(a) Muzzling. Whenever it becomes necessary to safeguard the public from the dangers of hydrophobia, the Manager, if he or she deems it necessary, shall issue a proclamation ordering every person owning or keeping an animal to confine it securely on his or her premises unless such animal shall have a muzzle of sufficient strength to prevents its biting any person. Any unmuzzled animal running at large during the time of the proclamation shall be seized and impounded, unless noticeably infected with rabies. All animals so noticeably infected with rabies and displaying vicious propensities shall be killed by the County Animal Warden or the police without notice to the owner. Animals impounded during the first two days of such proclamation shall, if claimed within five days, be released to the owner, unless infected with rabies, upon payment of the impounding charges as set by the City. If unclaimed after that period, such animal may be summarily destroyed.
(b) Notice to Warden.
(1) If an animal is believed to have rabies or has been bitten by an animal suspected of having rabies, such animal shall be confined by a leash or chain on the owner's premises and shall be placed under the observation of a veterinarian at the expense of the owner for a period of two weeks. The owner shall notify the County Animal Warden or the police of the fact that his or her animal has been exposed to rabies and at his or her discretion the County Animal Warden or a police officer is empowered to have such animal removed from the owner's premises to a veterinary hospital and there placed under observation for a period of two weeks at the expense of the owner.
(2) No person knowing or suspecting that an animal has rabies shall allow such animal to be taken off his or her premises or beyond the limits of the City without the written permission of the County Animal Warden or a police officer. Every owner or other person, upon ascertaining that an animal is rabid, shall immediately notify the County Animal Warden or a police officer who shall either remove the animal to the pound or summarily destroy it.
(c) Vaccination. No owner of any dog or cat shall keep or maintain such dog or cat unless it has been vaccinated by a licensed veterinary surgeon with anti-rabies vaccine, within one year preceding the date on which such animal is kept or maintained.
(Ord. 23-69. Passed 4-21-69.)
(d) Penalty. Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(Ord. 59-74. Passed 7-15-74.)