(a) The
custodian (excluding animal shelters as defined in the Texas Health
and Safety Code, section 823.001) of each dog or cat shall have the
animal vaccinated against rabies by 16 weeks of age. The animal must
be vaccinated by or under the direct supervision of a veterinarian
with rabies vaccine licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture
for that animal species at or after the minimum age requirement and
using the recommended route of administration for the vaccine. The
attending veterinarian has discretion as to when the subsequent vaccination
will be scheduled as long as the revaccination due date does not exceed
the recommended interval for booster vaccination as established by
the manufacturer. The custodian shall retain each vaccination certificate
until the animal receives a subsequent booster. Livestock (especially
those that have frequent contact with humans), domestic ferrets, and
wolf-dog hybrids should be vaccinated against rabies. The administration
of a rabies vaccine in a species for which no licensed vaccine is
available is at the discretion of the veterinarian; however, an animal
receiving a rabies vaccine under these conditions will not be considered
to be vaccinated against rabies virus in potential rabies exposure
situations.
(b) An
official rabies vaccination certificate shall be issued for each animal
by the veterinarian responsible for administration of the vaccine
and contain the following information:
(1) Custodian’s name, address, and telephone number;
(2) Animal identification: species, sex (including neutered if applicable),
approximate age, size (pounds), predominant breed and colors;
(3) Vaccine used: product name, manufacturer, and serial number;
(6) Rabies tag number if a tag is issued;
(7) Veterinarian’s signature, signature stamp, or computerized
signature, plus address and license number.
(c) Each
veterinarian who issues a rabies vaccination certificate, or the veterinary
practice where the certificate was issued, shall retain a readily
retrievable copy of the certificate for a period of not less than
two years after the revaccination due date.
(d) If
a veterinarian ceases the practice of veterinary medicine, the duplicate
rabies vaccination certificate retained by that practice shall be
turned over to the local rabies control authority. This does not apply
to the sale or lease of a practice, when the records of the practice
are transferred to a new owner.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
(a) The
chief of police is designated as the local rabies control authority
to enforce the provisions of the Rabies Control Act of 1981 (V.T.C.A.,
Health and Safety Code, title 10, Health and Safety of Animals, chapter
826, Rabies).
(b) The
duties of the local rabies control authority shall include, but are
not limited to, the enforcement of:
(1) The provisions of the Rabies Control Act of 1981, and the rules of
the state board of health which comprise the minimum standards for
rabies control;
(2) The ordinances of the city;
(3) The rules adopted by the state board of health with regard to area
quarantine provisions.
(c) The
city manager shall appoint such assistants to the local rabies control
authority as may be required. It shall be the duty of the local rabies
control authority or his designee to pick up and impound all dogs
and cats, the owners of which have violated or are violating this
article. Such officer shall keep and properly care for all dogs and
cats impounded, humanely destroy all dogs and cats that have not been
redeemed, and perform such other duties as may be directed under this
article.
(d) The
local rabies control authority shall report in writing to the city
manager once each month the total number of dogs and cats impounded,
the total number of dogs and cats redeemed, and the total number of
dogs and cats destroyed under this article.
(1988 Code, sec. 4-121; Ordinance
adopting Code)
Whenever any animal subject to having rabies bites a person,
the owner of the biting animal or the person observing the incident
shall immediately report the incident to the local rabies control
authority or animal control office. Any police officer or animal control
officer shall complete an animal bite report. The animal making the
attack shall be placed under observation, at the owner’s expense,
for a period of ten (10) days (240 hours), from the time of the bite,
and held in the animal shelter or a veterinary hospital operated by
a licensed veterinarian within the county, except:
(1) In
cases where the animal bites a member of the immediate family of the
owner and has been currently vaccinated for rabies and currently licensed
by the city and the local rabies control authority has determined
the owner has adequate facilities to prevent the animal’s escape
and that the animal will be isolated from contact from any other family
pet.
(2) Any
guard or police dog currently vaccinated and licensed, but only when
the bite occurs in line of duty, and only if any lawful patrol or
visitor of a business is not jeopardized by the guard dog during the
hours said business is open to the public. Any guard or police dog
currently vaccinated and licensed that is involved in a bite incident
while in the performance of its guard or police duties shall be allowed
to continue on duty under observation. Where an exception is granted,
the owner of the animal shall be responsible for confining the animal
so as to prevent further exposure to humans or other animals during
the observation period.
(1988 Code, sec. 4-122)
The animal control officer shall serve notice in writing upon
an owner of a dog, cat, or other animal known to have been bitten
by an animal known or suspected of being infected with rabies, requiring
such owner to have the dog or other animal examined and treated within
twenty-four (24) hours by a licensed veterinarian. In such cases that
the biting animal is not captured and is high risk for rabies or is
captured and tests positive for rabies, the owner of the animal bitten
shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies and placed into isolation
for the period of time according to its vaccination status at the
time of the bite, as defined by state board of health rule 169.30
(Disposition of Animals Exposed to Rabies), or be humanely killed.
(1988 Code, sec. 4-124)
The heads of animals that have died of rabies or suspected of
having rabies shall be turned over to the animal control officer for
dispatch to an authorized laboratory for fluorescent rabies antibody
testing.
(1988 Code, sec. 4-125)
Whenever a dog, cat, or other animal is infected with rabies
or suspected of being infected with rabies or has been bitten by an
animal known or suspected of being infected with rabies, the owner
of the animal, or any person having knowledge thereof, shall immediately
notify the animal control officer where the animal may be found.
(1988 Code, sec. 4-126)