(A) Vaccination required; cost; exemptions.
(1) Every domestic animal in the city shall be vaccinated against rabies with a licensed vaccine and revaccinated at intervals specified by rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the Department. Young domestic animals shall be initially vaccinated at the age specified in the rules and regulations. Unvaccinated domestic animals acquired or moved into the city shall be vaccinated within 30 days after purchase or arrival unless under the age for initial vaccination.
(2) (a) Except as provided in division (A)(2)(c) below, every hybrid animal in the city shall be vaccinated against rabies and shall be revaccinated at intervals specified by rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the Department. A young hybrid animal shall be initially vaccinated at the age specified in such rules and regulations. An unvaccinated hybrid animal acquired or moved into the city shall be vaccinated within 30 after purchase or arrival unless under the age for initial vaccination.
(b) The rabies vaccine used to vaccinate a hybrid animal pursuant to this division (A) shall be sold only to licensed veterinarians.
(c) An owner of a hybrid animal in the city prior to the date of development of a licensed vaccine determined scientifically to be reliable in preventing rabies in a hybrid animal shall have one year after such date to comply with this section.
(3) The cost of rabies vaccination shall be borne by the owner of the domestic or hybrid animal.
(4) (a) The provisions of this subchapter with respect to vaccination shall not apply to any domestic or hybrid animal owned by a person temporarily remaining within the city for less than 30 days, to any domestic or hybrid animal brought into the city for field trial or show purposes, or to any domestic or hybrid animal brought into the city for hunting purposes for a period of less than 30 days. Such domestic or hybrid animals shall be kept under strict supervision of the owner. It shall be unlawful to bring any domestic or hybrid animal into the city which does not comply with the animal health laws and import rules and regulations of the state which are applicable to domestic or hybrid animals.
(b) Domestic or hybrid animals assigned to a research institution or a similar facility shall be exempt from this subchapter.
(1976 Code, § 6-103)
(B) Rabies vaccination certificates and tags.
(1) It shall be the duty of each veterinarian, at the time of vaccinating any animal, to complete a certificate of rabies vaccination which shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:
(a) The owner’s name and address;
(b) An adequate description of the animal including, but not limited to, such items as the animal’s breed, sex, age, name and distinctive markings;
(c) The date of vaccination;
(d) The rabies vaccination tag number;
(e) The type of rabies vaccine administered; and
(f) The manufacturer’s serial number of the vaccine used.
(2) Such veterinarian shall issue a tag with the certificate of vaccination.
(3) The cost of the rabies vaccination shall be borne by the owner of the animal.
(1976 Code, § 6-104)
(C) Rabies suspected.
(1) (a) Any dog suspected of being afflicted with rabies, or any dog not vaccinated in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter, which has bitten any person and caused an abrasion of the skin, shall be seized and impounded under the supervision of the Police Department for a period of not less than ten days.
(b) If, upon examination by a veterinarian, the dog has no clinical signs of rabies at the end of such impoundment, it may be released to the owner, or, in the case of an unlicensed dog, it shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions herein. If the owner of the said dog has proof of vaccination, it shall be confined by the owner or some other responsible person for a period of at least ten days, at which time the dog shall be examined by a licensed veterinarian. If no signs of rabies are observed, the dog may be released from confinement.
(2) If the ownership of any animal which has bitten a person can be established, the owner shall be liable for the cost of confining for such length of time as is necessary to establish whether the animal is rabid. If the ownership of such animal cannot be determined, the person bitten shall be liable for the cost of so confining it. The cost of confining an animal whose ownership cannot be determined and is only suspected of having rabies, shall be paid by the municipality.
(3) All costs incurred in the collection, submission and sending to the Department of Health, of heads of animals that have or are suspected of dying from rabies, shall be borne by the owner of such animal if the ownership thereof can be established. If ownership of such animal cannot be determined, then the person bitten by the animal shall be liable for the cost of collection, submission and sending the head to the Department of Health. The cost of sending the head of an animal whose ownership cannot be determined, which has not bitten any persons and is only suspected of having rabies, shall be paid by the municipality.
(D) Domestic or hybrid animal or livestock; post-exposure management. Domestic or hybrid animals or livestock known to have been exposed to a confirmed or suspected rabid animal shall be subjected to post-exposure management as provided in rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the department.
(1976 Code, § 6-113) (Ord. 1230, passed 3-24-1997; Ord. 1395, passed 6-4-2007; Ord. 1401, passed 1-7-2008; Ord. 1483A, passed 12-23-2019) Penalty, see § 90.99
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see Neb. RS 71-4402, 71-4404, 71-4405, 71-4406