A. Rabies Vaccination: The owner/custodian of any dog or cat shall be responsible for having the animal vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian and for keeping immunizations current. Vaccinations must begin when the animal has reached the age of six (6) months. Every owner/custodian must, upon request of an animal services officer or police officer, produce proof of such vaccination(s).
B. Suspected Rabies; Quarantine Procedures: Any owner/custodian of any animal which shows symptoms of rabies, or which has bitten any person, or other animal, causing an abrasion to the skin, shall surrender the animal for impoundment and isolation (quarantine) at the animal services center or to a licensed veterinarian for a period of ten (10) days or shall securely confine the animal on his/her premises for said period of time. The choice of place of quarantine shall be at the discretion of the animal services center. All costs for the quarantine shall be borne by the owner/custodian. If an owner/custodian refuses to surrender or confine the animal, animal services officers are hereby authorized to seize the animal and transport it to a licensed veterinarian. Animal services officers or police officers are hereby authorized to immediately impound any quarantined animal found outside the quarantine area and arrange for its confinement in accordance with this section. If the animal has been confined by the owner/custodian, on the next working day following the ten (10) day quarantine, the owner/custodian shall take the animal to a licensed veterinarian for examination to be tested for rabies and to obtain a rabies vaccination if the owner has not provided a current valid rabies vaccination certificate to the animal services center. A copy of the examination results and a current certificate of rabies vaccination must be provided to the animal services center no later than the following day. Failure of the owner to comply with any of these provisions shall result in the immediate impoundment of the animal, and it shall be subject to destruction or disposal in accordance with policies of the animal services center and this chapter. If an animal quarantined at the animal services center is determined to be free of rabies, it shall be returned to the owner or custodian upon payment of all costs for confinement, examination, and vaccination. If such charges are not paid, the animal shall not be returned and shall be subject to disposal in accordance with policies of the animal services center.
C. Premature Destruction; Preservation Of Head: It is unlawful for any person to kill or cause to be killed any animal suspected of being rabid, provided, however, that an animal services officer or other law enforcement officer may kill any such animal if he determines that the animal is so dangerous or wild that it cannot be restrained and impounded or that further pursuit would result in losing the animal and if the animal can be killed with gunshot so as not to damage the head. The head of any animal so killed must be severed from the body and sent to the public health department for examination and diagnosis.
D. Control Of Contagious Diseases: It is unlawful for any person to permit or allow any animal with a contagious or infectious disease to be upon the public streets, roads and ways of this city; or to be within any public transportation facility or any other public building or place; or to expose such animal in any public building or place, whereby the health, safety, and well being of any person may be affected. (Ord. 2975, 2016: Ord. 2963, 2015: Ord. 2884, 2010: Ord. 2764 § 2, 2005: Ord. 2667 § 2, 2001)