(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, harbor, or have custody or control of a dog or cat within the city unless such dog or cat is currently vaccinated against rabies by the injection of antirabies vaccine by or under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
(b) 
Every owner of a dog or cat immunized against rabies as required herein shall procure a rabies vaccination certificate from the veterinarian administering the vaccine. Such certificates shall contain the following information:
(1) 
Owner's name, address, and telephone number.
(2) 
The species, sex, age, size (lbs.), predominant breed, and color of the vaccinated animal.
(3) 
The vaccine used, producer, expiration date, and serial number.
(4) 
Date vaccinated.
(5) 
Rabies tag number.
(6) 
Veterinarian's signature and license number.
(c) 
A veterinarian or person under the direct supervision of a veterinarian who vaccinates a dog or cat as required herein shall furnish the owner thereof with a metal tag approved by the city bearing a number corresponding to the number placed on the certificate, and with lettering showing immunization and the year thereof. This tag shall be attached to the properly fitted collar of the dog or cat for which it is issued, and shall be worn at all times in a conspicuous place on the collar.
[Ordinance 2024-36 adopted 8/20/2024]
(a) 
Any veterinarian who shall find any animal within the city limits afflicted with a disease which is transmissible from animal to man shall immediately report to the city such case together with the name and address of the owner and the location of the premises where the animal can be found.
(b) 
Persons having knowledge of any animal exhibiting symptoms of or exposed to rabies, or that has bitten, scratched or otherwise attacked an individual or another animal, or that the person suspects to be rabid or could reasonably foresee as capable of transmitting rabies, shall report the animal or incident to the animal control officer as soon as possible, but not later than twenty-four (24) hours from the time of the incident. The report shall include the name and address of any victim and the owner of the animal, if known, and any other information relating to the incident or animal.
[Ordinance 2024-36 adopted 8/20/2024]
(a) 
Every animal that has rabies or symptoms thereof, or every animal that a person could reasonably suspect as having rabies, or that bites, scratches, or otherwise attacks another animal or any person within the city, shall be impounded at once and held for observation and quarantined at the approved quarantine facility. The facility must meet the minimum state quarantine facility standards and will be subject to inspection by the department of state health services.
(b) 
The owner of any cat or dog that is reported to have rabies or symptoms thereof, or to have been exposed to rabies, or to have bitten, scratched, or otherwise attacked any person or other animal within the city, or that the owner knows or suspects to be rabid or to have attacked an individual, shall submit such animal to the animal control officer for a quarantine period of ten (10) days at the owner's expense. The ten-day observation period shall begin on the day of the bite incident. Any such animal must be immediately surrendered to the animal control officer and taken by him/her to an approved quarantine facility. The owner may choose to have the animal quarantined for the ten-day period at an approved animal shelter of his choice.
(c) 
The failure by the owner of any cat or dog described in subsection (a) or (b) to surrender the animal to the approved quarantine facility shall be just cause for the seizure and confinement of the animal at the approved quarantine facility.
(d) 
In the event the owner of such animal described in subsection (a) or (b) refuses to surrender such animal on demand, such violation shall be punishable by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) nor more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00).
(e) 
The owner of an animal quarantined under this section shall pay to the quarantine facility the reasonable costs of the quarantine and disposition of the animal, including the charges for preparation and shipment of the animal's head or brain, if required, to the nearest department of state health services certified laboratory for rabies testing. If the owner chooses not to pay for quarantine, the animal shall be humanely killed and the brain submitted to a department of state health services certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis, at the owner's expense. All quarantine-related payment arrangements shall be at the discretion of the individual quarantine facility, and the facility shall be responsible for the collection of monies owed.
(f) 
The following quarantining procedures shall be observed:
(1) 
Biting animals and animals suspected of rabies that are placed in confinement for observation must be separated from all other animals in such a manner that there is no possibility of physical contact between animals.
