All dogs and cats over four months of age must be vaccinated
annually for rabies with an anti-rabies vaccine approved by the department
of state health services and administered by a veterinarian. A metal
tag of vaccination with the year of vaccination, a certificate number,
and the name, address and phone number of the vaccinating veterinarian
must be securely attached to a collar or harness that must be worn
by the dog or cat at all times. Every dog or cat shall be vaccinated
at least once within each 12-month period from the time of its last
vaccination. A veterinarian who vaccinates a dog or cat against rabies
shall, upon request of the animal control officer, acknowledge to
the animal control officer whether or not an animal at a particular
location or owned by a named person has been vaccinated within the
last 12 months and other pertinent information. A rabies tag and/or
license tag shall be valid only for the dog or cat for which it was
originally issued. Any person establishing residence within the city
shall comply with the vaccination requirements of this chapter within
ten days of establishing such residency.
(1999 Code, sec. 18-81)
(a)
A
person having knowledge of an animal bite or scratch to an individual
in the city by an animal that the person could reasonably foresee
as capable of transmitting rabies or of an animal that the person
suspects is rabid shall report the incident or animal to the animal
control officer or police department. The report shall include the
name and address of any victim and of the owner of the animal, if
known, and any other data that may aid in the locating of the victim
or the animal.
(b)
The
owner of an animal that is reported to be rabid or to have exposed
an individual to rabies, or that the owner knows or suspects to be
rabid or to have exposed an individual to rabies, shall submit the
animal for quarantine to the local health authority of the county
or the city in which the exposure occurred.
(c)
The
animal control officer shall investigate all reports filed under this
section.
(1999 Code, sec. 18-82)
(a)
Authority to quarantine.
The animal control officer shall quarantine for at least ten days any animal that the animal control officer has probable cause to believe is rabid or has exposed an individual or pursuant to a report of exposure to rabies as set out in section 2.03.002.
(b)
Authority to adopt rules, procedures and methods.
The
animal control officer shall adopt rules governing the testing of
quarantined animals, the procedure for and method of quarantine, and
the types of facilities that may be used for quarantine.
(c)
Contract for quarantine facility.
The city administrator
may contract with one or more public or private entities for the purpose
of providing and operating a quarantine facility.
(d)
Destruction of animal; testing.
If it is determined
by a veterinarian that a quarantined animal shows the clinical signs
of rabies, the animal control officer or veterinarian shall humanely
destroy the animal. If an animal dies or is destroyed while in quarantine,
the veterinarian or animal control officer shall remove the head or
brain of the animal and submit it to the nearest department of state
health services laboratory for testing.
(e)
Release of animal.
(1)
If a veterinarian determines that a quarantined animal does not show
the general signs of rabies, the animal control officer shall release
it to the owner following the quarantine period if:
(2)
The owner of an animal quarantined under this chapter may reclaim
his animal upon payment to the animal control officer of a quarantine
fee. The quarantine fee shall be as determined by the city council
and on file in the office of the city secretary. The animal control
officer may bring suit to collect such costs. The animal control officer
may sell and retain the proceeds or keep, grant or destroy an animal
that the owner or custodian does not take possession of on or before
the third day following the final day of quarantine.
(1999 Code, sec. 18-83; Ordinance
adopting 2018 Code)
(a)
Authorized.
A city-wide quarantine may be invoked for
a period of 30 days by the city council upon the recommendation of
the animal control department after it has been notified by the city
health officer of a positive diagnosis of rabies of a dog or cat or
after an investigation has determined there exists an immediate threat
of rabies.
(b)
Extension of time.
If there are additional positive
cases of rabies occurring within the 30-day period of city-wide quarantine,
such period of quarantine shall be extended for additional reasonable
periods of time.
(c)
Dogs or cats bitten by rabid animals.
During such period
of city-wide rabies quarantine, every dog or cat bitten by a rabid
animal shall be dealt with in accordance with the compendium of animals
as advised by the city veterinarian.
(d)
Dogs and cats prohibited in public places.
It shall
be unlawful for any person to take or permit any dog or cat to be
in the streets or any other public place during the period of quarantine.
(1999 Code, sec. 18-84)
(a)
Killing animal or removing animal from city.
No person
shall kill or cause to be killed any rabid animal, any animal suspected
or having been exposed to rabies, or any animal that has bitten a
human or is suspected of having bitten a human, except as provided
in this article, nor remove such animal from city limits without permission
from the animal control department.
(b)
Surrender of animal; disposition.
The carcass of any
dead animal suspected of having been exposed to rabies shall upon
demand be surrendered to the animal control department. The animal
control department shall direct the disposition of any animal found
to be infected with rabies. No person shall refuse to surrender any
animal for quarantine, destruction or disposal as required in this
section when demand is made by the animal control department.
(1999 Code, sec. 18-85)
