No person shall own, keep, or harbor a dog or cat within the
city limits unless the dog or cat shall have been vaccinated with
an antirabies vaccine by a licensed veterinarian in accordance with
state law.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
(a)
Rabies
vaccinations shall only be given by a duly licensed and practicing
veterinarian and, upon vaccination, the veterinarian shall execute
and furnish to the owner of the dog or cat, as evidence of such vaccination,
a certificate and metal tag. Such certificate shall at least contain
the following information:
(b)
Concurrent
with the issuance and delivery of the certificate of vaccination,
the veterinarian shall also issue 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 of such dog or cat shall cause the metal vaccination
tag to be attached to a collar to be worn by his or her dog or cat
at all times.
(2001 Code, sec. 2.802)
Any person having knowledge of the existence of any animal known
to have been, or suspected of being, exposed to rabies or having knowledge
of an animal bite or scratch to an individual that the person could
reasonably foresee as capable of transmitting rabies must immediately
report such knowledge or incident to the animal control officer, city
health authority, or any police officer, and in no case longer than
twenty-four (24) hours from the time of the incident.
(2001 Code, sec. 2.1001; Ordinance 2010.11.2, sec. 1, adopted 11/9/10)
The animal control officer, any police officer, or the city
health authority shall have the authority to order the quarantine
of animals responsible for bite incidents or suspected of having any
zoonotic disease considered to be a hazard to the human population
or other animals.
(2001 Code, sec. 2.1002; Ordinance 2010.11.2, sec. 1, adopted 11/9/10)
(a)
When
a dog or cat which has bitten or scratched a human or attacked another
animal has been identified, the owner will be required to produce
the animal for ten (10) days’ confinement to determine whether
such dog or cat has been exposed to rabies. Any unclaimed animal may
be destroyed for rabies diagnosis prior to the end of this observation
period. The dog or cat may be released from quarantine if a veterinarian
determines that the animal does not show the clinical signs of rabies,
provided the owner has paid all reasonable costs associated with the
quarantining. Refusal to produce such animal is a misdemeanor and
each day of such refusal constitutes a separate and individual violation.
(b)
No
animal which has a high probability of transmitting rabies, including
skunks, bats, foxes and raccoons, will be placed in quarantine for
observation. All such 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 laboratory certified by the department
of state health services for rabies diagnosis.
(c)
The
city health authority may require an animal which has inflicted multiple
bite wounds, punctures, or lacerations to the face, head, or neck
of a person to be humanely killed and the brain tested for rabies.
(2001 Code, sec. 2.1003)
(a)
Domestic animals.
(1)
Vaccinated animals which have been bitten by or otherwise significantly
exposed to a rabid animal should be humanely destroyed or, if sufficient
justification for preserving the animal exists, the exposed vaccinated
animal should be immediately given a booster rabies vaccination and
placed in strict isolation for forty-five (45) days. Unvaccinated
animals shall be immediately given a rabies vaccination and placed
in strict isolation for ninety (90) days and given booster vaccinations
during the third (3rd) and eighth (8th) weeks of isolation. If the
unvaccinated animal is under three (3) months of age at the time of
the second vaccination, an additional booster should be given when
the animal reaches three (3) months of age.
(2)
If a veterinarian determines that a quarantined animal does not show
the clinical signs of rabies, it may be released to the owner prior
to or upon expiration of the quarantine period, provided the owner
has paid all of the reasonable costs of such quarantine and any veterinarian
bills. However, if the quarantined animal shows the clinical signs
of the disease of rabies, the animal shall be humanely destroyed and
its head or brain submitted to the nearest laboratory certified by
the department of state health services for rabies diagnosis for testing.
(b)
Wild or exotic animals.
No wild or exotic animal will
be placed in quarantine. All wild or exotic animals will be humanely
destroyed in such a manner that the brain is not mutilated. The brain
will then be submitted to a laboratory certified for rabies diagnosis
in order to be tested.
(c)
Quarantining facilities.
(1)
Any animal to be placed in quarantine must be placed in an animal
control facility approved by the department of state health services
as directed by the city health authority. However, the owner of the
animal may request permission for home quarantine if the following
criteria can be met:
(A)
Secure facilities must be available at the home of the animal’s
owner, and must be approved by a licensed veterinarian.
(B)
The animal is currently vaccinated against rabies.
(C)
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 city and veterinarian must be notified
by the person having possession of the animal. At the end of the observation
period the release from quarantine must be provided in writing by
the attending veterinarian and approved by the city.
(D)
The animal was not a stray at the time of the bite incident.
(2)
If the biting animal cannot be maintained in secure quarantine, it
shall be humanely destroyed and the brain submitted to a laboratory
certified by the state department of health for rabies diagnosis.
(2001 Code, sec. 2.1004)
