(A) Inoculation against rabies.
(1) It shall be the duty of the owner or person in custody of any dog or cat kept or maintained in the city to have the dog or cat inoculated against rabies at least once each calendar year. Such owner or keeper of such dog or cat shall cause a serially numbered tag evidencing such inoculation to be attached to a collar or harness worn by the animal.
(2) Every owner or keeper of a dog or cat, regardless of age, shall cause said animal to wear a collar or harness and shall affix thereto a metallic or other suitable tag inscribed with the name, address, and phone number, if any, of the owner or keeper of the animal.
(B) Inoculation to be performed by licensed veterinarian - issuance of certificate. The inoculation of dogs and cats required by this section shall be performed by a veterinarian duly licensed to practice in this state. Upon performing such inoculation, such veterinarian shall issue to the owner or keeper a certificate showing such fact and shall also deliver to such owner or keeper a metallic or other suitable tag to be attached to the collar or harness of such dog or cat, which tag shall also certify to the fact of inoculation against rabies.
(C) Duration of inoculation. The inoculation performed under the provisions of this section shall be effective until the expiration of the calendar year in which the vaccination was performed or the expiration of such period of time as may be promulgated by the Department of Agriculture.
(D) Specifications for tag. The tag issued under the provisions of this section shall be in such form as shall be determined by the Department of Agriculture.
(E) Exhibition of certificate upon request. At any reasonable time upon request of the Animal Control Officer or any member of the Police Department, the owner or keeper of any unmuzzled dog or cat shall exhibit his or her certificate issued under the provisions of this section showing the inoculation against rabies of any dog or cat owned or controlled by him or her.
(F) Impoundment of animals which have bitten persons.
(1) Any animal which shall have bitten or otherwise injured any person so as to cause an abrasion of the skin shall be immediately taken, impounded, and kept separated from other animals for 14 days. If during that period such animal develops symptoms of illness, a veterinarian shall be called to diagnose its condition. If the symptoms disclosed are such as to indicate the presence of rabies, such animal shall be destroyed in such a manner as to preserve intact the head, which shall thereupon be detached and immediately sent to the diagnostic laboratory of the Department of Agriculture. In case such animal cannot be safely taken up and impounded, it may be shot, care being taken to preserve the head intact which shall thereupon be immediately detached and be delivered to the diagnostic laboratory of the Department of Agriculture.
(2) If, at the expiration of the period of 14 days, no symptoms of rabies have developed in such animal so impounded, the same may be redeemed by the owner upon payment of the redemption fees and charges specified by § 91.18 herein; provided, however, that in case any animal so impounded for biting any person shall have previously bitten any person, such animal shall be humanely destroyed by the Animal Control Officer. After having been notified that his or her animal has bitten or otherwise injured any person, the owner or keeper thereof shall not, under any circumstances, permit such animal to be at large unless the animal is securely muzzled.
(Ord. O-2007-11, passed 10-8-07)