[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
A.
An owner of any dog or cat that is kept anytime during the year within
the City of Twin Oaks shall have such dog or cat vaccinated against
rabies and registered. Such dogs or cats must be vaccinated at least
once each year if a nerve tissue origin vaccine is used, unless a
chicken embryo or other three-year type vaccine approved by the Health
Department is administered, in which case the dogs or cats shall be
inoculated at least once every three (3) years, or if other vaccine
approved by the Health Department is administered, then at the frequency
approved by the Health Department.
1.
Puppies and kittens shall be confined to their owner's
premises.
2.
Every dog or cat, which has been vaccinated in accordance with
the provisions of this Chapter, shall at all times wear the registration
tag issued.
3.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own any dog or cat unless
such dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies and wears a current,
unexpired registration tag, and the owner possesses a certificate
issued in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
A.
Registration tags shall not be transferred from dog to dog or cat
to cat, and no person shall affix a registration tag to a dog or puppy
or cat or kitten other than the animal for which the tag was issued
at the time of its rabies vaccination-registration, nor shall any
person affix a registration tag to a dog or cat that has not been
vaccinated against rabies, nor shall any person counterfeit, alter,
obliterate, or attempt to counterfeit, alter, or obliterate any rabies-registration
tags.
B.
Female Dogs, Confinement. All female dogs or cats shall be kept securely
confined in an enclosed place while in heat.
C.
Animals Impounded, When — Where Kept.
1.
The Health Department or other persons designated by it shall
have the power to catch, confine and impound dogs, cats and other
animals as follows:
a.
Dogs or cats not wearing valid, unexpired vaccination-registration
tag;
b.
All female dogs or cats registered or unregistered, not securely
confined in an enclosed place, while in heat;
c.
All dogs and puppies which are at large;
d.
All animals infected or suspected of being infected with rabies,
including animals known to have been bitten by a rabid animal, whether
the animal to be impounded is running at large or on a leash or whether
it is confined to its owner's premises;
e.
All unconfined or unleashed animals with fierce or dangerous
propensities;
f.
Dogs or cats not vaccinated for rabies within the previous twelve
(12) months with nerve tissue vaccine, nor within the preceding thirty-six
(36) months with chicken embryo or Flury Strain vaccine, nor if another
vaccine approved by the Health Department was used, within the proceeding
time period, approved by the Health Department as the duration of
effective protection against rabies which that vaccine gives;
g.
Dogs or other animals which have bitten a person or animal,
or which have been bitten by a dog or animal suspected of having rabies,
or which are suspected of having rabies or have been exposed to rabies.
2.
Dogs or other animals impounded in accordance with this Section
shall be impounded under the supervision of and in a manner satisfactory
to the Health Department.
3.
All dogs or cats shall be vaccinated and registered before being
released to the owner at the owner's cost. Dogs or cats that
have been vaccinated and registered before becoming impounded shall
be released to their owners within five (5) days after capture, provided
the Health Department is of the opinion that such release will not
impair the safety of the public. Every animal impounded under provisions
of this regulation, which is found upon arrival at the pound to be
diseased or injured, and whose owner is unknown or relinquishes ownership
in writing, shall be immediately euthanized.
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
A.
The Health Department is authorized to act on behalf of the City
of Twin Oaks for the confinement, impounding, care, release and disposing
of dogs and other animals acquired pursuant to the provisions of this
Chapter as follows:
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
Any animal captured or impounded by the Health Department, as
authorized herein, and determined not to be infected with rabies,
by the Health Department, may be redeemed by the owner or other person
having the right of possession of such animal upon the presentation
of a proper vaccination-registration certificate or as otherwise provided
by the Health Department.
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
The Health Department or person designated by it shall dispose
of any animal infected with rabies and it shall have the power to
examine and impound any animal bitten by or exposed to any other animal
infected with rabies. It shall have the power to require the owners
of such animal to take necessary measures to prevent further spread
of rabies and to dispose of any exposed animal if such necessary measures
are not taken by the owners.
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
Any person destroying an animal infected with rabies or suspected
of being infected with rabies shall immediately notify the Health
Department and shall surrender the carcass of such animal upon demand.
