A. Vaccination Required: It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to keep, maintain or allow such dog to run at large unless it shall have been vaccinated by a licensed veterinary surgeon with antirabies vaccine within one year preceding the date on which such dog is kept, maintained or allowed to run at large.
B. Muzzling And Confinement: Whenever it becomes necessary to safeguard the public from the dangers of hydrophobia, the mayor, if he deems it necessary, shall issue a proclamation ordering every person owning or keeping a dog to confine it securely on his premises unless such dog shall have a muzzle of sufficient strength to prevent it from biting any person. Any unmuzzled dog running at large during the time of the proclamation shall be seized and impounded, unless noticeably infected with rabies and displaying vicious propensities, then it shall be killed by the one in charge without notice to the owner. Dogs impounded during the first two (2) days of such proclamation shall, if claimed within five (5) days, be released to the owner, unless infected with rabies, upon payment of impounding charges provided for in subsection 4-1A-8E2 of this article. If unclaimed after that period, such dog may be summarily destroyed. (Ord. 162, 4-7-1986)
C. Quarantine:
1. A dog which is known to have bitten or injured any person so as to cause an abrasion of the skin, or a dog which in the opinion of the animal control officer or of any licensed veterinarian of the state appears to be afflicted with rabies shall be closely confined by its owner in accordance with the directions of the animal control officer for a period of not less than fourteen (14) days.
2. If the owner of such dog or dogs referred to in this subsection cannot be determined or located, then the animal control officer shall otherwise confine said dog or dogs for a period of not less than fourteen (14) days.
If the owner of said dog is not determined, located or the dog claimed from confinement within said fourteen (14) days, then the animal control officer may order said dog destroyed; provided, however, that all costs incurred for the confinement of a dog under this subsection shall be paid for by the owner or owners of said dog. If, however, after fourteen (14) days' confinement, the said dog is not claimed or the owner determined or located, then the cost of confinement shall be borne by the town. If said dog is determined by a veterinarian to be suffering from rabies, it shall be destroyed forthwith.
3. It shall be unlawful for any person knowing or suspecting a dog has rabies to allow such dog to be taken off his premises or beyond the limits of the town without the written permission of the animal control officer. Every owner or other person, upon ascertaining a dog is rabid, shall immediately notify the animal control officer who shall either remove the dog to the pound or summarily destroy it. (Ord. 162, 4-7-1986; amd. 1990 Code)