(A) Every owner of a dog, cat, or ferret four months of age or older shall have it vaccinated against rabies. Any owner of a dog, cat or ferret reaching four months of age shall have such animal vaccinated by the tenth business day after the date the animal attained this age. Every owner of a puppy, kitten or ferret that is between three and four months old may have such animal vaccinated against rabies. Such vaccination shall be in accordance with the vaccination requirements prescribed by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV) in the most current version of the annual "Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control." Vaccinations shall be performed by a veterinarian or qualified person.
(B) Any animal that has not been vaccinated by a veterinarian or qualified person against rabies which is sold, traded or otherwise removed from a kennel or cattery must be re-vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian or qualified person.
(C) The rabies tag described herein and furnished by the veterinarian or other qualified person for dogs, cats, or ferrets shall be affixed by the owner to a collar or harness or affixed to an enclosure or cage furnished by him or her, and shall be worn by the animal for which the certificate was issued whenever off the premises of the owner, unless receiving medical treatment, or participating in a recognized dog or cat show, or a hunting or field trial. A copy of the certificate of vaccination will be acceptable.
(D) Whenever an animal is not wearing its rabies vaccination tag, as allowed in division (C), the owner/handler shall retain the rabies tag and shall produce the same whenever called upon to verify that the animal in question had the required vaccination. The certificate of vaccination may be produced if the tag has been lost.
(E) Every owner of a dog, cat, or ferret shall have the animal revaccinated 12 months after the initial vaccination. Thereafter, the interval between revaccinations shall conform to manufacturer's written instructions (currently every 12 months for annual vaccines, or 36 months for triennial vaccines), and requirements prescribed by the NASPHV in the current version of the annual "Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control."
(Ord. 2020-G-3, passed 6-16-20)