(a)
Required.
As required by 25 Texas Administrative
Code section 169.29(a), every owner of a dog, cat, or ferret shall
have the animal vaccinated against rabies by the time such animal
is 16 weeks of age.
(1)
Dogs and cats must receive a rabies booster within the 12-month
interval following the initial vaccination. If such booster was with
a triennial vaccine, such dog or cat must thereafter be revaccinated
within 12 months of the previous vaccination. If such booster was
with an annual vaccine the dog or cat must be revaccinated within
12 months. Dogs and cats shall be revaccinated thereafter on an annual
basis as required by the commissioners court of Parker County, Texas.
(2)
Ferrets must receive a rabies booster within the 12-month interval
following the initial vaccination and shall be revaccinated annually
thereafter.
(b)
Exemptions to vaccination.
According to the Center
of Disease Control, no rabies vaccines are licensed for use in wild
animals or hybrids. The American Veterinary Medical Association does
not recommend wild animals or hybrids as pets.
(c)
Requirement for new residents.
Any person establishing
residence within the city shall comply with this chapter within ten
days of establishing such residency.
(d)
Exception for quarantined dogs, cats or ferrets.
If an unvaccinated dog, cat or ferret inflicts a bite or scratch
or otherwise attacks any person within the city limits, a rabies vaccine
shall not be administered to the dog, cat or ferret until that animal
is released from quarantine.
(Ordinance 2022-06 adopted 5/23/2022)
Upon vaccination, the veterinarian shall execute and furnish
to the owner of the dog, cat or ferret as evidence thereof, a certificate
of vaccination. The veterinarian shall retain a duplicate copy of
the certificate, and one copy shall be filed with the owner. Such
certificate shall contain the following information:
(1)
The name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the
vaccinated animal;
(2)
The date of vaccination;
(3)
The vaccine used-product name, manufacturer, and serial number;
(4)
The year and number of the rabies tag;
(5)
The revaccination due date;
(6)
The animal identification-species, sex (including neutered if
applicable), approximate age, size (pounds), predominant breed, and
colors; and
(7)
The veterinarian's signature, signature stamp, or computerized
signature, plus address and license number.
(Ordinance 2022-06 adopted 5/23/2022)
Concurrent with the issuance and delivery of the certificate
of vaccination, the owner of a dog shall cause to be attached to the
collar or harness of the vaccinated animal a metal tag, serially numbered
to correspond with the vaccination certificate number, and bearing
the year of issuance. Such tag shall be securely attached to a collar
or harness around the neck of the animal when the dog is outside of
confinement.
(Ordinance 2022-06 adopted 5/23/2022)
Where violations of the rabies vaccination requirements of this
chapter are observed, any authorized animal control officer may issue
a violation notice in lieu of a citation. The violation notice will
stipulate a compliance date and associated fee and late fee, as well
as a waiver provision allowing that the person to whom the violation
notice is issued waives all rights to protest such violation and waives
all rights to a hearing on the issues relating to that violation.
All associated fees and late fees shall be paid to the animal services
division. Failure to pay associated fees and/or late fees and failure
to waive rights by the compliance date shall constitute a violation
of this chapter and may result in the issuance of a citation.
(Ordinance 2022-06 adopted 5/23/2022)
