State law reference — Rabies control, G.L. 1956, §§ 4-13-26 —
4-13-32.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 3-91; Ord.
of 5-7-1994]
(a)
Every physician or other medical practitioner shall report to the
animal control officer or the police department the names and addresses
of persons treated for bites inflicted by animals, together with such
other information as will be helpful in rabies control.
(b)
In the event any human being or domestic animal receives a bite from
any animal, the individual bitten (or his or her guardian) must notify
the animal control officer.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 3-92]
Every licensed veterinarian shall report to the animal control
officer any animal considered by him to be a rabies suspect.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 3-93; Ord.
of 3-7-1994]
No cat, dog, ferret or other animal subject to state regulation
over three months old shall be permitted within the town limits except
on proof that it was vaccinated against rabies. Any dog or cat vaccinated
prior to one year of age or receiving a primary rabies vaccine at
any age shall be given a booster rabies vaccination at intervals not
to exceed every two years thereafter. Ferrets shall be vaccinated
against rabies at yearly intervals and any owner must prove he has
a permit from the state director of the department of environmental
management to possess it pursuant to G.L. 1956, § 20-16-3.
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State law reference — Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, § 4-13-31.
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[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 3-94; Ord.
of 3-7-1994]
The vaccination or immunization required in § 3-93 shall be by a vaccine approved by the state department of health and shall be certified by a licensed veterinarian. The certificate shall be dated as of the date of inoculation or vaccination and the date when the next rabies booster is due, and shall show the rabies tag number, the age, sex, coloration and breed of the animal, the owner thereof and its address and the name of the rabies vaccine manufacturer, together with such other information as may reasonably be required by the health officer or the veterinarian administering the same.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 3-95; Ord.
of 3-7-1994]
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep or harbor within the town any dog, cat, ferret or other animal subject to state regulation over three months old unless such dog or cat has been vaccinated or inoculated in accordance with the provisions of § 3-93.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 3-96; Ord.
of 3-7-1994]
(a)
Any dog, cat, ferret or other animal subject to state regulation over three months old found within the limits of the town without evidence that such animal has been vaccinated or inoculated in accordance with the provisions of § 3-93 shall be impounded by the animal control officer or any police officer of the town or other authorized person for a period not exceeding five days, during which time such animal may be returned to its owner upon proof of ownership, vaccination of the animal and payment by the owner of the fees which are on file in the town clerk's office.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 3-97]
Every animal which bites a person shall be promptly reported
to the animal control officer, shall be securely quarantined at the
direction of the animal control officer for a period of 14 days, and
shall not be released from such quarantine except by written permission
of the animal control officer. At the discretion of the animal control
officer such quarantine may be on the premises of the owner, at the
dog pound, or, at the owner's option and expense, in a veterinary
hospital of his choice. In the case of stray animals or of animals
whose ownership is not known, such quarantine shall be at the shelter
designated by the animal control officer.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 3-98]
Upon demand of the animal control officer the owner shall surrender
any animal which has bitten a human or which is suspected as having
been exposed to rabies for supervised quarantine. The expense of quarantine
shall be borne by the owner. The animal may be reclaimed by the owner
if it is adjudged free of rabies, upon payment of fees which are on
file in the town clerk's office.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 3-99]
When rabies is diagnosed in an animal under quarantine or rabies
is suspected by a licensed veterinarian and the animal dies while
under observation, the animal control officer shall immediately send
the head of such animal to the state health department for pathological
examination and shall notify the proper public health officer of reports
of human contacts and the diagnosis.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 3-100]
When one or both reports indicate a positive diagnosis of rabies,
the animal control officer shall recommend an area-wide quarantine
for a period of 90 days. Upon invoking of such emergency quarantine,
no animal shall be taken into or be permitted to be in the streets
during such period of quarantine. During such quarantine, no animal
may be taken or shipped from the town without written permission of
the animal control officer.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 3-101; Ord.
of 3-7-1994]
During the quarantine period and as long after as he decides
it is necessary to prevent the spread of rabies, the health officer
shall require all dogs and cats three months of age and older to be
vaccinated against rabies with a rabies vaccine approved by the biologies
control section of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The types of
approved antirabies vaccine to be used and a recognized duration of
immunity for each shall be established by the health officer. All
vaccinated dogs and cats shall be restricted, by leashing or confinement
in enclosed premises, for 30 days after vaccination. During the quarantine
period the health officer shall be empowered to provide for a program
of mass immunization by the establishment of temporary emergency rabies
vaccination clinics strategically located throughout the town.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 3-102]
No animal which has been impounded because it is a stray which
is unclaimed by its owner shall be allowed to be claimed during the
period of the rabies emergency quarantine except by authorization
of the health officer and the animal control officer.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 3-103]
Dogs bitten by a known rabid animal shall be immediately destroyed,
or, if the owner is unwilling to destroy the exposed animal, strict
isolation of the animal in a kennel for six months shall be enforced.
If the dog has been previously vaccinated within the time limits established
by the health officer based on the kind of vaccine used, revaccination
and restraint for 30 days shall be carried out.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 3-104]
If there are additional positive cases of rabies occurring during
the period of the quarantine, such period of quarantine may be extended
for an additional six months.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 3-105]
(a)
No person shall kill or cause to be killed any rabid animal, any
animal suspected of having been exposed to rabies or any animal biting
a human except as herein provided, or remove such animal from the
town limits without permission from the animal control officer.
(b)
The carcass of any dead animal exposed to rabies shall be surrendered
to the animal control officer upon demand. The animal control officer
shall direct the disposition of any animal found to be infected with
rabies. No person shall fail or refuse to surrender any animal for
quarantine or destruction as required herein when demand is made by
the animal control officer.
