(A) Any warm-blooded animal, capable of transmitting the virus rabies, maintained or harbored at any time within the corporate limits of the town, shall be vaccinated against rabies with an approved vaccine administered by a veterinarian who shall maintain a record of vaccination for a period of at least three years, and who shall issue the owner of such animal a vaccination certificate (which shall be retained by the owner until it expires and is renewed). The failure to procure such certificate when so requested shall be prima facie evidence that such animal has not been vaccinated.
(B) The identity and address of the owner of any animal that bites a person shall be promptly furnished to the police and to the County Health Department. The police shall securely quarantine such animal until reasonable determination has been made that the animal is not infected with rabies. At the discretion of the police, such quarantine may be on the premises of the owner, at a veterinary hospital of the owner’s choice (at the owner’s expense), or at the municipal pound or animal shelter. Said animal may be reclaimed by the owner, if adjudged free of rabies; such owner shall then pay any related charges for confinement.
(C) When an animal under quarantine has been diagnosed as being rabid, or is suspected of having rabies by a licensed veterinarian, and dies while under such observation, the police, veterinarian, or other designated person shall immediately send the necessary part of such animal to the State Department of Health for pathological examination and shall notify the proper health officer of any reports of human contact.
(D) (1) When a report gives a positive diagnosis of rabies, and the County Health Director feels that a rabies crisis may be imminent, the County Health Department may recommend to the Town Board of Trustees a community-wide quarantine; upon invoking of such quarantine by the Town Board of Trustees, no animal shall be taken into the streets or permitted to be in the streets, except for short periods of exercise (under leash and control of a competent adult).
(2) During such quarantine, no animal may be taken or removed from the town without written permission of the Chief of Police.
(E) During such period of rabies quarantine, every animal bitten by an animal adjudged to be rabid shall be forthwith destroyed; or, at the owner’s expense and option, shall be treated for a rabies infection by a licensed veterinarian; or, held under six months quarantine by the owner in the same manner as a female in season. The period of quarantine may be extended.
(F) (1) No person shall remove from the town any animal suspected of having been exposed to rabies, or any animal that has bitten a human, except as herein provided.
(2) The carcass of any dead animal exposed to rabies shall be surrendered to the police upon demand; the police shall direct disposition of said animal. No person shall refuse to surrender any animal for quarantine or destruction when such demand is lawfully made by the police.
(G) It shall be the duty of every person within the corporate limits of the town owning or harboring any dog or cat which is six months old or older, to procure a rabies vaccination certificate from a licensed veterinarian, or agent authorized by the Town Board of Trustees, showing that the vaccination has been made, date of vaccination, by whom, and the date when such vaccination shall expire.
(H) It shall be unlawful to not to comply with all the municipal vaccination requirements after 15 days of residency within the town.
(I) It shall be unlawful for any person to use or place any animal rabies tag or town license tag upon another animal.
(Prior Code, Ch. 3, Art. 1, § 7) Penalty, see § 91.99