It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog or cat more than four months of age to keep such dog or cat within the corporate limits of the city without first having such dog or cat vaccinated against rabies annually. Upon such vaccination, the owner shall be issued a certificate and a metal vaccination tag by the veterinarian showing vaccination and the date thereof.
(1988 Code, ch. 2, sec. 6.20; 2010 Code, sec. 8-139)
(a) 
If any dog or cat has bitten any person, the owner of the dog or cat shall immediately, and in any event not later than 24 hours after such biting, notify the animal control supervisor of such biting. Such dog or cat shall be impounded in the animal control facility or a licensed quarantine facility in the city for a period of ten days.
(b) 
The owner of a dog or cat that has bitten any person shall be allowed to assume personal responsibility for confining the dog or cat to prevent further exposure to humans or other animals during the observation period of ten days, only under the following circumstances:
(1) 
Secure facilities must be available at the home of the dog’s or cat’s owner and must be approved by the animal control supervisor;
(2) 
The dog or cat is currently vaccinated against rabies;
(3) 
The dog or cat was not in violation of any laws or ordinances at the time of the bite incident;
(4) 
A licensed veterinarian must observe the dog or cat at least on the first and the last days of the quarantine period;
(5) 
If the dog or cat becomes ill during the observation period, the animal control supervisor must be notified by the person having possession of the dog or cat; and
(6) 
At the end of the observation period, the release from quarantine must be accomplished in writing by the veterinarian.
(c) 
The violation of the observation confinement of the biting dog or cat shall be just cause for seizure and confinement of the dog or cat in the animal control facility.
(d) 
Any dog or cat not reclaimed by its owner within 72 hours of the expiration of the quarantine or observation period provided in this section, as determined by the animal control supervisor, shall become the property of the city to do with as it deems best.
(e) 
No such dog or cat held for observation shall be released from impoundment without the authorization of the city animal control supervisor or designated representative.
(f) 
Such impoundment shall be at the expense of the owner of the dog or cat pursuant to the fee schedule as established by the city council and set forth in appendix A of this code.
(1988 Code, ch. 2, sec. 6.21; 2010 Code, sec. 8-140)
(a) 
Unvaccinated animals which have been bitten or directly exposed by physical contact with a rabid animal or its fresh tissues should be humanely killed or, if sufficient justification for preserving the animal exists, the exposed animal should be immediately vaccinated against rabies, placed in strict isolation for 90 days and given booster vaccinations during the third and eighth weeks of isolation. If the animal is under three months of age at the time of the second vaccination, an additional booster should be given when the animal reaches three months of age.
(b) 
Currently vaccinated animals which have been bitten or otherwise significantly exposed to a rabid animal should be humanely killed, or, if sufficient justification for preserving the animal exists, the exposed vaccinated animal should be given a booster rabies vaccination immediately and placed in strict isolation for 45 days.
(c) 
This division applies only to domestic animals for which an approved rabies vaccination is available.
(1988 Code, ch. 2, sec. 6.22; 2010 Code, sec. 8-141)