A. Rabies Control Authority: The appointed rabies control authority in the county is Lyon County animal services, and appointed animal services officer(s).
B. Vaccination Against Rabies:
1. An owner of a dog, cat or ferret shall maintain the dog, cat or ferret currently vaccinated against rabies in accordance with NAC 441A.435.
2. If the owner of a dog, cat or ferret violates this section, the rabies control authority may impound the dog, cat or ferret.
3. The only proof of vaccination against rabies acceptable to the county is a certificate of vaccination against rabies issued in accordance with NAC 441A.440.
C. Quarantine Of Biting Animals:
1. The rabies control authority shall cause a dog, cat, or ferret, regardless of vaccination against rabies, which has bitten a person to be quarantined and observed for ten (10) days following the bite under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian or other person designated by the rabies control authority. The observation must be within an enclosure or with restraints deemed adequate by the rabies control authority to prevent direct contact with a person or animal.
2. The dog, cat or ferret must be examined by a licensed veterinarian at the first sign of illness during the ten (10) days of observation. Any illness must be reported immediately to the rabies control authority. If signs of rabies develop during the ten (10) days of observation the dog, cat or ferret must be euthanized and its head removed and shipped under refrigeration for examination at the laboratory of the department of agriculture.
3. If, after a reasonable effort is made to locate the owner of an unwanted or stray dog or cat, the owner is unknown or cannot be located, or if the owner agrees, the unwanted or stray dog or cat which has bitten may be euthanized and the head submitted for laboratory examination without a period of quarantine.
4. Wolf hybrids must immediately be quarantined within an enclosure or with restraints deemed adequate by the rabies control authority to prevent direct contact with a person or animal for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days, under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian or other person designated by the rabies control authority.
5. A bat, raccoon, skunk, fox, feral ferret, feral dog, feral cat or wild or exotic animal that is rabies susceptible species, which has bitten a person must be euthanized immediately without a period of quarantine and the head submitted for laboratory examination.
6. Animal services is not required to return or release any animal after the quarantine period, and may for good cause, humanely destroy the animal.
D. Quarantine Of Animals In Close Contact With Animals Known Or Suspected Of Having Rabies:
1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a wild or exotic animal that is rabies susceptible, in close contact with an animal suspected or known to have rabies, must be euthanized immediately without a period of quarantine and the head submitted for laboratory examination. The rabies control authority may exempt a rare or valuable animal from the provisions of this section.
2. Unless the owner of the animal objects, a dog or cat which has not been vaccinated pursuant to NAC 441A.435 and which is considered by the rabies control authority to have been in close contact with an animal suspected or known to have rabies must be euthanized immediately without a period of quarantine and the head submitted for laboratory examination. If the owner of the animal objects, the dog or cat must be immediately vaccinated against rabies and quarantined within an enclosure or with restraints deemed adequate by the rabies control authority to prevent direct contact with a person or animal for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days, under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian or other person designated by the rabies control authority. The dog or cat must be revaccinated one month before release.
3. A dog, cat, or ferret which has been vaccinated pursuant to NAC 441A.435 and which is considered by the rabies control authority to have been in close contact with an animal suspected or known to have rabies, must be:
a. Immediately revaccinated, or
b. Upon the request of the owner of the dog, cat or ferret, euthanized immediately without a period of quarantine and the head submitted for laboratory examination.
4. A domesticated animal of a rabies susceptible species, other than a dog, cat or ferret which is considered by the rabies control authority to have been in close contact with an animal suspected or known to have rabies, must be managed according to the discretion of the rabies control authority.
5. Wolf hybrids must immediately be quarantined within an enclosure or with restraints deemed adequate by the rabies control authority to prevent direct contact with a person or animal for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days, under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian or the person designated by the rabies control authority.
6. As used in this section, "in close contact with an animal suspected or known to have rabies" means, within the past one hundred eighty (180) days, to have been bitten, mouthed or mauled by, or closely confined on the same premises with an animal either suspected or known to have rabies.
E. Party Responsible For Payment Of Quarantined Animal: The owner of an animal quarantined pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is responsible for all costs of quarantine, veterinary care, examination, euthanasia and disposal.
F. Rabies Control Reporting Requirements: The rabies control authority shall report all cases, suspected cases or carriers of rabies in accordance with NAC 441A.225 through 441A.260. (Ord. 475, 3-18-2004, eff. 4-9-2004)