[Adopted 7-12-1971 as Ch. 28, Art. II, of the 1971 Code]
[Amended 6-12-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-10]
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.).
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.
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:
A. 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.
B. 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.
C. 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.
D. 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.
E. 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.
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:
A. 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.
B. 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.
C. 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.
D. 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.
E. 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.
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.
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.
[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.
[Added 2-10-1986 by Ord. No. 86-4]
A. 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).
(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.
B. 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.
[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.
[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.
[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.