[R.O. 1992 § 205.230; Ord. No. 5275 § 1, 9-4-1979]
For the purpose of this Article,
the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively
ascribed to them by this Section:
Any cat shall be deemed to be at large when it is off the
premises of its owner and not restrained by a competent person.
Any feline animal, male or female, sexed or neutered.
Keep, harbor or have control, charge or custody of a cat.
This term shall not apply to cats owned by others which are temporarily
maintained on the premises of a veterinarian or kennel operator for
a period of less than thirty (30) days.
Any person keeping, harboring or having charge or control
of, or permitting any cat to habitually be or remain on, or be lodged
or fed within, such person's house, yard or premises. This term shall
not apply to veterinarians or kennel operators temporarily maintaining
on their premises cats owned by others for a period of less than thirty
(30) days.
When the cat is controlled by a leash not more than six (6)
feet in length, when the leash is held by a competent person; when
at heel of a competent person and obedient to that person's commands;
within a vehicle being driven or parked on the streets; when not more
than twenty-five (25) feet from a competent person; if such an animal
is not annoying any human or domestic animal or trespassing on private
property or in the public area where animals are forbidden.
The inoculation of a cat with a rabies vaccine licensed by
the United States Department of Agriculture. Such vaccination shall
be performed by a veterinarian duly licensed to practice veterinary
medicine in the State.
[R.O. 1992 § 205.240; Ord. No. 5275 § 1, 9-4-1979]
A.
Every cat four (4) months of age and older
shall be vaccinated against rabies. Young cats shall be vaccinated
within thirty (30) days after they have reached four (4) months of
age. Unvaccinated cats acquired or moved into the City shall be vaccinated
within thirty (30) days after purchase or arrival, unless under four
(4) months of age, as specified above.
B.
Every cat shall be revaccinated every one
(1) or three (3) years as necessary based on the type of rabies vaccination
received.
C.
The provisions of this Section with respect
to vaccination shall not apply to any cat owned by a person temporarily
remaining within the City for less than thirty (30) days or any cat
brought into the City for field trial or show purposes. Such cats
shall be kept under strict supervision of the owner. However, it shall
be unlawful to bring any cat into the City which does not comply with
the animal health laws and import regulations of the State, which
are applicable to cats.
[R.O. 1992 § 205.250; Ord. No. 5275 § 1, 9-4-1979]
A.
It shall be the duty of each veterinarian,
at the time of vaccinating any cat, to complete a certificate of rabies
vaccination, in quadruplicate, which includes the following information:
B.
Distribution Of Copies Of Certificate Shall Be As Follows. The original forwarded to the owner, first and second copy to the City Clerk and the third copy retained by the issuing veterinarian. The veterinarian and the owner shall retain their copies for the interval between vaccinations specified in Section 205.240. A metal or durable plastic tag, serially numbered and issued by the veterinarian, shall be securely attached to the collar or harness of the cat. Whenever the cat is out of doors, whether on or off the owner's premises, the collar or harness with the vaccination tag shall be worn.
[R.O. 1992 § 205.260; Ord. No. 5275 § 1, 9-4-1979]
The cost of rabies vaccination shall
be borne by the owner of the cat.
[R.O. 1992 § 205.270; Ord. No. 5275 § 1, 9-4-1979]
A.
Any cat or other animal suspected of being afflicted with rabies, or any cat not vaccinated in accordance with Section 205.240, which has bitten any person and caused an abrasion of the skin of such person, shall be seized and impounded under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. If upon the examination by a veterinarian, the cat has no signs of rabies at the end of impoundment, it may be released to the owner or in the case of a stray, it shall be disposed of in accordance with applicable laws.
B.
Any cat vaccinated in accordance with Section 205.240 or other animal which has bitten any person shall be confined by the owner or other responsible person as required by the Mayor for a period of ten (10) days, at which time the cat or other animal shall be examined by a licensed veterinarian. If no signs of rabies are observed by the veterinarian, the cat may be released from confinement.
[R.O. 1992 § 205.280; Ord. No. 5275 § 1, 9-4-1979]
A.
In the case of cats known to have been
bitten by a rabid animal, the following rules shall apply:
1.
Unvaccinated Cats.
a.
In the case of cats which are not vaccinated in accordance with Section 205.240 which have been bitten by a known rabid animal, the bitten or exposed cat shall be immediately destroyed.
b.
If the owner is unwilling to destroy
the bitten or exposed animal, strict isolation of the animal in a
kennel under veterinary supervision for a minimum of six (6) months
shall be enforced and have said dog immunized against rabies at the
owner's or custodian's expense, by the administration of anti-rabic
virus by a licensed veterinarian.
2.
Vaccinated Cat. If the bitten or exposed cat is vaccinated in accordance with the provisions of Section 205.240, the cat shall be handled as follows:
[R.O. 1992 § 205.290; Ord. No. 5275 § 1, 9-4-1979; Ord. No. 7230, 6-15-1992; Ord. No. 8018 §§ 5—7, 10-7-1996]
A.
The City Council may authorize a pound
or enforcement officer to enter into a cooperative agreement with
a licensed veterinarian for the establishment and operation of a pound,
or may enter into a cooperative agreement with the Franklin County
Humane Society for the impoundment of cats.
B.
Any cat found off the owner's premises
shall be impounded. All impounded cats shall be given proper care
and maintenance. Each impounded cat shall be kept and maintained at
the pound for a minimum of one (1) week unless reclaimed earlier by
the owner.
C.
Notice of impoundment of animals, including
any significant marks of identification, shall be posted with the
City Clerk as public notification of impoundment. Any unvaccinated
cat may be reclaimed by its owner during the period of impoundment
by payment of prescribed pound fees and complying with rabies vaccination
requirement of this Article within seventy-two (72) hours of release.
Any vaccinated cat impounded because of lack of a rabies vaccination
tag may be reclaimed by its owner by furnishing proof of rabies vaccination
and payment of all impoundment fees prior to release.
D.
At the expiration of impoundment, a cat
may be claimed by payment of established pound fees and by compliance
with the rabies vaccination requirement of this Article within seventy-two
(72) hours of release. If the cat is unclaimed at the end of one (1)
week, the City may dispose of the cat in accordance with applicable
laws or rules and regulations.
E.
Any cat owner shall be notified, if possible,
before the cat may be destroyed.
[R.O. 1992 § 205.300; Ord. No. 5275 § 1, 9-4-1979; Ord. No. 7230, 6-15-1992; Ord. No. 8018 § 8, 10-7-1996; Ord. No. 10-10724 § 2, 7-6-2010]
Impoundment fees shall be borne by
the owner. Upon impoundment, the fee shall be thirty dollars ($30.00)
and for each day the cat is impounded thereafter, the additional fee
of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be charged.
[R.O. 1992 § 205.310; Ord. No. 5275 § 1, 9-4-1979]
No person shall allow any cat owned
or in his/her possession to be at large as provided in this Article
unless properly restrained and any cat found at large may be impounded
and its owner or keeper subject to prosecution under the terms of
this Code.
