(A) Failure to vaccinate. It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any domestic dog over the age of six months to possess, keep or maintain within the county, any dog that is not currently vaccinated for rabies in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(B) Vaccination required annually. It shall be the duty of every person who owns or shelters any dog in the county to have such dog annually vaccinated as required by division (A) above and state law for rabies by or under the direction of a veterinarian licensed by the state. Such vaccination shall be performed on or before the expiration date of the required initial vaccination. Any person within the county who acquires a dog allowed in § 92.003(A) of this code has a duty to have it vaccinated within 30 days of such acquisition, unless the dog has not yet reached an age at which it is safe to vaccinate the animal; provided, however, that in any case the dog must be vaccinated before reaching the age of six months.
(C) Vaccination certificates and tags.
(1) Vaccination certificates and corresponding vaccination tags shall be acquired and retained by any owner, possessor or keeper of a dog within the limits of the county. Certificates should provide spaces for the following information:
(a) The name, address and phone number of the owner or keeper of the inoculated dog;
(b) The date of inoculation;
(c) The year and series number of the tag; and
(d) The breed, age, color and sex of the inoculated dog.
(2) (a) The tag should be made of durable material suitable to be attached to the collar or harness of the inoculated dog. Such tag shall state the year for which issued and the series number of the certificate and tag and shall be worn by the dog at all times.
(b) A copy of the certificate shall be retained by the owner or keeper of the inoculated dog for inspection.
(D) Unlawful possession of tags and certificates.
(1) Only those persons who own or shelter a dog duly vaccinated in accordance with the provision of this section shall be permitted to possess the certificates and tags provided for herein.
(2) No person may affix a tag evidencing vaccination as provided herein to the collar or harness of any dog except the tag issued for that dog at the time of vaccination.
(Prior Code, § 5-5-4) (Ord. 11-13, passed 10-18-2011) Penalty, see § 92.999