City of Richmond Heights, MO Article III Rabies Control

Section 210.110 Exposure To Rabies — Destruction — Alternatives — Disposal.

[CC 1984 §§6-20, 6-23; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §§6-12, 6-15; Ord. No. 4224 §5, 8-1-1988]

A. Any dog, cat or other animal which has been exposed to rabies shall be immediately destroyed unless the owner, at his/her expense, chooses one (1) of the following alternative methods:

1. Strict isolation in a kennel or animal hospital for six (6) months.

2. If no previous vaccination has been given to a dog or cat within a period of three (3) years with chicken embryo (Flury Strain) vaccine, or within one (1) year using vaccine of nerve tissue origin, or if other vaccine approved by the Health Commissioner was used, and if the effective protection limit of the last such vaccination has passed, then such dog or cat shall be placed on a schedule of immunization approved by the Health Commissioner.

3. If a dog or cat has been vaccinated previously with another vaccine approved by the Health Commissioner within the duration of the vaccine's effective protection as approved by the Health Commissioner, the animal shall be revaccinated and restrained by a leash or confined at home for thirty (30) days.

B. Prior to release of any animal under clinical observation for rabies, all conditions of this Article shall be fulfilled.

C. Disposal. The Health Commissioner, his/her designee or any other person designated by the City Manager shall dispose of any dog or other animal infected with rabies. Such designee shall have the power to:

1. Examine and impound any animal bitten by or exposed to any other animal infected with rabies;

2. Require the owners of such dogs to take such measures as are necessary to prevent further spread of rabies; and

3. Dispose of any exposed animal if the necessary measures are not taken by the owners.

Section 210.120 Report of Destruction of Animals.

[CC 1984 §6-21; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-13]

A. Any person destroying an animal infected or suspected of being infected with rabies shall immediately notify the Health Department and the Police Department and shall surrender the carcass of such animal upon demand.

B. The owner or custodian of any destroyed animal shall immediately provide the Health Department and the Police Department with full particulars thereof, including the time, date, location and the name and address of the owner or person having custody of any animal exposed to the animal destroyed.

Section 210.130 Suspicion of Rabies — Procedures.

[CC 1984 §6-22; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-14; Ord. No. 4224 §6, 8-1-1988]

A. Any dog, cat or other animal which exhibits objective symptoms suggestive of rabies shall, after written certification to the owner by the Health Commissioner or such other person designated by the City Manager for the enforcement of this Chapter, be impounded and held for ten (10) days at the impounding facilities designated by the City Manager for clinical observation and, if alive at the termination of this period, shall be returned to the owner after payment by the owner of the shelter service fee provided for in Section 210.100.

B. As an alternative procedure, the owner, at his/her own expense, may designate any veterinary hospital in St. Louis County wherein such animal is to be impounded and observed for a similar ten (10) day period.

C. If such animal dies during the observation period, regardless of location, the head shall be removed and submitted to a qualified laboratory for examination.

D. Prior to the release of any animal under clinical observation for rabies, all conditions of this Article shall be fulfilled.

Section 210.140 Rabies — Report.

[CC 1984 §6-24; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-16]

A. Any person within the City shall report to the Health Department or the Police Department any information or knowledge concerning an animal which:

1. Exhibits clinical symptoms suggestive of rabies;

2. Has been exposed to rabies; or

3. Is suspected of having rabies.

Section 210.150 Quarantine of Dogs, Publication — Leashing Dogs — Termination.

[CC 1984 §6-30; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-17]

A. Whenever rabies becomes prevalent in the City, the Mayor shall, according to the necessity of the case, issue a quarantine order requiring every owner or person in charge of any dog or dogs, whether vaccinated or not, within the City limits, to either kill his/her dog or dogs or confine them in the home or some other secure building, or to have such dog or dogs immunized.

B. The order shall be published once in a paper publishing the business of the City or shall be posted in at least twenty (20) conspicuous places about the City.

C. Whenever during a quarantine it is necessary that a dog leave the confines of a home or other security building, such dog shall be placed on a leash no more than six (6) feet in length and under the direct physical control of a competent person not less than fifteen (15) years of age.

D. The Mayor, by proclamation, may terminate any quarantine whenever, in his/her judgment, the necessity for it no longer exists.

Section 210.160 Quarantine — Killing Dogs At Large.

[CC 1984 §6-31; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-18; Ord. No. 4224 §7, 8-1-1988]

Whenever any quarantine order is issued as provided in Section 210.150, the members of the Police Department and any other person designated by the City Manager shall kill, within the jurisdiction of such quarantine, all dogs found running at large, except those which have been immunized.

Section 210.170 Animal Bites — Procedure.

[CC 1984 §6-32; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 23; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-19]

A. The owner of any dog, cat or other animal which bites any person, regardless of the circumstances or whether such dog or cat is vaccinated, shall be required to place such dog, cat or other animal in the custody of the Health Department or the Police Department for confinement in a manner satisfactory to the Health Commissioner or Chief of Police. The confinement shall be in a manner that will prevent contact with people and other animals for a period of ten (10) days following the evening of the day of the bite, for the purpose of clinical observation. All expenses shall be borne by the owner of the dog, cat or other animal.

B. If such dog, cat or other animal develops clinical symptoms suggestive of rabies, it shall be allowed to die a natural death. If, for any reason, such dog, cat or other animal should die while in confinement, its head shall be removed by a veterinarian and submitted to a qualified laboratory.

C. If, at the end of the ten (10) day period of observation, the dog, cat or other domestic animal is alive and healthy, it may be released to its owner.

D. All other conditions of this Chapter must be fulfilled prior to the release of any animal under clinical observation as a result of biting a person.

Section 210.180 Report of Animal Bite — Contents.

[CC 1984 §6-33; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970]

A. Any person bitten by any animal, or the parent or guardian of any minor bitten by an animal, shall report the occurrence to the Department of Health and the Police Department immediately.

B. The report shall contain the following:

1. The name and address of the owner and of the animal;

2. The day and time bitten;

3. The location where the biting occurred; and

4. A general description of the animal.

Section 210.190 Rabies Report By Physician or Veterinarian.

[CC 1984 §6-34; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-21]

A. Any physician shall report immediately to the Department of Health and the Police Department the full name, age and address of any person under his/her care or observation who has been bitten by any animal, irrespective of whether infected with rabies or only suspected of rabies infection.

B. Any veterinarian treating or having under observation any animal infected with rabies shall report to the Health Department and the Police Department the owner's name and address and, if the animal is a dog or cat, the vaccination-registration number.