The senior animal control officer of the animal control department is designated as the rabies control authority of the city for the purposes of administering the Rabies Control Act of 1981 in accordance with the Texas Health and Safety Code, chapter 826.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
Any animal which bites or scratches a person or which otherwise gives symptoms of having rabies shall be immediately reported to the county health officer and shall thereupon be securely quarantined at the direction of the health officer, for a period of ten (10) days, and shall not be released from such quarantine except by written permission of the health officer or under his direction. The county health officer may designate the animal control officer to act in his place at any time. At the discretion of the health officer, such quarantine may be on the premises of the owner, at the shelter designated as the city pound, or, at the owner’s option and expense, in a veterinary hospital of his choice. In the case of stray animals, or in the case of animals whose ownership is not known, such quarantine shall be at the shelter designated as the city pound.
(2000 Code, sec. 5-121)
Upon the demand made by an animal control officer, it shall be unlawful for the owner to fail to surrender any animal which has bitten a human or another animal, or which is suspected of having been exposed to rabies, for quarantine, which expense shall be borne by the owner. The owner may reclaim such quarantined animal if adjudged free of rabies upon payment of fees set forth in this chapter and upon compliance with the vaccination provisions of this chapter.
(Ordinance 10-3539, sec. III (5-122), adopted 1/11/11)
When rabies has been diagnosed in an animal under quarantine or rabies is suspected by a licensed veterinarian, and the animal dies while under such observation, the health officer shall immediately send the head of such animal to the department of state health services for pathological examination and shall notify the proper public health authorities of reports of human contacts and the diagnosis.
(2000 Code, sec. 5-123)
When the report indicates a positive diagnosis of rabies, the health officer may order an areawide quarantine for a period of sixty (60) days, and upon the invoking of such quarantine no pet animal shall be taken into the streets, or permitted to be in the streets, during such period of quarantine. During such quarantine, no animal may be taken or shipped from the city without permission of the health officer.
(2000 Code, sec. 5-124)
During the areawide quarantine period and as long thereafter as he decides it is necessary to prevent the spread of rabies, the health officer may require that all animals, three (3) months of age or older, shall be vaccinated against rabies. All vaccinated animals shall be restricted (leashing or confinement on enclosed premises) for thirty (30) days after vaccination. During the quarantine period, the health officer is hereby empowered to provide for a program of mass immunization by the establishment of temporary emergency canine rabies vaccination clinics strategically located throughout the area of health jurisdiction.
(2000 Code, sec. 5-125)
In the event there are additional cases of rabies occurring during the period of areawide quarantine, such period of quarantine may be extended for an additional period of time.
(2000 Code, sec. 5-128)
Any unvaccinated animal bitten by another animal suspected of or known to be rabid shall be immediately destroyed or shall be surrendered to the animal control department for a period of three (3) months’ quarantine, and shall be vaccinated during the third and eighth week of quarantine. Any vaccinated animal bitten by another animal suspected of being or known to be rabid shall be immediately vaccinated and surrendered to the animal control department for a period of forty-five (45) days’ quarantine. When the biting animal is determined not to be rabid, the bitten animal shall be released. All animals quarantined shall be at the owner’s expense. Upon surrender of an animal for quarantine, the owner shall be required to pay in advance one (1) month’s quarantine fee to defray a portion of the expense of caring and feeding the animal. Additional quarantine expenses shall be paid at the beginning of each subsequent month’s quarantine. If an owner fails to pay for any expense of quarantine when due, the animal shall become the property of the city and shall be subject to immediate disposal. The senior animal control officer is authorized to permit the quarantine of a bitten animal at a licensed veterinary clinic for the necessary quarantine period at the owner’s option and expense.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to surrender any animal for quarantine or destruction as required herein when demand is made therefor by the rabies control authority or animal control officer. Should the owner refuse to surrender any animal for quarantine or destruction, the city [shall] follow the procedures outlined in Texas Health and Safety Code sec. 822.002 in order to seize the animal.
(Ordinance 22-3729, sec. 15, adopted 5/19/22)
It shall be the duty of every physician or other medical practitioner to report to the health officer the names and addresses of persons treated for bites inflicted by animals, together with such other information as will be helpful in rabies control.
(2000 Code, sec. 5-131)
Hospitals, clinics, and other premises operated by licensed veterinarians for the care and treatment of animals are exempt from the provisions of this article, except where expressly stated.
(2000 Code, sec. 5-134)
All rules and regulations found in chapter 826, Texas Health and Safety Code, as amended, are hereby adopted and incorporated herein in their entirety, except when less stringent than any rule or regulation promulgated in this chapter. Should any provision of this chapter apply more strictly, said provisions shall prevail.
(2000 Code, sec. 5-135)