(A) (1) It shall be unlawful for any animal owner or other person to fail to comply with the state laws relating to the control of rabies.
(2) It is the purpose of this chapter to supplement the state laws by providing a procedure for the enforcement of state laws relating to rabies control, in addition to the criminal penalties provided by state law.
(B) (1) It shall be unlawful for an owner or keeper to fail to provide current vaccination against rabies (hydrophobia) for any dog or cat 4 months of age or older. Should it be deemed necessary by the County Health Director or the Board of Health that other pets be vaccinated in order to prevent a threatened epidemic or to control an existing epidemic, it shall be unlawful for an owner or keeper to fail to provide current vaccination against rabies for that pet.
(2) A rabies vaccination shall be deemed current for a dog or cat if the first 2 doses of vaccine are administered 12 months apart and each subsequent booster dose of vaccine administered as per the vaccine manufacturer’s recommended schedule.
(C) (1) Proof of vaccination shall be required upon request by the Code Enforcement Officer, law enforcement or Department of Public Works and shall be in the form of a tag, stamped with a number and the year for which issued and a rabies vaccination certificate.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any dog or cat owner or keeper to fail to provide the dog or cat with a collar or harness to which a current rabies tag issued under this section is securely attached. The collar or harness, with attached tag, must be worn at all times.
(3) In addition to all other penalties as prescribed by law, a dog or cat is subject to impoundment in accordance with the provisions of this chapter if the dog or cat is found not to be wearing a currently valid rabies tag.
(4) It shall be unlawful for any person to use for any animal a rabies vaccination tag issued for an animal other than the one using the tag.
(5) All dogs or cats shipped or otherwise brought into the town, except for exhibition purposes where the dogs or cats are confined and not permitted to run at large, shall be securely confined and vaccinated within 1 week after entry, and shall remain confined for 2 additional weeks after vaccination unless accompanied by a certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian showing that the dog or cat is apparently free from rabies and has not been exposed to it and that the dog or cat has received a proper dose of rabies vaccine not more than 6 months prior to the date of issuing the certificate.
(Ord. passed 5-13-2003) Penalty, see § 94.99