(A) Required; payment of costs. All dogs over 4 months of age must be vaccinated against rabies. Young dogs shall be vaccinated within 30 days after they have reached 4 months of age. Unvaccinated dogs acquired or moved into the city must be vaccinated within 30 days after arrival or purchase, unless under 4 months of age as specified in this division. Each dog shall be revaccinated following a period of not more than 36 months since its last vaccination. All cats over 4 months of age must be vaccinated for rabies. Each cat shall be revaccinated following a period of not more than 36 months since its last vaccination. Rabies vaccines used must meet the requirements of the current compendium of animal rabies vaccines and Neb. RS 71-4402(2). The cost of the rabies vaccination shall be borne by the owner of the dog.
(B) Issuance of certificate of vaccination and tag.
(1) It shall be the duty of each veterinarian, at the time of vaccinating any dog or cat, to complete a certificate of rabies vaccination, which shall include but not be limited to the following information:
(a) The owner’s name and address;
(b) A description of the dog or cat, including the breed, sex, markings, age and name;
(c) The date of vaccination;
(d) The rabies vaccination tag number;
(e) The type of rabies vaccine administered; and
(f) The manufacturer’s serial number of the vaccine.
(2) The veterinarian shall issue a tag with the certificate of vaccination.
(C) Exceptions. The provisions of division (A) of this section with respect to vaccination shall not apply to any non-resident owner or keeper of a dog or cat while the non-resident is passing through the city, provided that the dog or cat shall remain on leash or otherwise physically restrained as provided for elsewhere in this chapter. Dogs and cats of nonresidents need not be licensed during dog or cat shows or exhibitions; however, proof of rabies vaccination shall be presented by the owner or keeper upon demand, and failure to do so shall constitute a violation of this section.
(D) Possession of certificate of vaccination; wearing of collar and tag. The owner or keeper of a dog or cat shall keep in his or her possession the certificate of rabies vaccination as proof of the vaccination. Further, the tag of rabies vaccination shall be attached to the harness or collar of the dog or cat at all times. No person shall remove, or cause to be removed, the collar, harness or rabies tag from any dog or cat without the consent of the owner or keeper.
(E) Impoundment of animals without proof of vaccination. Any dog or cat found outside the owner’s or keeper’s premises whose owner does not possess a valid certificate of rabies vaccination and a valid rabies vaccination tag for such dog or cat shall be impounded. All impounded dogs and cats shall be given proper care, treatment and maintenance. Each impounded dog or cat, except as provided for in § 90.18(A)(1) and (2), shall be kept at the animal shelter for a period of not less than 5 days unless reclaimed earlier by the owner. Notice of impoundment of all animals, including any significant marks of identification, shall be posted at the shelter as public notification of impoundment. Any unvaccinated dog or cat may be reclaimed by its owner during the period of impoundment by payment of the prescribed impoundment fees and by complying with the rabies vaccination requirements within 72 hours of release. Any vaccinated dog or cat impounded because its owner has not presented a valid certificate of rabies vaccination and a valid rabies vaccination tag for such dog may be reclaimed by its owner by furnishing proof of rabies vaccination and payment of all impoundment fees prior to release.
(F) Violations; penalty. It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to have his or her dog or cat vaccinated for rabies as required by this section, to fail to affix or attach the valid rabies vaccination tag to the animal’s collar or harness, to fail to possess and present proof of valid and current rabies vaccination or to violate any of the provisions or requirements of this section. Failure of a owner of a dog or cat to present to an officer, upon demand, the valid rabies vaccination certificate and valid rabies vaccination tag shall constitute prima facie evidence in the appropriate court of law that the dog or cat is not properly vaccinated and that the requirements and provisions of this section have been violated. Any person found to have violated this section shall be punished as provided for in § 90.99(A)(1).
(Prior Code, § 8-23) Penalty, see § 90.99