[CC 1984 §6-1; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-1]
This Chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Animal
and Rabies Control Code".
[CC 1984 §6-2; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-2; Ord. No. 4224
§1, 8-1-1988; Ord.
No. 4435 §1, 3-16-1992]
As used in this Chapter, the following terms shall have these
prescribed meanings:
AT LARGE
Off the premises of the owner's real property and not under
restraint of a competent person.
CAT
All domestic species or varieties of the genus felis, male
or female, six (6) months of age or older.
CERTIFICATE
The certificate issued under the St. Louis County Rabies
Control Code at the time of vaccination and bearing the signature
of the vaccinator, the registration number, the name, color, breed
and sex of the dog or cat, the name and address of the owner, the
date of vaccination, and type of vaccine administered.
CHICKEN EMBRYO ORIGIN VACCINE
Vaccine which is manufactured using the embryo of a chicken
as a growth medium and also known as Flury Strain vaccine.
COMPETENT PERSON
A human being who is capable of controlling and governing
the animal in question and to whose commands such animal is obedient.
COURT
The Richmond Heights Municipal Division of the St. Louis
County Circuit Court.
DOG
All domesticated members of the canis familaris, male or
female, six (6) months of age or older.
EUTHANIZE
To put to death in a humane manner.
EXPOSED TO RABIES
When bitten by, or fought with, or has come in close contact
with a dog showing symptoms of rabies.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONER OR HEALTH COMMISSIONER
The Department of Public Health of St. Louis County, Missouri,
or the Commissioner of Public Health of St. Louis County, or any person,
persons or agent employed by the County Health Commissioner to enforce
the St. Louis County Rabies Control Code.
HOUSEHOLD
Those members of a family, including servants and attendants,
living in the same dwelling unit.
IMPOUND
The apprehending, catching, trapping, netting, tranquilizing,
confining or, if necessary, the destruction of any animal by the Health
Commissioner or his/her agent, or by any employee or agent of the
City.
IMPOUNDING FACILITIES
Any premises designated by the City Manager for the purpose
of impounding and caring for all animals in violation of this Chapter.
KITTEN
All domestic species or varieties of the genus felis, male
or female, under the age of six (6) months.
NERVE TISSUE ORIGIN
Vaccine which is manufactured using tissue of the nervous
system as a growth medium.
OWNER
Any person who owns, harbors, shelters, keeps, controls,
manages, possesses, or has part interest in any dog, cat or animal
in the City. The occupant of any premises on which a dog or cat remains
for a period of seven (7) days, or to which it customarily returns
for a period of ten (10) days, is presumed to be harboring, sheltering
or keeping the aforementioned dog or cat within this definition. Under
no circumstances are the normal and ordinary accepted definitions
of the terms harboring, sheltering or keeping to be limited to the
words of the aforementioned presumption. If a minor owns a dog, puppy
or other animal subject to the provisions of this Chapter, the head
of the household of which such minor owner is a member shall be deemed
to be the owner of such dog, puppy or animal for the purpose of this
Chapter, and under this Chapter shall be responsible as the owner,
whether or not such household head is himself/herself a minor. If
not a member of a household, such minor owner shall himself/herself
be directly subject to the provisions of this Chapter.
PUP or PUPPY
All domesticated members of the genus canis familaris, male
or female, under six (6) months of age.
RESTRAINT
1.
Controlled by a line or leash not more than six (6) feet in
length when the line or leash is held by a competent person; or
2.
Within an enclosed vehicle which is parked, stopped or being
driven.
VACCINATE
The injection by a veterinarian or his/her authorized agent
of a specified dose of anti-rabies vaccine into the body of a dog
or cat, such vaccine having the U.S. Government license number approval
stamped on the label of the vaccine container and having been approved
by the Health Commissioner. Vaccine used for vaccination of the dogs
and cats shall be stored and kept under conditions proper for the
vaccine and shall show no signs of spoilage or otherwise be unfit
for producing immunity against rabies.
VACCINATION REGISTRATION
The procedure of vaccinating for rabies and issuing an identification
number and an appropriate certificate under the St. Louis County Rabies
Control Code. The above words shall be interchangeable.
VETERINARIAN
Any veterinarian holding a current Missouri license and operating
on a participating basis with the Health Department as required by
the St. Louis County Rabies Control Code.
VICIOUS DOG
1.
Any dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to
attack unprovoked, to cause injury to, or otherwise threaten the safety
of human beings or domestic animals;
2.
Any dog which because of its vicious propensity is capable of
inflicting serious physical harm or death to humans and which would
constitute a danger to human life or property if it were not kept
in the manner required by this Chapter;
3.
Any dog which, without provocation, attacks or bites, or has
attacked or bitten, a human being or domestic animal;
4.
Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purposes
of dog fighting, or any dog trained for dog fighting; or
5.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no dog may
be deemed "vicious" if a threat, injury or damage was sustained by
a person who, at the time, was committing a willful trespass or other
tort upon the premises occupied by the owner or keeper of the dog,
or if a person at the time of such threat, injury or damage was teasing,
tormenting, abusing or assaulting the dog, or was threatening or committing
an assault or other bodily harm to the owner, the owner's immediate
family or their invitees.
[CC 1984 §6-3; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-3]
A. Every
person who owns any dog or cat that is kept any time during the year
within the City, or who permits a dog or cat to come upon or remain
in or about his/her home, place of business or other premises in the
City, shall have such dog or cat vaccinated against rabies and registered
as provided in the St. Louis County Rabies Control Code.
B. All
dogs and cats must be vaccinated at least once each year if a nerve
tissue origin vaccine is used, unless a chicken embryo or other three
(3) year type vaccine approved by the Health Commissioner is administered.
In such case, the dog or cat shall be inoculated at least once every
three (3) years, or if other vaccine approved by the Health Commissioner
is administered, then at the frequency approved by the Health Commissioner.
[CC 1984 §6-4; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-4]
A. Every
dog and cat which has been vaccinated in accordance with the provisions
of the St. Louis County Rabies Control Code shall at all times wear
the registration tag in the manner therein prescribed.
B. No
person shall own any dog or cat unless such dog or cat has been vaccinated
against rabies and wears a current, unexpired registration tag. The
owner shall possess a certificate issued in accordance with the provisions
of the St. Louis County Rabies Control Code.
[CC 1984 §6-5; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-5; Ord. No. 4224
§2, 8-1-1988]
A. No
person shall conceal an animal or interfere with the Health Commissioner,
his/her designees, or any other person designated by the City Manager
in the performance of their legal duties as provided in this Chapter.
B. The
Health Commissioner, his/her designees or any other person designated
by the City Manager shall have the right of entry onto any unenclosed
lots or lands for the purpose of collecting any dog, cat or other
animal which is on such lot or land in violation of this Chapter and
whose presence thereon constitutes a violation of this Chapter.
C. The
Health Commissioner, his/her designees or any other person designated
by the City Manager shall have the right of entry to any property
or premises during the period of any 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.