Township of Marple, PA Rabies

The following rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Health of Marple Township at a meeting duly held on March 2, 1961, be and the same are hereby approved and adopted, except where in conflict with rabies prevention and control provisions in the Domestic Animals and Wildlife Act (3 Pa.C.S.A. § 455.1 et seq.).

§ 95-11 Bites and injuries: report, confinement.

It shall be the duty of any person who has knowledge that dog or other animal has bitten or injured any person in Marple Township to immediately report the facts and the whereabouts of such dog or other animal, if known, to the Board of Health or to the Police Department, and it shall be the duty of the owner of every such dog or other animal to immediately confine it in such manner as will prevent it from escaping or running at large. Upon receipt of such report, the Board of Health or the Police Department shall advise the owner as to the procedure to be followed with respect to the further confinement and examination of the dog or other animal.

§ 95-12 Confinement where rabies has not occurred in Township within 100 days.

If the records of the Board of Health do not disclose any occurrence of rabies in Marple Township within a period of 100 days prior to the receipt of such report, it shall be the duty of the owner of any dog or other animal which has bitten or injured any person in this Township to follow the procedure set forth below:

The dog or other animal shall be confined by the owner for an observation period of 10 days from the date the bite occurred, at the home of the owner or at some other location selected by him, under the supervision of a duly licensed veterinarian in such manner as will prevent it from escaping or running at large.

Immediately upon being placed in confinement, the dog or other animal shall be examined by a duly licensed veterinarian employed by the owner. A written report of the results of such examination shall be submitted by the owner or the veterinarian within 24 hours to the Board of Health.

If at any time during said ten-day observation period the dog or other animal develops symptoms indicative of rabies, such fact shall be communicated at once to the Board of Health and the dog or other animal shall immediately be removed to a veterinary hospital acceptable to the Board of Health.

At the end of the ten-day observation period, the dog or other animal shall again be examined by a duly licensed veterinarian employed by the owner and a written report of the results of such examination shall be submitted by the owner or the veterinarian within 24 hours to the Board of Health. If the second report reveals no symptoms indicative of rabies, the dog or other animal may then be released from confinement.

If at any time after the dog or other animal is placed in confinement it develops rabies, it shall be disposed of in such manner as the Board of Health shall direct.

§ 95-13 Confinement where rabies has occurred in Township within 100 days.

If the records of the Board of Health disclose any occurrence of rabies in Marple Township within 100 days prior to the receipts of the report above referred to, it shall be the duty of the owner of any dog or other animal which has bitten or injured any person in this Township to follow the procedure set forth below:

The dog or other animal shall be removed to and confined by the owner for an observation period of 10 days from the date the bite occurred in a veterinary hospital acceptable to the Board of Health. The owner or the hospital shall submit the receipt for the dog or other animal to the Police Department upon the same day that it is placed in the hospital.

Immediately upon being placed in the hospital, the dog or other animal shall be examined by a duly licensed veterinarian employed by the owner. A written report of the results of such examination shall be submitted by the owner or the veterinarian within 24 hours to this Board.

If, at any time during the ten-day observation period, the dog or other animal develops symptoms indicative of rabies, such fact shall be communicated at once to the Board of Health.

At the end of said ten-day observation period, the dog or other animal shall again be examined by a duly licensed veterinarian employed by the owner, and a written report of the results of such examination shall be submitted by the owner or the veterinarian within 24 hours to the Board of Health. If the second report reveals no symptoms indicative of rabies, the owner may obtain from the Police Department the hospital receipt for the dog or other animal, and it may then be released from confinement.

If, at any time after the dog or other animal is placed in the hospital, it develops rabies, it shall be disposed of in such manner as the Board of Health shall direct.

§ 95-14 Report of possible exposure.

It shall be the duty of any person who has knowledge that a dog or other animal in Marple Township has been bitten or otherwise injured by or been exposed to or been in contact with a dog or other animal infected with or suspected of being infected with rabies to immediately report the facts and the whereabouts of such dog or other animal, if known, to the Board of Health or to the Police Department.

§ 95-15 Report of infection or suspected infection.

It shall be the duty of any person who has knowledge that a dog or other animal in Marple Township is infected with or suspected of being infected with rabies to immediately report the facts and the whereabouts of such dog or other animal, if known, to the Board of Health or to the Police Department. Any dog or other animal suspected of being infected with rabies shall immediately be removed to and confined in a veterinary hospital acceptable to the Board of Health, and such dog or other animal shall not be released therefrom without the permission of the Board of Health. Any dog or other animal infected with rabies shall be disposed of in such manner as the Board of Health may direct.

§ 95-16 Vaccination against rabies.

[Added 2-10-1986 by Ord. No. 86-4]

It shall be the duty of each owner of an animal in Marple Township to arrange for vaccination of his (or her) animal by a veterinarian. Young animals shall be vaccinated within 30 days after reaching five months of age. Every animal shall be vaccinated following enactment of this article as promptly as possible and revaccinated at the interval of time and with the specific vaccine for that particular type of animal, using the specific vaccine licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Unvaccinated animals acquired or moved into Marple Township shall be vaccinated within 30 days after purchase or arrival or, if under five months of age, shall be vaccinated within 30 days after reaching five months of age.

§ 95-17 Duties of veterinarian.

[Added 2-10-1986 by Ord. No. 86-4]

It shall be the duty of each veterinarian at the time of vaccinating any animal against rabies to complete, in duplicate, a vaccination certificate; the original for the owner and a duplicate to be retained by the issuing veterinarian. Such certificate, over the signature of the veterinarian, shall include the following information:

(1)

The owner's name and address.

(2)

A description of the animal (breed, sex, markings, age and name).

(3)

The date of vaccination.

(4)

The rabies vaccination tag number.

(5)

The type of vaccine administered and years of effective protection.

(6)

The manufacturer's serial number of the vaccine.

(7)

The due date for booster.

In addition to said certificate, the veterinarian shall furnish to the owner or himself affix to the animal's collar or harness a metal or durable plastic tag stating the date of vaccination, tag number and veterinarian's name. The tag shall be worn by the animal at all times.

§ 95-18 Laboratory analysis.

[Added 2-10-1986 by Ord. No. 86-4]

For the purpose of control in the instance of an animal suspected of being infected with rabies, or one which dies for any reason during quarantine, and requiring laboratory analysis, the owner or person designated to act for the owner shall engage a veterinarian to prepare the suspected animal for shipment to any approved laboratory for the purposes of determination of rabies infection.

§ 95-19 Costs to owners.

[Amended 2-10-1986 by Ord. No. 86-4]

Costs of examination, vaccinations, impounding and preparation of any animal for laboratory analysis shall be borne by the owner of said animal.

§ 95-20 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 6-12-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-10]

Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of these rules and regulations shall be liable, on conviction thereof, to a maximum fine of $600, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 30 days.