The owner or custodian of any such destroyed animal shall immediately
provide the Health Department with full particulars thereof, including
the time, date, location, the names and addresses of any person bitten
by said animal, and also the name and address of the owner or person
having custody of any animal exposed to the animal destroyed.
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
A.
Any dog, cat or other animal which exhibits objective symptoms suggestive
of rabies may, after written certification by the Health Department
to the owner, be impounded on or off the property of the owner. This
animal shall be held for ten (10) days at the impounding facilities
for clinical observation and, if alive at the termination of this
period, shall be returned to the owner. As an alternative procedure,
the owner, at his/her own expense, may designate any veterinary hospital
in the County for a similar ten-day period. If such animal shall die
during the observation period, regardless of the location, the head
shall be removed and submitted to a qualified laboratory for examination.
1.
Any dog, cat, or other animal, which has been exposed to rabies,
shall be immediately destroyed, unless the owner, at his/her expense,
desires, chooses, elects, specifies or picks one (1) of the following
alternative methods:
a.
Strict isolation in a kennel or animal hospital for six (6)
months;
b.
If no previous vaccination has been given to an animal within
a period of three (3) years with chicken embryo (Flury Strain) vaccine,
or within one (1) year, using vaccine of nerve tissue origin, or if
other vaccine approved by the Health Department was used and if the
effective protection limit of the last such vaccination has passed,
then such animal shall be placed on a schedule of immunizations approved
by the Health Department.
c.
If an animal has been vaccinated previously with another vaccine
approved by the Health Department within the duration of the vaccine's
effective protection as approved by the Health Department, the animal
shall be revaccinated and restrained by a leash or confined at home
for thirty (30) days.
2.
All animals under clinical observation for rabies must fulfill
all conditions of this Chapter prior to release.
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
Any person within the City of Twin Oaks, Missouri, having information
or knowledge of any animal that: exhibits clinical symptoms suggestive
of rabies; has been exposed to rabies, or is suspected of having rabies,
shall report such knowledge or information to the Health Department.
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
A.
Whenever rabies becomes prevalent in the City of Twin Oaks, the Health
Department shall recommend a quarantine order. The Health Department,
during the first week after a quarantine order is issued, shall take
proper measures to inform the people of the City of the existence
of the quarantine order and of the penalties attached to the violation
of the quarantine order. A quarantine order shall direct that all
animals, whether vaccinated and registered according to the provisions
of this Chapter or not, shall be confined in the home of the owner
or tied up, placed on a leash, or otherwise confined under the direct
physical control of a competent person not less than fifteen (15)
years of age. Any animal found otherwise, during such a quarantine,
shall be impounded. Animals subject to rabies which are impossible
to capture or impound, after the exercise of reasonable efforts and
diligence, shall be destroyed, if the Health Department so designates.
B.
The quarantine may be terminated by the Health Department after the
necessity therefor no longer exists. No quarantine shall remain effective
for more than six (6) months from the date of the adoption of the
quarantine order unless such quarantine order is specifically extended
by order of the Health Department.
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
A.
The owner of any dog, cat or other animal which bites any person,
regardless of the circumstances or irrespective of whether such animal
is vaccinated and registered, shall be required to place such dog,
cat or animal in the custody of the Health Department for confinement
in a manner satisfactory to the Health Department and in a manner
that will prevent contact with people and other animals for a period
of ten (10) days, following the evening of the day of the bite, for
the purpose of clinical observation. All expenses shall be borne by
the owner of the dog, cat, or other animal. If such dog, cat, or other
animal develops clinical symptoms suggestive of rabies, it shall be
allowed to die a natural death, or if for any reason such dog, cat
or other animal should die while in confinement, its head shall be
removed by the veterinarian and submitted to a qualified laboratory.
If, at the end of such ten-day period, such dog, cat, or other domestic
animal is alive and healthy, it may be released to its owner.
B.
All dogs under clinical observation as the result of biting a person
must fulfill all other conditions of the Chapter prior to release.
C.
