A. Inoculation Of Dogs Against Rabies: It shall be the duty of every resident of the city owning or in possession of a dog four (4) months old or older within the city to have such dog inoculated with an antirabies vaccine approved by the public health authorities, which inoculation shall be repeated as often as the public health authorities may from time to time specify. The expense of inoculation of dogs against rabies shall be borne by the owner of such dogs. The inoculation shall be made by a licensed veterinarian. A certificate of vaccination shall be presented by the veterinarian to the public health authorities for registration within ten (10) days after inoculation.
B. Inoculation Of Cats Against Rabies: It shall be the duty of every resident of the city owning or in possession of a cat four (4) months old or older within the city to have such cat inoculated with an antirabies vaccine approved by the public health authorities, which inoculation shall be repeated as often as the public health authorities may from time to time specify. The expense of inoculation of cats against rabies shall be borne by the owner of such cats. The inoculation shall be made by a licensed veterinarian. The certificate of vaccination shall be presented by the veterinarian to the public health authorities for registration within ten (10) days after inoculation.
C. License/Vaccination Requirements:
1. Before a license is issued for any dog, the owner must present a vaccination certificate signed by a veterinarian stating the owner's name and address and giving the dog's description, date of vaccination and type, manufacturer and serial number of the vaccine and date revaccination is due. A duplicate of each rabies vaccination certificate issued shall be transmitted to the city on or before the tenth day of the month following the month during which the dog was vaccinated. Revaccination must be performed as needed in order to maintain the validity of the license during the current license year. No dog or cat shall be licensed unless it is vaccinated in accordance with provisions of this chapter and regulations promulgated hereunder.
2. A dog vaccinated in any other place within the United States prior to entry into the city may be licensed in the city; provided, that at the time of licensing, the owner of the dog or cat presents a vaccination certificate, signed by a veterinarian licensed to practice in that place, stating the owner's name and address and giving the dog's description, date of vaccination and type, manufacturer and serial number of the vaccine and date revaccination is due. Revaccination must be performed as needed in order to maintain the validity of the license during the current license year. The vaccination must be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter and regulations promulgated hereunder.
3. The animal control officer shall make provisions for low cost vaccination clinic(s) as he/she deems necessary. The vaccination shall be performed by a licensed veterinarian.
4. If a dog or cat is impounded and found to be unvaccinated, the animal control officer is authorized to cause the dog or cat to be vaccinated at a cost to be borne by the owner. The vaccination shall be performed by a veterinarian, who shall issue a certificate of vaccination.
D. Procedure As To Nonbiting Animal Suspected Of Having Rabies: Animals suspected of having rabies and exhibiting symptoms of this disease shall be immediately impounded. Thereafter, the animal control officer shall immediately contact a veterinarian and, depending on the veterinarian's instructions, either transport the live animal to the veterinarian for examination or kill the animal and transport the animal's head to the Arizona state health laboratory for rabies testing. The state laboratory shall issue a report to the animal control officer following the examination. The animal control officer shall immediately deliver copies of this report to the owner. This section applies to the procedure for handling animals suspected of having rabies that have not bitten a person. (Ord. 05-590, 5-23-2005)