(A) Vaccinations. Every owner of a dog or cat 3 months of age or older shall have that animal vaccinated against rabies. All dogs or cats vaccinated at 3 months of age or older shall be revaccinated at 1 year of age and each third year thereafter. Any person moving into the city from a location outside of the city shall comply with this section within 30 days after having moved into the city. If the dog or cat has inflicted a bite on any person or another animal within the last 10 days, the owner of that dog or cat shall report the fact to the veterinarian, and no rabies vaccine shall be administered until after the 10-day observation period.
(B) Certificate of vaccination. Upon vaccination, the veterinarian shall execute and furnish to the owner of the dog or cat, as evidence thereof, a certificate upon a form furnished by the veterinarian. The veterinarian shall retain a duplicate copy. This certificate shall contain the following information:
(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the vaccinated dog or cat;
(2) The date of vaccination;
(3) The type of rabies vaccine used;
(4) The year and number of the rabies tag; and
(5) The breed, age, color, and sex of the vaccinated dog or cat.
(C) Rabies tags. Concurrent with the issuance and delivery of the certificate of vaccination referred to in division (B) of this section, the owner of the dog or cat shall cause to be attached to the collar or harness of the vaccinated dog or cat a metal tag, serially numbered to correspond with the vaccination certificate number, and bearing the year of issuance, and the name of the issuing veterinarian and his or her address. The owner shall cause the collar or harness, with the attached metal tag, to be worn by his or her dog or cat at all times.
(D) Duplicate tags. In the event of loss or destruction of the original tag provided in division (C) of this section, the owner of the dog or cat shall obtain a duplicate tag. Vaccination certificates (and tags) shall be valid only for the animal for which each was originally issued.
(E) Proof. It shall be unlawful for any person who owns or harbors a vaccinated dog or cat to fail or refuse to exhibit his or her copy of the certificate of vaccination upon demand to any person charged with the enforcement of this chapter.
(F) Harboring unvaccinated animals. It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor any dog or cat that has not been vaccinated against rabies, as provided herein, or that cannot be identified as having a current vaccination certificate.
(G) Animals exposed to rabies. Any person having knowledge of the existence of any animal known to have been or suspected of being exposed to rabies must immediately report that knowledge to the local health authority, giving any information that may be required. For any animal known to have been or suspected of being exposed to rabies, the following rules must apply:
(1) Animals having a current vaccination must be revaccinated immediately and confined according to the method prescribed by the local health authority for a period of not less than 90 days; and
(2) Animals not having a current vaccination should be humanely destroyed. However, if the owner of such an animal elects, he or she may, at his or her expense and in a manner prescribed by the local health authority, confine the animal. This animal must be vaccinated immediately following exposure and quarantined for not less than 6 months. A revaccination shall be done 1 month prior to release from quarantine.
(Ord. 414, passed 12-17-1996; Am. Ord. 625, passed 7-1-2008) Penalty, see § 92.99