(a) 
The board of aldermen of the City of Teague hereby adopts the Rabies Control Act of 1981 and the standards for rabies control adopted by the Texas Board of Health.
(b) 
The animal control officer is hereby designated as the local rabies control authority for the purposes of the Rabies Control Act of 1981.
(c) 
The animal control officer shall enforce:
(1) 
the Rabies Control Act of 1981 and the Texas Board of Health Rules that comprise the minimum standards for rabies control;
(2) 
the ordinances and rules of the City of Teague; and
(3) 
the rules adopted by the Texas Board of Health under the rabies quarantine provisions of Section 826.045 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
(d) 
The owner of a dog or cat kept within the City of Teague shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies by the time the animal is four months of age and within each subsequent 12 month interval, or as otherwise prescribed by the Texas Department of Health.
(e) 
In addition to the certificate of vaccination required by the Texas Department of Health, a veterinarian who vaccinates a dog or cat kept within the City of Teague shall issue to the owner of such dog or cat a metal tag with the veterinarian’s name and address, year of vaccination, and rabies tag number stamped thereon. The metal tag shall be securely fastened to the dog or cat in some manner by the owner. The vaccination tag shall be worn at all times by the dog or cat.
(f) 
A person commits an offense if the person fails or refuses to have each dog or cat owned by the person vaccinated against rabies and the animal is required to be vaccinated under subsection (d).
(g) 
An offense under subsection (f) shall be punishable as provided by Section 826.022 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
(Ordinance 98-9-10 adopted 9/10/98)