[Adopted 9-27-1988]
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any Animal Control Officer and/or any Deputy Animal Control Officers appointed under Article III of this chapter and whose duties and responsibilities shall include the enforcement of the provisions of this article and such other duties as may be required by the Mathews County Board of Supervisors from time to time.
Any domestic feline animal (Felis domesticus), male, female,
sexed or neutered.
Includes all other persons employed or elected by the people
of Virginia or by any municipality, county, or incorporated town thereof
whose duty it is to preserve the peace, to make arrests, or to enforce
the law within the jurisdiction of the respective offices to which
elected or in which employed.
To keep, harbor or have control, charge or custody of a cat.
This term shall not apply to cats owned by others which are temporarily
maintained on the premises of a veterinarian or kennel operator for
a period of less than 30 days.
Any person keeping, harboring or having charge or control
of or permitting any cat to habitually be or remain on or be lodged
or fed within such person's house, yard, or premises. This term shall
not apply to veterinarians or kennel operators temporarily maintaining
on their premises cats owned by others for a period of less than 30
days.
Includes the Treasurer of Mathews County or other officer
designated by law to collect taxes in the county.
A.
Inoculation against rabies required.
(1)
Except as otherwise provided, it shall be unlawful
for any person to own or have the custody of any cat four months or
more of age within the county unless such cat shall have been vaccinated
or inoculated by a currently licensed veterinarian against rabies,
with a serum and in a manner approved by the State Board of Health.
Such vaccination or inoculation shall be kept current and effective
to produce immunity to rabies as determined by the State Board of
Health by reason of the type and dose of such vaccination or inoculation.
B.
Issuance of certificate of inoculation.
(1)
Upon the inoculation or vaccination of a cat by a
currently licensed veterinarian under the provisions of this article,
the veterinarian shall issue to the person procuring such inoculation
or vaccination a certificate bearing:
(a)
The signature of the veterinarian and stating that
he/she is a veterinarian currently licensed by the state;
(b)
The name and address of the owner or custodian of
the cat;
(c)
A brief description of the cat;
(d)
Type and dose of inoculation or vaccination;
(e)
The date of inoculation or vaccination; and
(f)
The period of time thereafter during which such cat
is deemed to be immune to rabies.
(2)
The veterinarian shall retain a duplicate or carbon
copy of each certificate for so long as the immunity to rabies caused
by such inoculation or vaccination is deemed to be effective.
C.
Preservation of certificate of inoculation; inspection
by certain officials. The certificate issued pursuant to this section
shall be preserved by the owner of the cat and exhibited promptly
on request for inspection by any local or state health official, animal
protection officer or any other law enforcement officer.
[Amended 9-25-2001]
