A. Vaccination Required: Dog owners shall obtain a rabies vaccination for each dog they own, keep, harbor or possess within thirty (30) days after it becomes six (6) months of age, or within thirty (30) days of obtaining any dog over six (6) months of age. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, harbor or possess any dog, as required above, unless such dog has a current rabies vaccination, administered by a licensed veterinarian, with a rabies vaccine approved for use in a dog. Such vaccination shall be repeated at such intervals as determined by the type of vaccine used and licensing requirements of said vaccine.
B. Vaccination Certificate: Any veterinarian who vaccinates a dog for rabies shall also certify, by properly completing a rabies vaccine certificate, that the dog has been vaccinated against rabies.
C. Reporting Suspected Cases Of Rabies: Any person having care and custody of an animal which shows symptoms of rabies or which acts in any manner that would lead to a reasonable suspicion that the animal may have rabies shall notify the Sheriff and the Panhandle Health District.
D. Reporting Of Bites: All persons bitten, and parents or guardians of children bitten, by a dog, cat, skunk, fox, coyote, bobcat, or other animal of a species subject to rabies, shall notify the Sheriff and the Panhandle Health District as soon as possible thereafter. Physicians treating such bites and other persons having knowledge of such bites shall also notify the Sheriff and the Panhandle Health District.
E. Isolation Of Suspected Rabid Animals: Upon the order of the Sheriff or the Panhandle Health District, a suspected rabid animal shall be isolated in strict confinement under the proper care and observation of a licensed veterinarian, in a veterinary hospital, animal shelter or other facility, approved by the Sheriff or the Panhandle Health District. Such animal shall not be killed or released for at least ten (10) days after the onset of symptoms, unless permission is obtained from the owner or responsible health agency to kill the animal for purposes of laboratory examination. All costs incurred associated with this subsection shall be paid by the animal's owner.
F. Rabies Tag Affixed: Every dog owner shall securely affix the current rabies tag to collar or harness of the dog for which it was issued, and shall ensure that the dog wears such rabies tag at all times.
G. Removal Of Tag: No person shall remove a rabies tag or identification tag from any dog which is not owned by that person unless the person removing said tag is a licensed veterinarian. (Ord. 108, 10-4-2006)