A. Vaccination Requirement: Every owner of a dog or cat four (4) months or more of age, within the County of McHenry, Illinois, shall cause such dog or cat to be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian with a prophylactic rabies vaccine approved by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
1. Any veterinarian vaccinating an animal for rabies shall record the vaccination on the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians Form 51, or a form substantially equivalent as determined by the Administrator or his or her designee, and sign the document.
2. Any veterinarian who vaccinates an animal for rabies shall send a copy of the vaccination certificate to the Department.
B. Rabies Vaccine: Rabies vaccine for use on animals shall be sold or distributed only to, and used only by, licensed veterinarians. Such rabies vaccine shall be licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture and approved by the Department and used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
C. Exposed Animals: Whenever reasonable probability exists that a domestic animal has been exposed to a known or suspected rabid animal, the exposed animal shall be handled in a manner as recommended by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians.
D. Dog or cat Quarantine:
1. Whenever the number of dogs or cats suffering from rabies, or dogs and cats running at large within the County of McHenry, Illinois, shall be such as to endanger the public health, public safety or general welfare, the Administrator, upon the recommendation of the Chairman of the Board of McHenry County, shall apply to the Illinois Department of Agriculture for a quarantine. A proclamation of the Chairman containing such declaration shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the County of McHenry, Illinois. After the first publication of such proclamation by the Chairman, it shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of any dog or cat to permit such dog or cat to be at large contrary to the terms of such proclamation. The Illinois Department of Agriculture may order that all dogs or other animals in the locality be kept confined within an enclosure, be kept muzzled and restrained by leash, all owners or keepers of dogs or other animals take prophylactic measures as deemed necessary to prevent the spread of rabies, and other measures as may be necessary to control the spread of rabies.
2. The Illinois Department of Agriculture may determine the area of the locality in which, and the period of time during which, such orders shall be effective.
3. The Administrator, during the first week after the quarantine order is issued, shall take proper measures to inform the citizens of McHenry County of the quarantine order and of the penalties attached to the violation of the order. The quarantine order shall apply to all dogs and cats whether vaccinated and registered according to the provisions of this Ordinance or not, and shall be confined in the home of the owner of the animal or be under direct control of a competent person.
4. Any dog or cat or other animal subject to such quarantine found uncontrolled shall be impounded. Dogs or cats and other animals subject to rabies which are impossible to capture or impound after the exercise of reasonable efforts and diligence, shall be destroyed if the Illinois Department of Agriculture Health Authority so designates.
E. Animal with Rabies:
1. The owner of any dog, cat or other animal which exhibits clinical signs of rabies, whether or not the animal has been vaccinated for rabies, shall immediately notify the Administrator, and shall promptly confine the animal, or have it confined, under suitable observation, for a period of at least ten (10) days, unless officially authorized by the Administrator, in writing, to release it sooner. Any animal in direct contact with such dog, cat or other animal, whether or not the exposed animal has been vaccinated for rabies, shall be confined as recommended by the Administrator.
2. Any owner or veterinarian who suspects that a dog, cat or other animal died from rabies shall immediately report such fact to the Administrator and the animal's body made available for diagnostic testing.
(Ord. O-201711-51-031, passed 11-14-2017; Ord. —, passed 3-16-2020)