted,
said animal shall be vaccinated as required under and in accordance
with the procedures set out in this Chapter of the Code of Ordinances,
if such animal is not already vaccinated.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
All dogs, cats and other animals under clinical observation
for rabies must fulfill all conditions of this Article prior to release.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
A.
Any person within the City having information or knowledge of any
dog, cat or other animal that:
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
Any person destroying a dog, cat or other animal infected with
rabies or suspected of being infected with rabies shall immediately
notify the City and shall surrender the carcass of such animal upon
demand. The owner or custodian of any such destroyed animal shall
immediately provide the Animal Control Officer with full particulars
thereof, including the time, date, location, the names and addresses
of any person bitten by such animal, and also the name and address
of the owner or person having custody of any animal exposed to the
animal destroyed.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
A.
Whenever rabies becomes prevalent in any locality within the City
subject to this Section, the Animal Control Officer shall recommend
a quarantine order affecting that portion of the City, or affecting
the entire City, according to the necessity of the case. The City
may issue a quarantine order pursuant to such recommendation. The
Animal Control Officer, during the first week after a quarantine order
is issued, shall take proper measures to inform the people of the
City of the existence of the quarantine order and of the penalties
attached to the violation of the quarantine order. A quarantine order
shall direct that all animals, whether vaccinated and registered according
to the provisions of this Article or not, shall be confined in the
home of the owner of the animal, or tied up or placed on a leash under
the direct physical control of a competent person not less than fifteen
(15) years of age. Any animal found otherwise, during such a quarantine,
shall be impounded. Animals subject to rabies which are impossible
to capture or impound, after the exercise of reasonable efforts and
diligence, shall be destroyed, if the Animal Control Officer so designates.
B.
The quarantine may be terminated by the City after the necessity
therefor no longer exists. No quarantine shall remain effective for
more than six (6) months from the date of the adoption of the quarantine
order unless such quarantine order is specifically extended by order
of the City Council.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
A.
No dog, cat or other animal shall be kept in any way by its owner
so as to permit it to bite members of the public or other animals.
1.
The owner of any dog, cat or animal kept on the premises which
bites any person or other animal, regardless of the circumstances,
or irrespective of whether such animal is vaccinated or registered,
shall be required to place such animal in the custody of the Animal
Control Officer for confinement in a manner satisfactory to the Animal
Control Officer and in a manner that will prevent contact with people
and other animals for a period of ten (10) calendar days, following
the evening of the day of the bite, for the purpose of clinical observation.
If such animal develops clinical symptoms suggestive of rabies, it
shall be allowed to die a natural death, or, if for any reason, such
animal should die while in confinement, its head shall be removed
by the veterinarian and submitted to a qualified laboratory. If, at
the end of such ten (10) calendar day period, such animal is alive
and healthy, it may be released to its owner upon payment of applicable
fines. Before an animal confined hereunder shall be returned to the
owner, said animal shall be vaccinated as required under and in accordance
with the procedures set out in this Chapter, if such animal is not
already vaccinated.
2.
All animals under clinical observation as the result of biting
a person must fulfill all other conditions of this Article prior to
release.
3.
It shall be the duty of any person bitten by any dog, cat or
animal kept on the premises or the parent or guardian of any minor
bitten by a dog, cat or other animal to report the same to the Animal
Control Officer immediately. Such report shall contain the name and
address of the owner and of the dog, cat or animal, the day and time
bitten, and location where bitten, and a general description of the
dog, cat or animal. The person bitten shall also make himself/herself
available so as to permit viewing of the wound by the Animal Control
Officer, his/her agents, and all other concerned parties and persons.
4.
In any case where a dog, cat or animal kept on the premises
has attacked or bitten a person or other animal in a vicious manner,
then such dog, cat or animal may be seized and impounded by City enforcement
personnel. In addition to any penalties which may be imposed for violation
of this Chapter, the Municipal Court may order such animal to be euthanized.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
It shall be the duty of every physician to report immediately
to the Animal Control Officer the full name, age and address of any
person under his/her care or observation who has been bitten by an
animal irrespective of whether infected with rabies or suspected of
being infected with rabies or not so infected or so suspected; and
every veterinarian treating or having under observation any animal
infected with rabies, or suspected of being rabid, or suspected of
having been exposed to rabies shall report to the Animal Control Officer
the owner's name and address, and the animal's vaccination-registration
number.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to conceal an animal or interfere
with the Animal Control Officer in the performance of his/her legal
duties as provided in this Article. The Animal Control Officer shall
have the right of entry onto any unenclosed lots or lands for the
purpose of collecting any animal which is on such lot or land in violation
of this Article and whose presence on such lot or land constitutes
a violation of any of the provisions of this Article. The Animal Control
Officer shall have the right of entry to any property or premises
within any quarantined area during the period of a quarantine for
the purpose of examining or obtaining any dog, cat or other animal
suspected of having rabies, having been exposed to rabies, or having
bitten a person or other animal.
B.
No person shall refuse to deliver up to the Animal Control Officer
any animal subject to rabies which such person owns, when requested
to do so under the provisions of this Article.
