All dogs and cats over four months of age must be vaccinated annually for rabies with an anti-rabies vaccine approved by the state department of health 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. A two (2) year vaccine is also accepted by the city.
(Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
(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 the 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 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.
(Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
(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 3.03.002.
(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) 
Destruction of animals.
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 state department of health laboratory for testing.
(d) 
Conditions for release and reclamation.
(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:
(A) 
The owner has an unexpired rabies vaccination certificate for the animal; or
(B) 
The animal is vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian at the owner’s expense.
(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 set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code. 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.
(Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
(a) 
Conditions warranting.
A citywide 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) 
Extending time.
In the event there are additional positive cases of rabies occurring within the 30-day period of citywide 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 citywide 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 a veterinarian.
(d) 
Any dog or cat in public.
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.
(Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
(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 section, nor remove same 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 therefor by the animal control department.
(Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)