(2) 
The quarantined animal must be observed at least daily by a person responsible for notifying the city if clinical signs of rabies are noted.
(3) 
At the discretion of the city or its designee, the unowned animal may be humanely killed for rabies diagnosis prior to the end of the quarantine period.
(4) 
The city may require a written agreement by the owner or the custodian at the time of quarantine and the animal may be disposed of according to terms of this agreement.
(5) 
If the biting animal cannot be maintained in secure quarantine or if the owner chooses not to pay for quarantine, the animal shall be humanely killed and the brain submitted to a department of state health services certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis, at the owner's expense.
[Ordinance 2024-36 adopted 8/20/2024]
(a) 
Animals quarantined at the animal shelter shall be observed by a licensed veterinarian at least on the first and last days of the quarantine period. If the veterinarian determines that the animal has clinical signs of the disease of rabies, the animal shall be humanely killed and the head or brain submitted for testing. If the veterinarian determines that the animal does not exhibit the clinical signs of the disease of rabies, the city shall provide a form to the veterinarian for his/her signature certifying that the animal has been found to be free of the clinical signs of rabies at the end of the quarantine period. This form shall be returned to the city at the end of the quarantine period.
(b) 
The owner of the animal may request permission from the city 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 city.
(2) 
The animal is currently vaccinated against rabies and possesses a current city license tag (if the licensing requirement of this chapter is applicable).
(3) 
The animal was not in violation of any laws or ordinance at the time of the incident.
(4) 
The bite or scratch incident was a provoked attack.
(5) 
The victim or victim's parent or legal guardian must approve the granting of a home quarantine if all other requirements have been met. The approval must be in writing on a form provided by the city.
(6) 
A licensed veterinarian must observe the animal at least on the first and last days of the quarantine period. For the first observation, the animal will be transported by the animal control officer to the local veterinarian chosen by the owner, and then returned to the location of the home quarantine by the animal control officer after the observation. If the animal becomes ill during the home quarantine period, the veterinarian and the city must be notified by the person having possession of the animal. At the end of the observation period the owner shall transport the animal by direct route to the veterinarian for the final observation. Both observations by the veterinarian may be made at the location of the home quarantine if requested by the owner or required by the city. The release from quarantine must be accomplished in writing.
(7) 
The owner shall be responsible for paying all rabies observation fees to the veterinarian. All quarantine fees shall be set by contract between the custodian during impoundment and the city.
(8) 
It shall be unlawful to violate the provisions and conditions of the home quarantine as required by the city. If the owner of the animal fails to abide by all provisions and conditions required by the city when the home quarantine was granted and the animal is found in violation of these conditions, the animal shall be immediately impounded and quarantined for the remainder of the observation period at an approved animal shelter at the owner's expense.
(c) 
No dog or cat shall be released from quarantine unless:
(1) 
The owner has an unexpired rabies vaccination certificate and license for the animal (if the licensing requirement is applicable); or
(2) 
The animal is vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's expense and a license (if required) is obtained at the owner's expense from the veterinarian or the city office.
(d) 
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 department of state health services certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis.
[Ordinance 2024-36 adopted 8/20/2024]
(a) 
Unvaccinated animals which have been bitten or directly exposed by physical contact with a rabid animal or its fresh tissues shall be humanely killed or, if sufficient justification for preserving the animal exists, the exposed animal shall be immediately vaccinated against rabies, placed in strict isolation for six months, and given a booster vaccination one month prior to release from isolation.
(b) 
Vaccinated animals which have been bitten or otherwise significantly exposed to a rabid animal shall be humanely killed or, if sufficient justification for preserving the animal exists, the exposed vaccinated animal shall be given a booster rabies vaccination and placed in strict isolation for three months.
(c) 
These provisions apply only to domestic animals for which an approved rabies vaccine is available.
(d) 
These provisions will be in accordance with current state law.
[Ordinance 2024-36 adopted 8/20/2024]