[Amended 10-28-2005,
Ordinance 2005-10]
The owner of a dog or cat shall have the dog or cat vaccinated
against rabies by a veterinarian, or other person authorized by law,
in accordance with the Oklahoma State Department of Health rabies
prevention guidelines that are in effect at the time of the vaccination.
The person vaccinating the dog or cat shall furnish the owner a certificate
of vaccination. The keeping of a total number of more than four dogs
and/or cats over six months old is prohibited except for commercial
kennel establishments.
In the event the animal is determined by the veterinarian to
be incapable of transmitting rabies to its victims, it shall be released
to its owner or custodian upon payment of the charges for its detention.
If the owner is unknown said animal shall be destroyed at the termination
of the period of observation.
1.
It shall be unlawful for any person who is the owner, master or harborer
of any animal or animals to suffer or permit the same to run at large
in the City of Weatherford.
2.
"Owner", "harborer", "master", and "at large" defined.
a.
For the purpose of this Chapter, OWNER or HARBORER shall mean and
include any resident of the City of Weatherford who shall be subject
to payment of animal taxes as provided by the laws of Oklahoma and
the ordinances of the City of Weatherford of the occupant of any premises
in the city who shall permit any animal to remain upon said premises
more than three days.
b.
MASTER – Shall mean any person having an animal on a lead strap
or who otherwise may have an animal under his control.
c.
RUNNING AT LARGE – Shall mean and include any animal or animals
not confined in a motor vehicle, or to the lead of its master or owner,
or otherwise restrained, as not to roam at will about the city.
1.
When the Health Officer determines and certifies that a dog, a cat
or other animal in the city or within five miles of the city is or
was infected with rabies and that an epidemic of rabies threatens
the city, the Board of Commissioners, may order all dogs to be confined,
and if deemed desirable, all cats to be confined, during a period
of time to be determined by the board. Such resolution or an adequate
notice of its passage shall be published in a newspaper of general
circulation within the city and shall go into effect on the day following
such publication unless the resolution prescribes a latter time.
2.
While such resolution is in effect, it is unlawful for any owner
to permit a dog or cat to be at large in violation of such resolution,
or for any such dog or cat to be at large in violation thereof.
Any person may kill a dog in self-defense of another when the
dog, without undue provocation, bites him or the other dog, or attacks,
or attempts to bite or attack, him or the other in such manner that
an ordinarily prudent person would be led to believe that the person
toward whom the efforts of the dog are directed is about to be bitten
or otherwise physically harmed.
Any person may kill an animal whose appearance or conduct is such as would cause an ordinarily prudent person to believe the animal could be afflicted with rabies. (Reference: Title 11, 1991 O.S., Sections 22-107.)
[Amended 3-30-2006, Ordinance
2006-04]
Only zoological parks or zoos, performing animal exhibitions,
circuses, educational or medical institutions under strict and secure
control of the governing body of said institution may be issued a
license by the city. The license shall be issued by the licensing
agent for the City of Weatherford upon determination that issuance
is consistent with public health, safety, and welfare and in compliance
with this Chapter, upon prior payment of a license fee in an amount
established by the city commission.
