Every owner of a dog or cat shall have such animal vaccinated and revaccinated against rabies as required in state law. Any person moving into the city from a location outside of the city shall comply with this section within ten (10) days after having moved into the city.
(1995 Code, sec. 2.201; Ordinance adopting 2009 Code; 2009 Code, sec. 2.02.001)
Upon vaccination, the veterinarian shall execute and furnish to the owner of the dog or cat, as evidence thereof, a certificate upon a form furnished by the veterinarian. The veterinarian shall retain a duplicate copy. Such certificate shall contain the following information:
(1) 
The name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the vaccinated dog or cat;
(2) 
The date of vaccination;
(3) 
The type of rabies vaccine used;
(4) 
The year and number of the rabies tag; and
(5) 
The breed, age, color and sex of the vaccinated dog or cat.
(1995 Code, sec. 2.202; 2009 Code, sec. 2.02.002)
Concurrent with the issuance and delivery of the certificate of vaccination referred to in section 3.02.002, the owner of the dog or cat shall cause to be attached to the collar or harness of the vaccinated dog or cat 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 and his address. The owner shall cause the collar or harness, with the attached metal tag, to be worn by his dog or cat at all times.
(1995 Code, sec. 2.203; 2009 Code, sec. 2.02.003)
In the event of loss or destruction of the original tag provided for in section 3.02.003, the owner of the dog shall obtain a duplicate tag. Vaccination certificates (and tags) shall be valid only for the animal for which originally issued.
(1995 Code, sec. 2.204; 2009 Code, sec. 2.02.004)
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.
(1995 Code, sec. 2.205; 2009 Code, sec. 2.02.005)
It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor any dog or cat which has not been vaccinated against rabies, as provided herein, or which cannot be identified as having a current vaccination certificate.
(1995 Code, sec. 2.206; 2009 Code, sec. 2.02.006)
Any person having knowledge of the existence of any animal known to have been, or suspected of being, exposed to rabies must immediately report such knowledge to the local health authority, giving any information which may be required. For any animal known to have been, or suspected of being, exposed to rabies, the following rules must apply:
(1) 
Animals having a current vaccination must be revaccinated immediately and confined according to the method prescribed by the police chief for a period of not less than ninety (90) days.
(2) 
Animals not having a current vaccination should be humanely destroyed. However, if the owner of such an animal elects, he may, at his expense and in a manner prescribed by the police chief, confine said animal. Such animal must be vaccinated immediately following exposure and quarantined for not less than six (6) months. A revaccination shall be done one month prior to release.
(1995 Code, sec. 2.207; 2009 Code, sec. 2.02.007)
(a) 
Any person having knowledge of an animal bite to a human will report the incident to the police department as soon as possible, but no later than twenty-four (24) hours from the time of the incident.
(b) 
The owner of the biting animal will place that animal in quarantine as prescribed in section 3.02.009 [under the] supervision of the police chief.
(c) 
The police department will investigate each bite incident, utilizing standardized reporting forms provided by the department of state health services.
(d) 
Human bites from rodents, rabbits, birds and reptiles are excluded from the reporting requirements of this section.
(1995 Code, sec. 2.208; 2009 Code, sec. 2.02.008)
(a) 
When a domestic dog, cat or domestic ferret which has bitten a human has been identified, the owner will be required to produce the animal for ten days’ confinement at the owner’s expense. Refusal to produce said dog, cat or domestic ferret constitutes a violation of this section, and each day of such refusal constitutes a separate and individual violation. The ten-day observation period will begin on the day of the bite incident. The animal must be placed in the animal control facilities specified for this purpose, if available. However, the owner of the animal may request permission from the police chief for home quarantine if the following criteria can be met:
(1) 
Secure facilities must be available at the home of the animal’s owner, and must be approved by the chief of police.
(2) 
The animal is currently vaccinated against rabies.
(3) 
The animal control officer or a licensed veterinarian must observe the animal at least on the first and last days of the quarantine period. If the animal becomes ill during the observation period, the animal control officer must be notified by the person having possession of the animal. At the end of the observation period, the release from quarantine must be accomplished in writing.
(4) 
The animal was not in violation of any laws at the time of the bite.
(5) 
If the biting animal cannot be maintained in secure quarantine it shall be humanely destroyed and the brain submitted to a TDSHS certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to interrupt the ten-day observation period.
(c) 
If quarantine is indicated for other animals, they shall be quarantined or confined for an observation period as required by state law. No wild animal will be placed in quarantine. All wild animals involved in biting incidents will be humanely killed in such a manner that the brain is not mutilated. The brain shall be submitted to a TDSHS certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis.
(1995 Code, sec. 2.209; Ordinance adopting 2009 Code; 2009 Code, sec. 2.02.009)