(a) The owner of any animal three months of age or older shall provide such animal with a mandatory animal vaccination against rabies. Vaccination shall be given by a practicing veterinarian with a vaccine recognized and approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
(b) Any animal which bites a person shall be promptly reported to the Animal Warden and shall thereupon be examined by a practicing veterinarian and securely confined for clinical observation at the direction of the Animal Warden for a period of ten days. Such confinement shall be in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) If a laboratory confirmed case of rabies has occurred within the past twelve months, confinement shall be in the City animal shelter or, at the owner's option and expense, in a veterinary hospital of his choice.
(2) An animal which has been vaccinated within the past three years with ced or within the past one year with phenolized vaccine may be confined on the premises of the owner, isolated from all individuals other than the immediate family. Such animal shall be examined by a practicing veterinarian on the first and tenth days after the bite and a written report of the results of such examinations shall be sent to the Animal Warden.
(3) Confinement may be on the premises of the owner, as provided in subparagraph (2) hereof, if there have been no laboratory-confirmed cases of rabies during the past twelve months.
(4) In the case of a stray animal, or an animal whose owner is not known, confinement shall be at the direction of the Animal Warden. At the end of the tenth day of confinement, such animal shall be examined a second time and a written report of the results of such examination shall be sent to the Animal Warden. Examination shall be by a practicing veterinarian.
(c) The owner, upon demand by the Animal Warden, shall forthwith surrender any animal which has bitten a human being, or which is suspected of having been exposed to rabies and which has not been vaccinated therefor, for supervised confinement, the expense of which shall be borne by the owner. Such animal may be reclaimed by the owner if it is adjudged free of rabies, upon payment of the actual costs incurred for confinement and vaccination of the animal against rabies.
(d) When rabies is suspected or diagnosed by a practicing veterinarian in an animal confined for clinical observation, or when an animal has bitten anyone within the past ten days, and then dies while under such observation, the head of such animal shall be sent to the State Health Department by the local health authorities for pathological examination, and the proper public health officer shall be notified of reports of human contacts and the diagnosis.
(e) When a positive diagnosis of rabies has been made, the Animal Warden shall recommend an area-wide quarantine for a period of ten days. During such quarantine, all animals shall be kept on a leash, all pets shall be kept under restraint by the owner and no animal shall be taken or shipped from the City without written permission from the Animal Warden.
(f) During the quarantine period provided for in subsection (e) hereof, and as long afterward as the Animal Warden deems necessary to prevent the spread of rabies, the Animal Warden may require that all dogs three months of age or older be vaccinated against rabies by a practicing veterinarian with a canine rabies vaccine approved by the Biologics Control Section of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The types of approved canine rabies vaccine to be used and the recognized duration of immunity for each shall be determined by any qualified health officer or veterinarian. All vaccinated dogs shall be restricted to the confines and control of their owners for thirty days after vaccination. During the quarantine period, the health officer or veterinarian shall be authorized to provide for a program of mass immunization by the establishment of temporary emergency canine rabies vaccination clinics strategically located throughout the area of the health jurisdiction.
(g) Any dog bitten by an animal known to be rabid shall be immediately destroyed or, if the owner is unwilling to destroy the exposed animal, shall be kept in strict isolation and observation in the City Animal Shelter or, at the owner's option and expense, in a veterinary hospital of his choice for six months. If such dog has previously been vaccinated, it shall be revaccinated and kept under restraint, i.e. leashed and confined, for thirty days.
(h) In the event that additional cases of rabies occur during the period of quarantine, such quarantine may be extended for additional periods of six months.
(i) No person shall kill or cause to be killed any rabid animal, any animal suspected of having been exposed to rabies or any animal which has bitten a human being, except as provided herein and in Section 618.17, or remove such animal from the City without written permission from the Animal Warden.
(j) The carcass of any animal exposed to rabies shall, upon demand, be surrendered to the Animal Warden.
(k) The Animal Warden shall direct the disposition of any animal found to be infected with rabies.
(l) No person shall fail or refuse to surrender any animal for quarantine or destruction, as required herein, when demand is made therefor by the Animal Warden.
(m) It shall be the duty of every physician or other medical practitioner to report to the Animal Warden the names and addresses of persons treated for bites inflicted by animals, together with such other information as will be helpful in rabies control.
(n) It shall be the duty of every veterinarian to notify the Animal Warden promptly when he is presented with an animal for quarantine examination. At the termination of the quarantine, a written report shall be submitted to the Animal Warden. During the quarantine period, any animal showing clinical signs of rabies shall be reported immediately to the Animal Warden.
(Ord. 24-74. Passed 3-25 -74.)
(Ord. 24-74. Passed 3-25 -74.)
(o) Whoever violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. A separate offense shall be deemed committed each day during or on which a violation or noncompliance occurs or continues. Punishment shall be as provided in Section 698.02.
(p) A police dog in training or assisting a law enforcement officer in the performance of the officer’s duties shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
(Ord. 53-05. Passed 5-9-05.)