Every person having knowledge of the existence of an animal apparently afflicted with rabies shall report immediately to the Health Department the existence of such animal, the place where seen, the owner's name, if known, and the symptoms suggesting rabies.
State law reference: Similar provision, Code of Va., § 3.2-6522.
A. 
Vaccination required; exception. The owner or custodian of all dogs and domesticated cats four months of age and older shall have them currently vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician who is under the immediate and direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian on the premises. The supervising veterinarian on the premises shall provide the owner of the dog or the custodian of the domesticated cat with a certificate of vaccination. The owner of the dog or the custodian of the domesticated cat shall furnish within a reasonable period of time, upon the request of an Animal Control Officer, Police Officer, State Veterinarian's representative, or official of the Department of Health, the certificate of vaccination for such dog or cat. The vaccine used shall be licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture for use in that species.
B. 
Application to persons transporting dogs/cats into City. Any person transporting a dog or domesticated cat into the City from some other jurisdiction shall comply with the requirements of Subsection A of this section within 30 days subsequent to bringing such animal into the City.
C. 
Issuance of certificate. A veterinarian vaccinating a dog or domesticated cat as required by this section shall issue to the owner of the animal a rabies vaccination certificate showing:
(1) 
Date of vaccination;
(2) 
Expiration date of vaccination;
(3) 
Sex and breed of the animal;
(4) 
The animal's weight, color and marks;
(5) 
Name of the owner;
(6) 
Amount and kind of vaccine injection;
(7) 
Method of injection; and
(8) 
The signature of the licensed veterinarian.
D. 
Preservation and exhibition of certificate. Rabies vaccination certificates shall be carefully preserved by owners of dogs and domesticated cats and exhibited promptly upon request for inspection by an Animal Control Officer or Police Officer. An Animal Control Officer or Police Officer may check such certificates door-to-door at any time during the year.
E. 
Inoculation of adopted dogs/cats by animal technicians. Dogs and domesticated cats being adopted from an animal shelter during the period an emergency ordinance is in force, as provided in § 98-34, may be inoculated for rabies by a certified animal technician at such shelter, if the certified animal technician is under the immediate and direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
State law references: Rabies inoculation of dogs and domesticated cats, Code of Va., § 3.2-6521; inoculation for rabies at animal shelters, Code of Va., § 3.2-6523; regulations to prevent spread of rabies, Code of Va., § 3.2-6525.
When there is sufficient reason to believe that a rabid animal is at large, the City Council shall have the power to pass an emergency ordinance, which shall become effective immediately upon passage, requiring owners of all dogs and cats in the City to keep dogs and cats confined on their premises unless leashed under restraint of the owner in such a manner that persons or animals will not be subject to the danger of being bitten by the rabid animal. Any emergency ordinance enacted pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be operative for a period not to exceed 30 days unless City Council renews it.
State law reference: Rabid animals, Code of Va., § 3.2-6522.
A. 
Dogs or cats shall not run at large in the City without a valid rabies vaccination as required by this chapter.
B. 
For purposes of this section, "at large" shall mean roaming, running, or self-hunting off the premises of the owner or custodian and not under the immediate control of the owner or his agent.
C. 
For any dog or cat identified as to ownership, if such dog or cat is captured and confined by an Animal Control Officer or Police Officer appointed under the provisions of this chapter, the owner shall be charged with the actual expenses incurred in keeping the animal impounded.
D. 
A violation of this section shall constitute a Class 4 misdemeanor.
State law reference: Rabid animals, Code of Va., § 3.2-6522.
At the discretion of the local Health Director, dogs or cats showing active signs of rabies or suspected of having rabies shall be confined under competent observation for such a time as may be necessary to determine a diagnosis. The local Health Director shall determine the location and conditions of confinement for such animal. If confinement is impossible or impracticable, such dog or cat shall be euthanized by one of the methods prescribed or approved by the state veterinarian.
State law reference: Rabid animals, Code of Va., § 3.2-6522.
Any dog or cat for which no proof of current rabies vaccination is available and which is exposed to rabies through a bite or through saliva or central nervous system tissue in a fresh open wound or mucous membrane by an animal believed to be afflicted with rabies shall be confined in a pound, kennel or enclosure approved by the Health Department for a period not to exceed six months at the expense of the owner; however, if this is not feasible, the dog or cat shall be euthanized as provided in § 98-27 of this chapter. A rabies vaccination shall be administered prior to release. Inactivated rabies vaccine may be administered at the beginning of confinement. Any dog or cat so bitten or exposed to rabies through saliva or central nervous system tissue in a fresh open wound or mucous membrane with proof of a valid rabies vaccination shall be revaccinated immediately following the bite and shall be confined to the premises of the owner or other site as may be approved by the Health Department, for a period of 45 days.
State law reference: Rabid animals, Code of Va., § 3.2-6522.
A. 
At the discretion of the Director of Health, any animal which has bitten a person shall be confined under competent observation for at least 10 days, unless the animal develops active symptoms of rabies or expires before that time. A seriously injured or sick animal may be humanely euthanized as provided in § 98-27 of this chapter and its head sent to the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services of the Department of General Services, or the local Health Department, for evaluation. The Director of Health shall determine the location and conditions of confinement for such animal.
B. 
When any potentially rabid animal, other than a dog or cat, exposes or may have exposed a person to rabies through a bite, or through saliva or central nervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound or mucous membrane, that animal shall be confined at the discretion of a local Health Director in a manner approved by the Health Department or humanely euthanized as provided in § 98-27 of this chapter and its head sent to the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services of the Department of General Services or the local Health Department for evaluation.
C. 
When any animal, other than a dog or cat, is exposed to rabies through a bite, or through saliva or central nervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound or mucous membrane, by an animal believed to be afflicted with rabies, that newly exposed animal shall be confined at the discretion of a local Health Director in a manner approved by the Health Department or humanely euthanized pursuant to § 98-27 of this chapter.
State law reference: Rabid animals, Code of Va., § 3.2-6522.