(A) Every dog, ferret, or cat, four months of age and older, shall be vaccinated against rabies and distemper. The cost of vaccination shall be borne by the owner of the dog, ferret, or cat, whichever is applicable.
(B) Every dog, ferret, and cat which is not vaccinated at the time of its acquisition or transportation into the city shall be vaccinated within 30 days of acquisition or arrival, whichever is applicable, unless the dog, ferret, or cat is under four months of age.
(C) Every dog shall be vaccinated thereafter at not more than 36-month intervals with a live rabies vaccine or at not more than 12-month intervals with an inactivated rabies vaccine. Every cat shall be vaccinated thereafter at not more than 36-month intervals regardless of the type of vaccine used. Every ferret shall be vaccinated thereafter at not more than 12-month intervals regardless of the type of vaccine used.
(D) A metal or durable plastic current rabies vaccination tag, issued by the attending veterinarian, shall be securely attached to the collar or harness of the dog or cat by the owner. Whenever the dog or cat is out of doors, whether on or off the owner's premises, the collar or harness with the vaccination tag must be worn. In addition, the owner may be requested to provide a current certificate of rabies vaccination issued by the veterinarian. Except as otherwise provided, a violation of this section is a petty misdemeanor.
(E) The provisions of this chapter with respect to vaccination shall not apply to any dog, ferret, or cat temporarily remaining within the city for less than 30 days, or to any dog or cat brought into the city for field trial or show purposes. Dogs and cats shall be kept under strict supervision by the owner. However, it shall be unlawful to bring any dog or cat into the city under circumstances which are not in compliance with the animal health laws and import and exhibition regulations of the state which are applicable to dogs or cats.
(F) Any dog, ferret, or cat found off the owner's premises and not wearing a valid rabies vaccination tag may be impounded. Impoundment and disposition of all animals shall be the same as provided for dogs in this chapter. Any dog, ferret, or cat which is impounded pursuant to this division shall be released to its owner upon payment of the impounding fees and the costs of feeding and caring for the animal on a per day basis, as specified in the appendix to Chapter 35, and by compliance with the rabies vaccination requirements of this chapter. If the owner of a dog, ferret, or cat impounded because of the absence of a valid rabies vaccination tag claims that his or her animal has been vaccinated, the owner may reclaim the animal upon production of proof of vaccination, payment of all fees, as described above, and acquisition of a valid rabies vaccination tag.
(G) Whenever any dog, ferret, or cat has bitten a person, the owner, having been so notified either orally or in writing, must:
(1) Provide a certificate of current rabies inoculation; and
(2) Immediately quarantine the animal at the owner's home or other suitable place of confinement as directed by the responsible officer of the city for a period of ten days after the occurrence.
(a) During the quarantine, the animal shall be securely confined in a building or a yard enclosed by a fence so constructed that the animal cannot escape or otherwise leave the enclosure, and which will not permit other animals or persons to enter, for the purpose of preventing the animal from biting or otherwise coming in contact with persons or other animals. If the animal shows signs of illness or if it escapes, the Animal Control Officer or Police Department must be notified immediately.
(b) The confinement, testing and treatment costs, in addition to all other expenses incurred, as a result of a dog, ferret, or cat biting a person shall be at the expense of the owner of the animal.
(c) In the event that a certificate of current rabies inoculation is not provided or upon a reasonable suspicion that the dog, ferret, or cat may be rabid, the dog, ferret, or cat shall be immediately seized and subjected to the necessary tests by a doctor of veterinary medicine for the purpose of determining if it is infected with rabies. In the event that the dog, ferret, or cat is rabid, it may be disposed of as provided under § 91.21. Any animal, other than a dog, ferret, or cat, which has bitten a person may be destroyed and taken to the University Diagnostic Lab to be determined if the animal has been infected with rabies.
(H) Nothing in this section shall be read as to conflict with the requirements of § 91.21 as it pertains to the disposition of animals.
(‘81 Code, § 5-5) (Ord. 145, passed 6-24-74; Am. Ord. 261, passed 11-12-81; Am. Ord. 522, passed 10-24-91; Am. Ord. 573, passed 4-28-94; Am. Ord. 887, passed 4-8-10; Am. Ord. 961, passed 2-27-14; Am. Ord. 1049, passed 8-23-18)
Statutory reference:
For provisions concerning rabies control, see M.S. § 35.67 et seq.