All domestic animals shall be vaccinated against rabies at the required age of each animal as determined by veterinarian standards.
A. Rabies vaccination must be renewed every three years on all domestic animals. Puppies are required to have the first vaccination which is good for one year.
B. A valid rabies certificate shall be issued listing the owner's name, address, telephone number, date of vaccination, type of rabies vaccine administered, rabies vaccination tag number, manufacturer's serial number of vaccine, and description of animal including its age, breed, sex and name. It must be signed by a licensed veterinarian.
C. A valid rabies certificate must be presented at the time of registration to the licensing authority.
D. Any animal suspected of or being rabid shall be reported to law enforcement, the animal control officer, or designee or the county health authorities. If it becomes necessary to destroy such animal, it shall be disposed of in such a manner as to preserve the head structure.
E. It shall be the duty of every physician or other practitioner to report to law enforcement, animal control officer or designee, the names and addresses of persons treated for bites inflicted by animals, together with such information as will be helpful in rabies control.
F. Every owner having knowledge that their animal has bitten or is suspected of biting a human being, shall forthwith report same to law enforcement, animal control officer or designee for disposition of the animal under the provisions of this chapter.
G. All quarantine procedures, and all procedure for management of animals that have bitten humans, animals exposed to rabies, and rabid animals, will be in accordance with the current Compendium of Animal Rabies Control promulgated by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. In case of conflict between the Compendium and this chapter concerning the quarantines and procedures, the recommendation in the Compendium will take precedence over this chapter.
H. Any animal shall be considered unvaccinated unless proof of a current rabies vaccination effected not less than thirty (30) days prior to the bite as provided within twenty-four (24) hours of the bite. Law enforcement, animal control officer or designee or the State Department of Health may order the destruction of any unvaccinated animal that has bitten any person if, based on sound medical judgments, a greater risk to human life exists by not doing so. In making such a determination the following facts may be considered:
1. The history of the animal, including the possibility of its exposure to rabies.
2. The vaccination record of the animal.
3. The health of the animal.
4. The nature, location, and seriousness of the bite.
5. The circumstances surrounding the bite, including whether or not the bite was provoked.
6. The tolerance of the person bitten to the vaccines used for treatment.
I. Any animal that bites or attacks a person shall be quarantined at the direction of law enforcement, animal control officer, designee, or any veterinarian for a period of not less than ten (10) days. During quarantine the animal shall be securely confined and kept from contact with any other animal or humans other than the caretaker. The owner shall surrender the animal for the quarantine period to law enforcement, animal control officer, designee, or shall place it in a veterinary hospital, either confinement to be at the owner’s expense.
J. At the end of the specified quarantine period, the animal will be examined by a veterinarian at the owner’s expense. If the veterinarian finds that the animal is showing no clinical signs or symptoms known to be present in active cases of rabies, the animal will be released from quarantine and may be reclaimed by the owner. The veterinarian shall so notify law enforcement, animal control officer or designee.
K. Any stray animal that bites a person, if its ownership cannot be ascertained within forty-eight (48) hours of the bite, shall be euthanized and law enforcement, animal control officer or designee shall arrange to have the animal’s head sent to a competent laboratory to be examined for rabies.
L. When any animal has been diagnosed by a veterinarian as being rabid or dies during quarantine or rabies observation, the veterinarian or law enforcement, animal control officer or designee shall immediately send the head of such animal to a competent laboratory for pathological examination and shall notify the proper public health officials, law enforcement, animal control officer, or designee of reports of human contacts and the diagnosis made of the suspected animal.
M. Every owner whose animal is bitten or scratched by animal showing positive symptoms of rabies or by a wild or carnivorous mammal or bat not available for testing, shall have the animal examined by a veterinarian at the owner’s expense. The animal shall be euthanized, quarantined or held for further observation as requested and the owner shall be responsible for all expenses incurred as a result thereof.
N. Any person who kills or causes to be killed any rabid animal, any animal suspected of having been exposed to rabies, or any animal biting a human, shall immediately report same to law enforcement, animal control officer or designee. No person may sell, give away, remove from the city, or otherwise dispose of such animal without written permission from law enforcement, animal control officer or designee. The carcass of any dead animal exposed to rabies shall, upon demand, be surrendered to law enforcement, animal control officer or designee. Law enforcement, animal control officer, designee or veterinarian shall direct the disposition of any animal found to be infected with rabies. No person shall fail or refuse to surrender any animal for quarantine or euthanasia as required herein when demand is made by law enforcement, animal control officer or designee. (Ord. 749, 2014; Ord. 636 (part), 2006)