The purpose and intent of this chapter is to ensure the control and prevention of rabies within the municipality.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003)
[1]
Editor's note — Prior history: GAAB 17.10.030, 17.20.010, 17.20.020, 17.20.030, 17.20.040, 17.20.050, 17.20.060; AO No. 78-65A; AO No. 83-2; AO No. 83-97; AO No. 85-8; AO No. 86-39; AO No. 92-75(S); AO No. 96-134(S-2), 7-1-1997.
It is unlawful to own or have custody of a dog, cat, ferret, or any other animal required by state law, over the age of four months, that does not have a current rabies vaccination administered in accordance with state law.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003; AO No. 2019-91(S-1), § 16, 12-3-2019)
A.
A licensed veterinarian shall record rabies vaccinations he or she gives on a certificate form approved by the state division of public health and available from the municipality. The municipality shall maintain a completed copy of the form for animal recording, identification, rabies abatement, and prevention purposes. The valid and completed form shall have:
1.
The name and residence address of the animal's owner;
2.
The name, age, sex, breed, species and color of the animal;
3.
The date of the immunization;
4.
The type of vaccine used and the vaccine's expiration date;
5.
The name and signature of the veterinarian performing the immunization; and
6.
The name of the veterinary clinic.
B.
The veterinarian shall give the original copy of the form to the animal's owner, the second copy shall be forwarded to the animal care and control center, and the third copy shall remain with the veterinarian or clinic.
C.
Following vaccination, the veterinarian shall issue a rabies tag and may issue a Municipality of Anchorage dog license tag to the owner. Current rabies and municipal dog license tags must be affixed to the animal's collar or harness and worn by the animal at all times, unless the animal is on the property of the owner or custodian, in competition, in training or hunting. Cats and ferrets are not required to wear a rabies tag if they are microchipped and registered.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003; AO No. 2004-86, § 7, 5-18-2004)
A.
It is unlawful for a person to issue or transfer a certificate or receipt for a rabies immunization or rabies tag where the person knows no immunization has been administered.
B.
No person shall procure, receive, use or attempt to use a certificate, receipt or tag for a rabies immunization as proof of the immunization for any animal other than the animal for which it was issued.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003)
At least annually, the animal care and control center shall hold a rabies vaccination clinic where vaccination shall be available at cost plus ten percent, but not less than $2.00 per animal.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003)
A.
For purposes of rabies abatement, control and prevention, any owner or custodian of an animal that bites a human shall promptly notify the animal care and control center of the incident. Any person bitten by an animal shall promptly notify the animal care and control center.
B.
A medical practitioner who treats a human for an animal bite shall promptly report to the animal care and control center the name and residence address of the victim, and such other information as may aid the chief animal control officer or designee in the control of rabies.
C.
A licensed veterinarian shall report to the animal care and control center any animal suspected of being infected with rabies.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003)
A.
If an animal control officer or peace officer reasonably suspects an animal to have rabies, the officer shall cause the animal to be impounded and quarantined immediately.
B.
Any animal capable of being infected with rabies that has bitten a human shall be quarantined. Other animals capable of being infected with rabies, exposed to this animal, may also be quarantined. An Anchorage police department dog, which inflicts a bite shall not be quarantined when proof of current rabies is shown, but such dog must be observed for the following 14 days.
C.
When a licensed veterinarian diagnoses or reasonably suspects an animal of being rabid, notification shall be made to the animal care and control center and the department of health and human services.
1.
The Anchorage Health Department, in consultation with a licensed veterinarian, may take any action reasonably necessary to determine whether an animal is infected with rabies including, but not limited, to the removal and inspection of an animal's head.
D.
The Anchorage Health Department directs the disposition of an animal which is found to be rabid and all aspects of the quarantine procedures under this title. The carcass of an animal suspected of being rabid shall, upon demand, be surrendered to the animal care and control center.
E.
An unvaccinated animal capable of being infected with rabies, that is bitten by an animal diagnosed as rabid, shall be euthanized immediately. If a bitten animal has a current rabies vaccination, it shall be re-vaccinated immediately and quarantined under section 17.30.080 for 30 days.
F.
No person shall kill a rabid animal or an animal subject to quarantine except to defend a human from death or bodily injury, unless otherwise provided by this title.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003; AO No. 2013-116, § 1, 11-5-2013; AO No. 2018-118, § 2, 1-1-2019)
A.
Required; duration. An animal capable of being infected with rabies that bites a human shall be quarantined immediately. The Anchorage Health Department shall determine the duration of the quarantine, which shall not be less than ten nor more than 14 days. Anchorage Police Department dogs which inflict a bite, and have a current rabies vaccination, are exempt from this requirement, but must be observed for the following 14 days.
B.
Conditions of quarantine.
1.
Subject to subsections B.2 and B.4 below, the owner or custodian of a quarantined animal shall confine it to prevent contact with other persons or animals. The animal shall only be taken outdoors under control by leash and muzzled or to a confined area if muzzled for brief periods to relieve itself. In the alternative, the animal shall be kept under equally secure conditions at a veterinary hospital of the owner's or custodian's choice. The owner shall inform the animal care and control center where the animal is being kept.
2.
An animal shall remain quarantined until written release by a licensed veterinarian or the chief animal control officer. The chief animal control officer may require an animal be inspected before release.
3.
No person shall remove a quarantined animal from the municipality without notifying the chief animal control officer in writing at least two business days before the removal and obtaining written consent from the chief animal control officer or designee.
4.
An animal capable of being infected with rabies, with no proof of current rabies vaccination, that bites a human shall be quarantined for not less than ten nor more than 14 days at the animal care and control center or at a licensed veterinary facility, with the approval of the chief animal control officer.
C.
Payment of costs. The owner of a quarantined animal shall pay all costs related to quarantine including boarding and transport fees required by the animal care and control center or licensed veterinary facility, whether the location of its quarantine is selected by its owner or the chief animal control officer.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003; AO No. 2013-116, § 1, 11-5-2013; AO No. 2018-118, § 2, 1-1-2019)
A.
When the director of the Anchorage Health Department or designee finds an animal in the municipality positively diagnosed as rabid, an area-wide rabies quarantine may be declared for a period of 30 days. If additional animals are diagnosed as rabid during this period, the director or designee may extend the duration of the area-wide quarantine for up to an additional six months.
B.
During an area-wide quarantine, every animal capable of being infected with rabies shall be confined. No animal subject to the area-wide quarantine may be removed from the municipality without prior written consent of the director of Anchorage Health Department or designee.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003; AO No. 2018-118, § 2, 1-1-2019)