A. Rabies Vaccination Required For Certain Animals: The owner of a dog over four (4) months of age shall have said dog vaccinated within thirty (30) days after it reaches said age. Unvaccinated dogs over four (4) months of age acquired by the owner or moved into the jurisdiction must be vaccinated thereafter every thirty six (36) months with a modified virus rabies vaccine approved by the Summit County health department. Cats shall be vaccinated every thirty six (36) months. This provision shall not apply to veterinarian hospitals, commercial kennels, or animal shelters temporarily maintaining on their premises animals owned by others.
B. Duties Of Veterinarian And Tag Requirements: It shall be the duty of each veterinarian, when vaccinating any animal for rabies, to complete a certificate of rabies vaccination (in duplicate) which includes the following information:
1. Owner's name and address;
2. Description of animal (breed, sex, markings, age, and name);
3. Date of vaccination;
4. Rabies vaccination tag number;
5. Type of rabies vaccine administered; and
6. Manufacturer's serial number of vaccine.
A copy of the certificate shall be distributed to the owner and original retained by the issuing veterinarian. The veterinarian and the owner shall retain their copies of the certificate for the interval between vaccinations specified in this section. Additionally, a number serialized metal or durable plastic rabies vaccination tag shall be securely attached to the collar or harness of all dogs. A dog not wearing such tag shall be deemed to be unvaccinated and may be impounded and dealt with pursuant to this chapter.
C. Transient Animal Exception: The provisions of this section with respect to vaccination shall not apply to any animal owned by a person temporarily remaining within the jurisdiction for less than thirty (30) days. Such animals shall be kept under strict supervision of the owner. It shall be unlawful to bring any animal into the jurisdiction which does not comply with animal health laws and import regulations.
D. Impoundment Of Animal Without Valid Rabies Vaccination Tag:
1. Any vaccinated animal impounded because of a lack of rabies vaccination tag may be reclaimed by its owner by furnishing proof of rabies vaccination and payment of all impoundment fees prior to release.
2. Any unvaccinated animal may be reclaimed by payment of impound fees and by obtaining a rabies vaccination within seventy two (72) hours of release.
3. Any animal not reclaimed prior to the period shall be disposed of pursuant to provisions of section 5-1-18 of this chapter.
E. Reporting Of Rabid Animals: Any person having knowledge of the whereabouts of an animal known to have been exposed to, or suspected of having rabies, or of an animal or person bitten by such a suspect animal, shall notify the division of animal control, the Summit County health department, or the state division of health.
F. Quarantining And Disposition Of Biting Or Rabid Animal:
1. Confined By Owner: An animal that has rabies or shows signs of having rabies, and every animal infected with rabies or that has been exposed to rabies, shall be reported by the owner as set forth above and shall immediately be confined in a secure place by the owner. The director of animal control has the discretion to allow the dog owner or a veterinarian within the jurisdiction of the division of animal control to secure the dog or to require the dog owner to surrender the dog to the division of animal control.
2. Surrender Animal Upon Demand: The owner of any animal of a species subject to rabies which has bitten shall surrender the animal to an authorized official upon demand. Any person authorized to enforce this chapter may enter upon private property to seize the animal; if the owner refuses to surrender the animal, the officer shall immediately obtain a search warrant authorizing seizure and impoundment of the animal.
3. Observation: Any animal (except wild animals) of a species subject to rabies that bites a person or animal or is suspected of having rabies shall be seized and quarantined for observation for a period of not less than ten (10) days from the date of the bite by the division of animal control and/or the county health department. The owner of the animal shall bear the cost of confinement. The Summit County animal shelter shall be the normal place for quarantine, but other arrangements, including confinement by the owner, may be made by the director of animal control and/or the director of the county health department if the animal had a current rabies vaccination at the time the bite was inflicted or if there are other special circumstances justifying an exception. It shall be unlawful for any person who has custody of a quarantined animal to fail or refuse to allow a health or animal control officer to make an inspection or examination during the period of quarantine.
a. If, within the ten (10) day quarantine period, the animal shows signs of sickness or abnormal behavior suggestive of rabies, the animal shall be immediately euthanized. A person who has custody of an animal under quarantine shall immediately notify the division of animal control if the animal shows any signs of sickness or abnormal behavior, or if the animal escapes confinement.
b. If the animal dies within ten (10) days from the date of the bite, the person having custody shall immediately surrender the animal to the division of animal control.
c. If, at the end of the ten (10) day quarantine period, the director of animal control examines the animal and finds no sign of rabies, the animal may be released to the owner. If the animal is not vaccinated, it shall be vaccinated against rabies at the owner's expense prior to release or if a veterinarian is unavailable, within seventy two (72) hours after release. If the animal is a stray, it shall be handled as provided in subsection 5-1-18C of this chapter.
4. Wild Animals: If a wild animal bites or scratches a person, the person or attending medical personnel shall notify the Summit County division of animal control and the wild animal shall be immediately euthanized per state of Utah communicable disease rule R386-702-5, as amended.
G. Quarantining And Disposition Of Bitten Animals:
1. Unvaccinated Bitten Animals:
a. In the case of an unvaccinated animal subject to rabies which is known to have been bitten by a known rabid animal, said bitten or exposed animal should be immediately euthanized.
b. If the owner is unwilling to euthanize the bitten or exposed animal, the animal shall be immediately isolated and quarantined for six (6) months under veterinary supervision, the cost of such confinement to be paid in advance by the owner. The animal shall be euthanized if the owner does not comply.
2. Vaccinated Bitten Animals:
a. If the bitten or exposed animal has been vaccinated, the animal shall be revaccinated within twenty four (24) hours and quarantined by the animal's owner for a period of forty five (45) days following revaccination; or
b. If the animal is not revaccinated within twenty four (24) hours, the animal shall be isolated and quarantined under veterinary supervision for six (6) months.
c. The animal shall be euthanized if the owner does not comply with subsection G2a or G2b of this section.
d. If, within the quarantine period, the animal shows signs of sickness or abnormal behavior suggestive of rabies, the animal shall be immediately euthanized.
H. Removal Of Quarantined Animal: It shall be unlawful for any person to remove any animal from the place of quarantine without written permission of the division of animal control. It is unlawful for any person to permit or suffer to escape any such animal from its place of quarantine or impoundment. (Ord. 832, 11-12-2014)