It shall be the duty of any person bitten by any animal or the parent
or guardian of any minor bitten by an animal to report the same to
the Health Department immediately. Such report shall contain the name
and address of the owner and of the animal, the day and time bitten,
the location where bitten, and a general description of the animal.
D.
It shall be the duty of every physician to report immediately to
the Health Department the full name, age and address of any person
under his/her care or observation who has been bitten by an animal
irrespective of whether infected with rabies or suspected of being
infected with rabies or not so infected or so suspected and every
veterinarian treating or having under observation any animal infected
with rabies, or suspected of being rabid, or suspected of having been
exposed to rabies, shall report to the Health Department the owner's
name and address, and if the animal is a dog, the vaccination-registration
number.
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
It shall be unlawful for any person to conceal an animal or
interfere with the Health Department or persons designated by it in
the performance of its legal duties as provided in this Chapter. The
Health Department or persons designated by it shall have the right
of entry onto any unenclosed lots or lands for the purpose of collecting
any dog, cat or other animal which is on such a lot or land, in violation
of this Chapter and whose presence on such lot or land constitutes
a violation of any of the provisions of this Chapter, or whose presence
or existence is a violation of the provisions of this Chapter. The
Health Department or its duly appointed representative shall have
the right of entry to any property or premises within any quarantined
area during the period of such quarantine for the purpose of examining
or obtaining any dog, cat or any other animal suspected of having
rabies, having been exposed to rabies, or having bitten a person or
other animal.
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
A.
Notice. When any dangerous dog or any other animal that causes annoyance
to persons using the public roads, streets and sidewalks or chases,
worries, or molests children or other animals, or has caused any damage
or injury, which propensity is known or ought reasonably to be known
by the owner of such animal, it shall be the duty of such owner to
confine such animal to a yard completely enclosed by a fence of such
height, strength and construction so as to prevent the dog confined
therein from jumping over, through or crawling under such fence and
to post a notice on the premises conspicuously visible to the public
and reading in letters not less than two (2) inches high "Beware of
Dog" or other animal. Any dangerous animal found off the premises
of its owner may be seized by any Police Officer or other agent authorized
by the Health Department, and the owner or other responsible person
may be brought to trial.
B.
Municipal Court. Upon establishment by a preponderance of the evidence of the fierce or dangerous character of such animal by testimony, under oath, the Municipal Court may order such animal to be euthanized, or the owner subjected to the penalties provided in Section 100.220 of this Code, or both euthanization and such penalties.
C.
Restraining Of Dangerous Or Vicious Animals.
1.
Any owner or other responsible person keeping a dangerous or
vicious dog, cat, or other animal upon any premises in the City, shall
keep the animal in such a place so that it cannot bite or molest tradesmen,
postmen, meter readers or other persons whose lawful business requires
them to enter upon the premises or so that it cannot attack persons
or dogs or cats or domestic animals in the City. Any such dog, cat
or other animal found not so confined shall forthwith be taken up
and impounded, and the owner or other responsible person shall be
charged with a violation of this Section and shall be brought before
the Municipal Judge who shall hear and determine the complaint as
provided by law.
2.
In such hearing before such Municipal Court, evidence of the
animal's previous history of attacks or biting shall be admissible
in evidence to determine its dangerous or vicious nature. In the event
that any such animal is brought into custody, St. Louis County Animal
Care and Control or other entity with jurisdiction may, in its discretion,
refuse to allow the owner of or other responsible person for such
animal to redeem until after such complaint has been heard and determined
by the Municipal Court as aforesaid, and until the Municipal Court
has determined the disposition to be made of such animal.
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
Should any person violate Section 205.200, the facts of the case so support, it may be part of the sentence, upon conviction, that such dangerous animal be immediately euthanized, and such sentence shall be forthwith executed by the Health Department.
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
No person shall be permitted to maintain a dog or cat kennel
in the City, and the maintenance of a dog or cat kennel in the City,
is hereby prohibited.
[Ord. No. 21-1, 1-6-2021]
No person shall refuse to deliver to the Health Department any
dog, cat, or other animal subject to rabies, which such person owns,
when requested to do so under the provisions of this Chapter.
