The city hereby adopts by reference the Texas State Rabies Control
Act, as amended, and the standards established by the appropriate
state agency or rule-making board as minimum standards for rabies
control and quarantine provisions within the city.
(Ordinance O-19-008, sec. 3, adopted 2/21/19)
The animal services supervisor is hereby designated as the local
rabies control authority as authorized under Chapter 826 of the Texas
Health and Safety Code.
(Ordinance O-19-008, sec. 3, adopted 2/21/19)
(a)
Every
dog, cat or domestic ferret over four (4) months of age must be vaccinated
once every twelve (12) months against rabies by a state licensed veterinarian
and wear evidence of said vaccination.
(b)
A person
commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly owns or possesses
a dog, cat or ferret older than four (4) months, that has not been
vaccinated for rabies.
(c)
It shall
be a defense to any prosecution under this section if the person accused
of the offense presents a certificate of vaccination, issued by a
state licensed veterinarian, with a date of not more than twelve (12)
months prior to date of the offense.
(Ordinance O-19-008, sec. 3, adopted 2/21/19)
It shall be the duty of every person, physician or other practitioner
to report to the local rabies control authority the names and addresses
of any persons treated for bites or scratches inflicted by animals.
Any other information that may help in locating the victim or the
animal shall also be reported.
(Ordinance O-19-008, sec. 3, adopted 2/21/19)
It shall be the duty of every licensed veterinarian to report
to the local rabies control authority his diagnosis of rabies or of
any animal observed by him as a rabies suspect.
(Ordinance O-19-008, sec. 3, adopted 2/21/19)
Any animal believed or reported to be rabid, may have been exposed
to rabies or has bitten, clawed or scratched a person shall be quarantined
for two hundred forty (240) hours at a state licensed animal hospital
or veterinarian office for medical evaluation and rabies testing.
The owner of such animal shall immediately notify the city’s
animal control authority and fully cooperate with all required precautionary
procedures.
A person commits an offense if the person fails or refuses to
present for quarantine or testing, an animal that is suspected of
rabies as defined in this article. A person may be issued a citation
for noncompliance for violating this provision. The animal control
authority shall be authorized to obtain a search and seizure warrant
if there is reason to believe any requirements of this article are
violated.
(Ordinance O-19-008, sec. 3, adopted 2/21/19)
Any animal, after the required two hundred forty (240) hour
quarantine period, deemed free of rabies by a state licensed veterinarian
may be reclaimed by the owner upon payment of all applicable fees
related to the period of the quarantine and the appropriate animal
licensing requirements have been met. If the owner does not reclaim
the animal within four (4) days of notification, the veterinarian
or local rabies control authority may sell the animal and retain the
proceeds.
When an animal under quarantine is diagnosed by a state licensed
veterinarian as being rabid, the veterinarian or the local rabies
control authority shall humanely destroy the animal, at the owner’s
expense.
If an animal dies while under quarantine, the animal control
authority shall send the head of such animal to the nearest state
health department laboratory for testing. Any costs associated with
such testing shall be at the owner’s expense.
(Ordinance O-19-008, sec. 3, adopted 2/21/19)
