The owner of each dog or cat kept within the city shall have every such dog or cat vaccinated against rabies by the time the dog or cat is four (4) months of age and once each year thereafter. It shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep a dog or cat within the city limits unless the same has been vaccinated against rabies.
(Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-16, adopted 12/11/08; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-16, adopted 1/15/09; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-16, adopted 7/9/09; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-16, adopted 12/12/13)
Upon vaccinating any dog or cat, the veterinarian performing such vaccination shall deliver to the animal’s owner a numbered metal tag and a certificate of vaccination. A record shall be made by the veterinarian and kept for at least two (2) years showing the date of issuance and serial number of each tag issued, the name and address of the dog’s or cat’s owner and a brief description of the dog or cat vaccinated.
(Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-17, adopted 12/11/08; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-17, adopted 1/15/09; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-17, adopted 7/9/09; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-17, adopted 12/12/13)
It shall be unlawful for an owner to allow a dog or cat over the age of four (4) months to be at large without wearing a current metal vaccination tag issued by a veterinarian during the preceding twelve (12) months. It shall be prima facie evidence of vaccination against rabies that a dog or cat is wearing attached to its collar a current metal vaccination tag.
(Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-18, adopted 12/11/08; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-18, adopted 1/15/09; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-18, adopted 7/9/09; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-18, adopted 12/12/13)
It shall be unlawful for any person to cause a dog or cat to wear attached to its collar, or otherwise, a vaccination tag issued for any other dog or cat.
(Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-19, adopted 12/11/08; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-19, adopted 1/15/09; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-19, adopted 7/9/09; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-19, adopted 12/12/13)
(a) 
A person having knowledge of an animal bite or scratch to an individual that the person could reasonably foresee as capable of transmitting rabies or knowledge of an animal that is reasonably suspected to be rabid shall report such knowledge immediately to the director of animal control or the police department.
(b) 
The owner of an animal that is reported to be rabid or to have exposed an individual to a risk of contracting rabies shall submit the animal to the director of animal control or a licensed veterinarian to be quarantined until such time as it can be definitely determined whether such animal is infected with rabies, but in no case less than ten (10) days.
(c) 
It is an offense under this chapter for a person to refuse to submit for quarantine any animal reasonably suspected of being rabid. It is also an offense to knowingly sell, release or otherwise dispose of an animal before the expiration of the quarantine period if the animal is reasonably suspected of being rabid.
(d) 
An animal that is lacking proof of current vaccination for rabies at the time it bites a person is presumed to be under suspicion of rabies.
(Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-24, adopted 12/11/08; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-24, adopted 1/15/09; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-24, adopted 7/9/09; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-24, adopted 12/12/13)
Animals suspected of being rabid shall be quarantined with a licensed veterinarian at the expense of the owner. If it is determined by a veterinarian that a quarantined animal shows the clinical signs of the disease of rabies, the veterinarian shall humanely destroy the animal. If the animal dies or is destroyed while in quarantine, the veterinarian shall remove the head or brain of the animal and submit it to the department of state health services for testing.
(Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-25, adopted 12/11/08; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-25, adopted 1/15/09; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-25, adopted 7/9/09; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-25, adopted 12/12/13)
(a) 
If a veterinarian determines that a quarantined animal does not show the clinical signs of rabies, the animal shall be released to its owner following the quarantine period if:
(1) 
The owner has an unexpired rabies vaccination certificate for the animal; or
(2) 
The animal is vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian at the owner’s expense.
The owner of an animal that is quarantined under suspicion of rabies shall pay to the city the reasonable costs of the quarantine and disposition of the animal, or the city may bring suit to collect such costs.
(b) 
Animals that are not claimed on or before the third day following the quarantine period may be released to an animal shelter after vaccination for rabies, or they may be humanely destroyed.
(Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-26, adopted 12/11/08; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-26, adopted 1/15/09; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-26, adopted 7/9/09; Ordinance 12-11-08, sec. 6-26, adopted 12/12/13)
No person shall willfully take from any dog or cat a collar or tag without the permission of the owner or keeper.
(Ordinance 88-8, art. B, sec. 3, adopted 7/11/89)