[Code 1991, § 4-25]
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, hold or harbor
any dog or domesticated cat four months of age or older within the
City unless such animal has been currently vaccinated for rabies by
a licensed veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician who is under
the immediate and direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian on
the premises. The supervising veterinarian on the premises shall provide
the owner or custodian of the animal with a certificate of vaccination.
The owner or custodian of the animal shall furnish within a reasonable
period of time, upon the request of the animal control officer or
other officer, the certificate of vaccination for such dog or cat.
The vaccine used shall be licensed by the United States Department
of Agriculture for use in that species.
B.
Any person who transports a dog or cat into the City from another jurisdiction and the animal is not currently vaccinated for rabies shall conform to the requirements of Subsection A of this section within 10 days.
C.
All vaccinated dogs shall display a valid rabies vaccination tag,
fastened to the dog's collar, at all times when the dog is off the
property of its owner or custodian. The burden of proving that a dog
not displaying such a tag is currently vaccinated in accordance with
this section shall rest with the dog's owner or custodian.
[Code 1991, § 4-26]
Every person having knowledge of the existence of an animal
apparently afflicted with rabies shall report immediately to the City
Health Department the existence of such animal, the place where seen,
the owner's name, if known, and the symptoms suggesting rabies.
[Code 1991, § 4-27; Ord. No. 07-03, 2-20-2007]
A.
Dogs and cats showing active signs of rabies or suspected of having
rabies shall be confined under competent observation for such time
as may be necessary to determine a diagnosis. If confinement is impossible
or impracticable, such animal shall be euthanized by one of the methods
approved by the state veterinarian, as provided in Code of Virginia,
§ 3.2-6546.
B.
Any dog or cat, for which no proof of current rabies vaccination
is available and which is exposed to rabies through a bite, or through
saliva or central nervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound or
mucous membrane, by an animal believed to be afflicted with rabies,
shall be confined in the pound or animal shelter or other enclosure
approved by the Health Department for a period not to exceed six months,
at the expense of the owner. However, if this is not feasible, the
dog or cat shall be euthanized by one of the methods approved by the
state veterinarian, as provided by Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6546.
If confinement is selected, an inactivated rabies vaccine may be administered
at the beginning of the confinement. Prior to release, a vaccine for
rabies approved by the state veterinarian shall be administered.
C.
Any dog or cat so bitten, or exposed to rabies through saliva or
central nervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound or mucous membrane,
with proof of a valid rabies vaccination, shall be revaccinated immediately
following the bite and shall be confined to the premises of the owner,
or other site as approved by the City Health Department, for a period
of 45 days.
D.
If any dog or cat not exposed to rabies as described in Subsection B of this section has bitten a person, it shall be confined under competent observation upon the owner's premises or such other site as approved by the Director of the City Health Department for a period of not less than 10 days, unless the animal develops active symptoms of rabies or dies before that time.
E.
If any dog or cat has been exposed to rabies as described in Subsection B of this section or is suspected of being rabid, and is confined to the pound or animal shelter for observation, and the owner does not elect to continue prolonged confinement or requests destruction of the animal, then such animal shall be humanely euthanized in a manner approved by the state veterinarian, pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6546. The Director of the City Health Department shall then have the dog's or cat's head removed and forwarded to the state department of general services or the local Health Department for evaluation.
[Code 1991, § 4-28]
A.
At the discretion of the Director of the City Health Department,
any animal other than a dog or cat which has bitten a person shall
be confined under competent observation for 10 days, unless the animal
develops active symptoms of rabies or dies before that time. A seriously
injured or sick animal may be humanely euthanized as provided in Code
of Virginia, § 3.2-6546, and its head sent to the state
department of general services or the City Health Department for evaluation.
B.
When any potentially rabid animal, other than a dog or cat, exposes
or may have exposed a person to rabies through a bite, or through
saliva or central nervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound or
mucous membrane, that animal shall be confined at the discretion of
and in a manner approved by the City Health Department or humanely
euthanized as provided in Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6546,
and its head sent to the state department of general services or the
local Health Department for evaluation.
C.
When any animal, other than a dog or cat, is exposed to rabies through
a bite, or through saliva or central nervous system tissue, in a fresh
open wound or mucous membrane, by an animal believed to be afflicted
with rabies, that newly exposed animal shall be confined at the discretion
of and in a manner directed by the Director of the City Health Department,
or humanely euthanized as provided in Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6546.
