A. Vaccination Required: It shall be unlawful for any person to own any dog or cat over three (3) months of age within the city limits that is not immunized against rabies. The animal shall receive a booster within the twelve (12) month interval following the initial vaccination. Every such animal shall be revaccinated within twelve (12) months if a one year vaccine is used or within thirty six (36) months if a three (3) year vaccine is used as provided in New Mexico department of health regulation 7.4.2.8(A) NMAC. (Ord. 1078, 8-11-2003)
B. Rabies Metal Certificate: Dogs must wear the metal vaccination tag securely attached to a collar or harness.
1. The metal tag described above must contain the following information:
a. The year of vaccination;
b. A certificate number; and
c. The name, address, and phone number of the vaccinating veterinarian or veterinary clinic.
2. In addition the owner must have in his possession a paper certificate validating current inoculation with the following information:
a. The name and address of the owner;
b. The telephone number of the owner;
c. A description of the animal;
d. The date of vaccination;
e. The number of the metal certificate, if any;
f. The kind of vaccine used; and
g. The signature of the administering veterinarian.
C. Unlawful Use Of Metal Certificate: It shall be unlawful for any person to attach a metal vaccination certificate or tag which was issued to a dog to the collar or harness of any other dog.
D. Lost Metal Certificate: In the event that a metal certificate is lost, a duplicate may be obtained upon the presentation of a valid paper certificate of vaccination and the payment of a replacement fee. (See current animal shelter fee schedule.)
E. Animal Quarantine: It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal subject to quarantine under this section to fail to immediately surrender possession of such animal to any animal control officer upon request for purposes of supervised quarantine. Unless more stringent regulations have been promulgated by the New Mexico department of health, the following provisions shall apply:
1. Reason For Quarantine: Any dog or cat that has bitten, scratched, or otherwise attacked a person or animal without provocation shall:
a. Either be impounded at an animal shelter or a veterinary hospital or an approved kennel within five (5) miles of the city limits and observed for a period of ten (10) days from the date of the bite; or
b. If the animal has a current vaccination for rabies and the area involved is not quarantined for rabies, the animal control officer may permit quarantine of such animal at the keeper's home after inspecting the premises.
2. Owner's Duties If Home Quarantine Is Allowed: It shall be unlawful for the owner to fail to immediately confine said animal in such a manner that absolutely prevents the escape of such animal and to fail to prevent said animal from contacting any other person or animal. The owner of said animal shall further be required to obtain the same veterinary supervision of the animal and otherwise comply with the same conditions of release from quarantine as would be required in a veterinary hospital or at the animal shelter.
3. Observance: If observance of the animal by animal control is denied or prevented, the animal shall immediately be confined at the animal shelter for the remainder of the quarantine period.
4. Report Changes Or Escape: It shall be unlawful for the owner allowed home quarantine to fail to immediately report and otherwise notify the animal control division of the city should the animal escape and report any changes in such animal's condition.
F. Quarantine Report: Report of animal control officer for quarantine shall specify each of the following:
1. The name and address of any victim;
2. The name and address of the owner of the animal;
3. The reason for the confinement of such animal;
4. A description of the animal; and
5. Place where such animal is confined and any other data which may aid animal control or the shelter.
G. Rabies Occurrence:
1. If, as determined by the veterinarian, a dog or cat proves to be rabid during the period of confinement, animal control and/or the shelter shall have it humanely destroyed at the owner's expense and properly dispose of the body.
2. The head of any animal suspected of having died of rabies shall be immediately sent to a laboratory designated by the state board of public health under such procedure as specified by the state board of public health.
3. If any dog or cat is bitten by an animal proved to be rabid, the owner or keeper shall have it humanely destroyed and properly dispose of the body; unless the bitten dog or cat has been vaccinated at least three (3) weeks before being bitten then the animal shall be confined for ninety (90) days. At the end of the confinement period, the dog or cat shall be released if declared free of rabies by a licensed veterinarian.
H. Declaration Of Quarantine: The city council may declare a quarantine against rabies within the city when, in its judgment, rabies exists to the extent that it is a danger to public health. Upon such declaration, all dogs and cats within the county shall be confined on the premises of the keeper, in a veterinary hospital, in a commercial kennel, or in the animal shelter. After reasonable effort is made to apprehend any dog or cat found running at large, it may be humanely destroyed by any animal control officer who shall also properly dispose of the remains. A quarantine shall not be removed except on order of the city council. (Ord. 1067, 9-9-2002)