The owners of all animals capable of transmitting rabies except goats, sheep, horses and cows, shall have such animals vaccinated before such animal reaches the age of four (4) months and before every twelve (12) months thereafter, or 36 months if a 36-month vaccine is used, or as prescribed by the state board of health against rabies with a vaccine approved by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered by a licensed veterinarian, who shall issue to the owner of the animal a vaccination certificate. The owner shall retain such certificate until the vaccination is renewed. At the time of vaccination, a metal tag shall be issued by the veterinarian showing the name of the veterinary clinic, the tag number, and the year of issuance. Such vaccination tags shall be worn by the animal for which it was issued in the same manner as and with the same requirements as the tag issued for an animal’s annual permit as described above.
(Ordinance 2013-04, sec. 8, adopted 6/11/13)
(a) 
It shall be the duty of the owner or harborer of any animal or practicing veterinarian to report to the animal control authority all suspected cases of rabies. The report shall be made immediately upon diagnosis or suspicion of rabies in animals.
(b) 
Should a potential outbreak of rabies within the city be suspected and the danger to the public safety from rabid animals be urgently imminent, the animal control authority, the city health officer, or city manager, may issue a quarantine order covering a period of two hundred forty hours (10 days) ordering persons owning, keeping, or harboring dogs, cats or other animals to muzzle the same or confine them for such time as may be specified in such quarantine proclamation. Upon the issuance of such order and posting notice of the same in the same location as notices of city council meetings are posted, persons owning or harboring such animals shall confine them to premises unless they are effectively muzzled and under the control of an adult person by leash, cord, chain or rope. Animals found at large in violation of this subsection may be destroyed by an enforcement officer if such officer is unable with reasonable effort to apprehend such animals for impoundment. The city council may extend, revise or revoke such order, as it determines.
(Ordinance 2013-04, sec. 9, adopted 6/11/13)
(a) 
The enforcement officer may investigate reports in which animals have bitten persons or animals. It shall be the responsibility of such officer or other officer if he or she is not the investigating officer, to obtain details on the bite cases and to conduct a follow-up investigation of the biting animal, if he or she so determines, to determine if it is suffering from rabies.
(b) 
The enforcement officer shall determine whether or not the animal suspected of biting is to be placed under quarantine and watched to determine if the animal is capable of transmitting or exposing humans or other animals to rabies. The quarantine for all animals shall be for a period not less than two hundred forty hours (10 days).
(c) 
The owner of the animal required to be quarantined under subsection (b) shall surrender the animal to the enforcement officer immediately, or otherwise arrange for the officer to pick up and retain such animal, in a separate kennel at the animal control facility or in quarters supervised by a veterinarian for the period of the quarantine. After the animal has been released from quarantine, the owner may redeem the animal from the animal shelter or other quarters upon payment of the applicable fees, and verification by the animal control authority that the animal’s vaccination and permit are current.
(d) 
In lieu of animal quarantine at the animal shelter or other quarters, the enforcement officer may authorize the animal to be kept on the owner’s premises (residence quarantine) upon the following conditions to be determined in the enforcements officer’s sole discretion:
(1) 
The animal was currently vaccinated at the time of the bite;
(2) 
The animal was not at large at the time of the bite;
(3) 
The animal was currently registered with the city at the time of the bite;
(4) 
When quarantined at home, the animal must be restrained in an area where it will not come in contact with any persons or animals;
(5) 
The animal must be made available to the animal control authority for periodic inspections at his or her discretion;
(6) 
The owner agrees to observe the animal for any signs of illness or personality changes and report such changes to the animal control authority;
(7) 
The animal may not be moved from the quarantine location without prior notification and approval of the animal control authority;
(8) 
The animal will remain under quarantine until the owner is notified that the final health inspection has been made, all outstanding fees are paid, and that the animal has been cleared by the animal control authority. The animal control authority may require a veterinarian’s certificate stating that in his or her opinion such animal is not rabid and exhibits no symptoms of rabies, prior to release of the animal from quarantine. Contact may be made by phone, personal service, or certified mail; and
(9) 
The animal may not receive a vaccination for rabies during the quarantine period.
Failure to comply with all of the above conditions of residence quarantine, or as directed by the enforcement officer, is a violation of this chapter and will result in the animal being impounded at the animal control facility for the duration of the quarantine period.
(e) 
After the animal has been released from quarantine, the owner will have five (5) days in which to have the animal registered with the city by the purchase of a city registration tag.
(f) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with the enforcement of this section or to fail or refuse to surrender to an enforcement officer any animal involved or suspected of being involved in a bite case, or to otherwise fail to refuse to provide for the quarantine of animals as may be authorized by this chapter.
(g) 
If an owner fails or refuses to surrender an animal to the enforcement officer for quarantine under this chapter, such officer may apply to any judge of the municipal court of the city for a warrant to seize the animal. The office executing the warrant shall cause the animal to be impounded at the city animal shelter or other facility, as the office shall determine.
(Ordinance 2013-04, sec. 10, adopted 6/11/13)