(A) Rabies vaccination tags. Rabies vaccination tags for dogs shall be furnished by the county. The Administrator or other county official designated by the Board shall record the name and address of each person to whom rabies vaccination tags are issued. The person receiving the tags shall be held accountable for each tag, and shall return all unused tags upon their expiration. If that person fails to account for each tag, or refuses to return unused tags, the county will assess a $5 charge for each tag and may withhold issuance of additional tags to that person.
(B) Veterinarians. Veterinarians who inoculate a dog or cat shall procure from the county animal control in the county where their office is located serially numbered tags, one to be issued with each inoculation certificate. Only one dog or cat shall be included on each certificate. The veterinarian immunizing or microchipping an animal shall provide the Administrator of the county in which the animal resides with a certificate of immunization and microchip number. The Board shall cause a rabies inoculation tag to be issued, at a fee, set forth in § 50.023, for each dog inoculated against rabies.
(C) Procurement of serial number tags. In accordance with 510 ILCS 5/8 and effective January 1, 2012, veterinarians shall procure from the county animal control office serial number tags, one to be issued with each inoculation certificate. This procurement may be made following one of the following options.
(1) Procurement in advance. Veterinarians may pre-purchase tags. Veterinarians are allowed to return up to 100 unused tags for credit at the end of the year.
(2) Estimated amount of tags. An estimated amount of rabies tags are provided upfront and payments required each month. This may be done under either of the following arrangements:
(a) Veterinarians collect the tag fee and remit to the Animal Control Department; or
(b) Direct billing. Veterinarians may be billed on a monthly basis for the total costs of tags issued during the previous month.
(D) Tag to be attached. The rabies vaccination tag shall be attached to a collar or harness and worn at all times by the dog for which the certificate and tag have been issued, except when such dog is confined.
(1993 Code, § 50.133) (Ord. 92-10, passed 11-18-1992; Ord. 2006-07, passed 6-21-2006; Ord. 21, passed 12-15-2010; Ord. 2022-01, passed 3-16-2022)