The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Animal
means a warm-blooded animal.
Board
means the state board of health.
Dog
means Canis familiaris.
Licensed veterinarian
means a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine
in one or more of the 50 states.
Quarantine
means strict confinement of an animal specified in an order
of the board or its designee:
(1)
On the private premises of the animal’s owner or at a
facility approved by the board or its designee;
(2)
Under restraint by closed cage or paddock or in any other manner
approved by board rule.
Rabies
means an acute viral disease of man and animal affecting
the central nervous system and usually transmitted by an animal bite.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
Except as otherwise provided by board rule, the owner of a dog
or cat shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies by the time
the animal is four months of age and at regular intervals thereafter
as prescribed by board rule.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor any dog or cat
which has not been vaccinated against rabies, as provided in this
article, or which cannot be identified as having a current vaccination
certificate.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
Upon vaccination, the veterinarian shall execute and maintain
as evidence thereof a certificate upon a form furnished by the veterinarian
or the manufacturer of the vaccine. The veterinarian shall provide
the owner with a duplicate copy of the certificate. Such certificate
shall contain the following information:
(1) The name,
address, and telephone number of the owner of the vaccinated dog or
cat;
(3) The type
of rabies vaccine used; and
(4) The year
and number of rabies tag.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
(a) Concurrent with the issuance and execution of the certificate of vaccination referred to in section
4-29, the owner of the dog shall cause to be attached to the collar or harness of the vaccinated dog a metal tag, serially numbered to correspond with the vaccination certificate number, and bearing the year of issuance and the name of the issuing veterinarian, if any, and his address. The owner shall cause the collar or harness, with the attached metal tag, to be worn by his dog at all times.
(b) It shall
be unlawful for any person who owns or harbors a vaccinated dog or
cat to fail or refuse to exhibit his copy of the certificate of vaccination
upon demand to any person charged with the enforcement of this chapter.
(c) In the
event of loss or destruction of the original tag, the owner of the
dog shall obtain a duplicate tag. Vaccination certificates and tags
shall be valid only for the animal for which it was originally issued.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
(a) A person
who knows of an animal bite or scratch to an individual that the person
could reasonably foresee as capable of transmitting rabies, or who
knows of an animal that the person suspects is rabid, shall report
the incident or animal to the local health authority.
(b) The report
must include:
(1) The
name and address of the victim and of the animal’s owner, if
known; and
(2) Any
other information that may help in locating the victim or animal.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
An owner shall submit to the local health authority for quarantine
an animal that:
(1) Is reported
to be rabid or to have exposed an individual to rabies; or
(2) The owner
knows or suspects is rabid or to have exposed an individual to rabies.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
(a) If a
veterinarian determines that a quarantined animal does not show the
clinical signs of rabies, the local health authority shall release
the animal to its owner when the quarantine period ends if:
(1) The
owner has a current rabies vaccination certificate for the animal;
or
(2) The
animal is vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian at
the owner’s expense.
(b) If a
veterinarian determines that a quarantined animal shows the clinical
signs of rabies, the local health authority shall humanely destroy
the animal. If an animal dies or is destroyed while in quarantine,
the local health authority shall remove the head or brain of the animal
and submit it to the nearest department laboratory for testing.
(c) The owner
of an animal that is quarantined under this division shall pay to
the local health authority the reasonable costs of the quarantine
and disposition of the animal. The local health authority may bring
suit to collect those costs.
(d) The local
health authority may sell the animal and retain the proceeds or keep,
grant, or destroy an animal if the owner or custodian does not take
possession of the animal before the fourth day following the final
day of the quarantine period.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)