The Rabies Control Authority shall enforce the provisions of
this article.
A.
Every animal required to be licensed by this chapter shall be vaccinated
against rabies by a veterinarian duly licensed to practice veterinary
medicine in the state within 30 days after it has reached three months
of age, one year after initial vaccination, and thereafter triennially,
according to vaccine manufacturers' guidelines. Said rabies vaccine
must be licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Unvaccinated
animals acquired or moved into the state must be vaccinated within
30 days after purchase or arrival, unless under three months of age
as specified above.
B.
An animal is currently vaccinated if the initial rabies vaccine was
administered at least 28 days previously or booster vaccinations have
been administered in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines.
Regardless of the age of the animal at initial vaccination, a booster
vaccination shall be administered one year later. If a previously
vaccinated animal is overdue for a booster, it shall be revaccinated.
C.
An owner or keeper of any animal required to be licensed by this
chapter to be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian is exempt from
the requirements of this section if a medical reason exists that precludes
the vaccination of the animal. To qualify for this exemption, the
owner or keeper must have a written statement signed by a licensed
veterinarian that includes a description of the animal and the medical
reason that precludes vaccination.
Every dog or cat shall be revaccinated following a period of
not more than 36 months since its last vaccination with chick embryo,
LEP (low egg passage), flurry vaccine or following a period of not
more than 36 months since its last vaccination with killed or inactivated
vaccine. The intervals of any other antirabies vaccine shall be set
by the state veterinarian, and he shall follow the latest recommendations
of the United States Public Health Service on the effective date of
this article.
A.
It shall be the duty of each veterinarian, at the time of vaccinating
any dog or cat, to complete a certificate of rabies vaccination which
shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:
(1)
The owner's name and address.
(2)
An adequate description of the dog or cat, including but not limited
to such items as the dog's or cat's breed, sex, age, name
and distinctive markings.
(3)
The date of vaccination.
(4)
The rabies vaccination tag number.
(5)
The type of rabies vaccine administered.
(6)
The manufacturer's serial number of the vaccine used.
B.
Such veterinarian shall issue a tag with the certificate of vaccination.
The cost of rabies vaccination shall be borne by the owner of
the dog or cat.
A.
The provisions of this article with respect to vaccination shall
not apply to any dog or cat owned by a person temporarily remaining
within the City for less than 30 days, to any dog or cat brought into
the City for field trial or show purposes or to any dog brought into
the City for hunting purposes for a period of less than 30 days. Such
dogs shall be kept under strict supervision of the owner.
B.
Dogs or cats assigned to a research institution or a similar facility
shall be exempt from the provisions of this article.
A.
Any dog or cat or any other animal suspected of being afflicted with rabies or any dog or cat not vaccinated in accordance with §§ 85-27, 85-28 and 85-29, which has bitten any person and caused an abrasion of the skin of such person, shall be seized by the rabies control authority and impounded under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian or a public health authority for a period of not less than 10 days. If upon examination by a veterinarian the dog, cat or other animal has no clinical signs of rabies at the end of such impoundment, it may be released to the owner or, in the case of a stray, it shall be disposed of in accordance with applicable law.
B.
Any dog or cat, vaccinated in accordance with the provisions of §§ 85-27, 85-28 and 85-29, or any other animal which has bitten any persons shall be confined by the owner or other responsible person as required by the rabies control authority for a period of at least 10 days, at which time the dog, cat or other animal shall be examined by a licensed veterinarian. If no signs of rabies are observed by the veterinarian, the dog, cat or other animal may be released from confinement.
In the case of dogs or cats known to have been bitten by a rabid
animal, the following rules shall apply:
A.
In the case of a dog or cat which has not been vaccinated in accordance with §§ 85-27, 85-28 and 85-29, and which has been bitten by a known rabid animal, such bitten or exposed dog or cat shall be immediately destroyed unless the owner is willing to place such dog or cat in strict isolation in a kennel under veterinary supervision for a period of not less than six months.
B.
If the bitten or exposed dog or cat is vaccinated in accordance with the provisions of §§ 85-27, 85-28 and 85-29 such dog or cat shall be subject to the following procedure:
(1)
Such dog or cat shall be immediately revaccinated and confined for
a period of not less than 30 days following vaccination; or
(2)
If such dog or cat is not immediately revaccinated such dog or cat
shall be confined in strict isolation in a kennel for a period of
not less than six months under the supervision of a veterinarian;
or
A.
Any dog or cat found outside the owner's premises whose owner
does not possess a valid certificate of rabies vaccination and valid
rabies vaccination tag for such dog or cat shall be given proper care,
treatment and maintenance. Each impounded dog or cat shall be kept
and maintained at the pound for a period of not less than five days
unless reclaimed earlier by the owner.
B.
Notice of impoundment of all animals, including any significant marks
of identification, shall be posted at the pound as public notification
of impoundment. Any unvaccinated dog or cat may be reclaimed by its
owner during the period of impoundment by payment of prescribed pound
fees and by complying with the rabies vaccination requirement of this
act within 72 hours of release. Any vaccinated dog or cat impounded
because its owner has not presented a valid certificate of rabies
vaccination and a valid rabies vaccination tag for such dog or cat
may be reclaimed by its owner by furnishing proof of rabies vaccination
and payment of all impoundment fees prior to release.
C.
At the expiration of impoundment, a dog or cat may be claimed by
payment of established pound fees and by compliance with the rabies
vaccination requirement of this act within 72 hours of release. If
the dog or cat is unclaimed at the end of five days, the authorities
may dispose of the dog or cat in accordance with applicable laws or
rules and regulations.
Impoundment fees shall be paid by the owner. Fees for impoundment
at public facilities shall be established by the Rabies Control Authority.
