A. Rabies Vaccination Required For Dogs, Cats, And Ferrets: The owner or person having the charge, care, custody and control of a cat, dog or ferret shall have the animal vaccinated within thirty (30) days after it reaches the age of four (4) months. Unvaccinated dogs, cats or ferrets over four (4) months of age acquired by the owner or moved into the jurisdiction must be vaccinated within five (5) days of purchase or arrival. Every dog, cat or ferret shall be revaccinated thereafter as often as is required to maintain the animal in a current rabies vaccination status. This provision does not apply to veterinarian or kennel operators temporarily housing animals owned by others. Vaccinations required by this chapter shall be administered by a licensed veterinarian.
B. Duties Of Veterinarian And Tag Requirements: It is the duty of each veterinarian, when vaccinating any animal for rabies, to complete a certificate of rabies vaccination, in duplicate, which includes the following information:
1. Owner's name and address;
2. Description of animal (breed, sex, marking, age, name);
3. Date of vaccination;
4. Rabies vaccination tag number;
5. Type of rabies vaccine administered;
6. Manufacturer's serial number of vaccine;
7. Date revaccination is required.
C. Certificate: A copy of the certificate shall be distributed to the owner and original retained by the issuing veterinarian. The veterinarian and the owner shall retain copies of the certificate for the interval between vaccinations specified in this section. Additionally, a metal or durable plastic rabies vaccination tag, serially numbered, shall be securely attached to the collar or harness of the animal. An animal not wearing such a tag shall be assumed to be unvaccinated and may be impounded and dealt with pursuant to this chapter.
D. Exceptions: The provisions of this section with respect to vaccination do not apply to an animal owned by a person temporarily remaining within the jurisdiction for fewer than thirty (30) days. Such animals must be kept under strict supervision of the owner. It is otherwise unlawful to bring an animal into the City which does not comply with the animal health laws of the State, this City, the Salt Lake Valley Health Department regulations, and Federal import statutes and regulations.
E. Impoundment Of Animal Without Valid Rabies Vaccination Tag:
1. A vaccinated animal impounded because of a lack of a rabies vaccination tag may be reclaimed upon its owner furnishing proof of rabies vaccination and payment of all impoundment fees prior to release.
2. An unvaccinated animal may be reclaimed prior to disposal by payment of impound fees and by providing written evidence that the owner has arranged to obtain a rabies vaccination within seventy two (72) hours of release.
3. Any animal not reclaimed prior to the period may be disposed of pursuant to section 6.08.070 of this title.
F. Knowledge; Responsibility: Any person having knowledge of the whereabouts of an animal known to have been exposed to, or suspected of having, rabies, or of an animal or person bitten by an animal, shall notify the City Police Chief or designee, the Salt Lake Valley Health Department or the State Division of Health.
G. Quarantine And Disposition Of Biting Or Rabid Animals:
1. Report; Confine: An animal that has rabies or shows signs of having rabies, and every animal bitten by another animal affected with rabies or that has been exposed to rabies shall be reported by the owner as set forth above and shall immediately be confined in a secure place by the owner.
2. Surrender: The owner of any animal of a species subject to rabies which has bitten a person or animal shall surrender such animal to the City upon demand. Any person authorized to enforce this chapter may enter upon private property to seize the animal. If the owner refuses to surrender the animal, the authorized officer shall immediately obtain a search warrant authorizing seizure and impoundment of the animal.
3. Seizure; Quarantine:
a. Any animal of a species subject to rabies that bites a person or animal, or is suspected of having rabies, may be seized and quarantined for observation for a period of not less than ten (10) days by the City or its designee and/or the Salt Lake Valley Health Department. The owner of the animal shall bear the cost of confinement. If, at the end of the ten (10) day period, the City or its designee examines the animal and finds no sign of rabies, the animal may be released to the owner, or, in the case of a stray, it shall be disposed of as provided in section 6.08.070 of this title.
b. The animal shelter is the standard place for quarantine. However, other arrangements, including confinement by the owner, may be made in the sole discretion of the City, its designee and/or the director of Salt Lake Valley Health Department only if the animal had a current rabies vaccination at the time the bite was inflicted or if there are other special circumstances justifying an exception. A person who has custody of an animal under quarantine in accordance with this section must immediately notify the City or its designee if the animal shows any signs of sickness or abnormal behavior, or if the animal escapes confinement. It is unlawful for any person who has custody of a quarantined animal to fail or refuse to allow a health or police officer or the City's designee to make an inspection or examination during the period of quarantine, or to fail to provide the notices required under this subsection.
c. If the animal dies within ten (10) days after the date of the bite, the person having custody shall immediately notify the City or its designee and the Salt Lake Valley Health Department which shall immediately remove and deliver the head to the State Health Laboratory to be examined for rabies.
4. Unvaccinated Bitten Animals:
a. In the case of an unvaccinated animal of a species subject to rabies which is known to have been bitten by, or otherwise exposed to, a known rabid animal, the bitten or exposed animal may, in the discretion of the City or its designee, be destroyed subject to the following process:
(1) The animal shall be quarantined immediately.
(2) The owner shall be provided reasonable notice of both the quarantine and the hearing to be provided under subsection G4a(3) of this section.
(3) Within ten (10) days of confinement, the owner shall be provided a hearing before the City Police Chief or designee related to the potential destruction of the animal. The City Police Chief or designee shall issue an order within five (5) days of the hearing as to whether the animal shall be destroyed, confined for additional time or released.
5. Vaccinated Bitten Animals:
a. If the bitten or exposed animal has been previously vaccinated, the animal shall be revaccinated within twenty four (24) hours and quarantined for a period of thirty (30) days following revaccination, or
b. If the animal is not revaccinated within twenty four (24) hours, the animal shall be isolated and quarantined under veterinary supervision for six (6) months subject to the process provided in subsection G4a of this section.
c. The animal may be destroyed subject to the process provided in subsection G4a of this section.
6. Removal Of Quarantined Animal: It is unlawful for a person to remove an animal from its place of quarantine without written permission of the City or its designee.
7. Immediate Impoundment: If an animal bites or attacks a person or animal two (2) times or more within a twelve (12) month period, that animal may be immediately impounded by the City or its designee without court order and held at owner expense pending court action. The animal shall be deemed a vicious animal, and the City or its designee may seek a court order for destruction of the animal as provided in section 6.08.130 of this title. Parties owning such animals shall be provided with reasonable notice of the animal's location by the City or its designee. (Ord. 17-15)