Dog owners shall obtain a rabies vaccination for each dog they
own, keep, harbor, or have custody of, within one month after it becomes
four months of age, or within one month after obtaining any dog over
four months of age. It is unlawful for any person or persons to own,
keep, harbor, or possess or to have in his or her care, charge or
custody, any dog five months of age or over unless such dog has a
current and valid rabies vaccination administered by any duly qualified
and licensed veterinarian, with a rabies vaccine approved by the State
Department of Health for use in dogs. Such vaccination shall be repeated
at intervals specified by the State Department of Health in order
to maintain adequate immunity.
(Ord. 175, 1990)
The city or authorized agency shall provide or arrange for rabies
vaccination clinics to be held at various locations where dog owners
may obtain the required rabies vaccinations at the application fee.
(Ord. 175, 1990; Ord. 245 § 6, 1995)
Any veterinarian who vaccinates a dog for rabies shall also
certify by properly completing the license application and rabies
certificate form issued by the city or authorized agency. When administered
for the purpose of issuing a dog license, the vaccination must be
valid for the entire licensing period as specified for the indicated
vaccine by the State Department of Health.
(Ord. 175, 1990; Ord. 245 § 6, 1995)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, a dog
need not be vaccinated for rabies during an illness if a veterinarian
has examined the dog and certified in writing that such vaccination
should be postponed because of a specified illness. Old age, debility
and pregnancy are not considered contraindications to rabies vaccination.
Exemption certificates are subject to approval by the city or authorized
agency and shall be valid only for the duration of the illness. Exemption
from vaccination does not exempt a dog from the licensing requirement.
(Ord. 175, 1990; Ord. 245 § 6, 1995)
Any person who observes or has knowledge of an animal which
shows symptoms of rabies, or which acts in a manner which would lead
to a reasonable suspicion that it may have rabies, shall notify the
city or authorized agency or the health officer and comply with appropriate
laws and regulations regarding suspected cases of rabies as directed
by the city or authorized agency or the health officer.
(Ord. 175, 1990; Ord. 245 § 6, 1995)
All persons bitten and the parents or guardians of minor children
bitten by a dog, cat, skunk, fox, bat, coyote, bobcat or other animal
known to constitute a serious threat of rabies shall notify the city,
authorized agency or the health officer as soon as possible thereafter.
Physicians treating such bites and other persons having knowledge
of such bites shall also be required to make such notification.
(Ord. 175, 1990; Ord. 245 § 6, 1995)
Upon the order of the city or authorized agency, or the health
officer, a suspected rabid animal shall be isolated, at the owner's
expense if owned, in strict confinement under proper care and under
the observation of a licensed veterinarian in an animal shelter, veterinary
hospital, or other adequate facility in a manner approved by the city
or authorized agency, or the health officer, and such animal shall
not be killed or released for at least ten days after the onset of
symptoms suggestive of rabies unless permission is obtained from the
city or authorized agency, or the health officer to sacrifice the
animal for the purpose of laboratory examination.
(Ord. 175, 1990; Ord. 245 § 6, 1995)
Upon the order of the city or authorized agency, or the health
officer, any dog, cat, skunk, fox, bat, coyote, bobcat or other animal
known to constitute a serious threat of rabies which bites or otherwise
exposes a person shall be isolated, at the owner's expense if owned,
in strict confinement in a place and manner approved by the city or
authorized agency, or the health officer and observed for at least
fourteen days; except that dogs and cats shall be so isolated and
observed for at least ten days after the day of infliction of the
bite or other exposure. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following
alternative to the ten-day isolation of dogs and cats is permitted
at the discretion of the city or authorized agency, or the health
officer. Dogs or cats which have been isolated in strict confinement
under proper care and under observation of a veterinarian in an animal
shelter, veterinary hospital, or other adequate facility in a manner
approved by the city or authorized agency, or the health officer may
be released from isolation by the city, or authorized agency, or the
health officer after five days of veterinary observation if, upon
conducting a thorough physical examination of the fifth day or more
after infliction of the bite or other exposure, the observing veterinarian
certifies that there are no clinical signs or symptoms of any disease.
Notwithstanding all of the foregoing provisions, the city or authorized
agency or the health officer may authorize, with permission of the
owner if known, the euthanasia of a biting animal for the purpose
of laboratory examination.
(Ord. 175, 1990; Ord. 245 § 6, 1995)
Any animal of a species subject to rabies which has been bitten
by a known rabid or suspected rabid animal, or which has been in intimate
contact with such an animal shall be isolated, at the owner's expense
if owned, in strict confinement in a place and manner approved by
the city or authorized agency, or health officer and observed for
a period of six months or destroyed. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the following alternative is permitted in the case of dogs and cats:
if the dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies at least thirty
days prior to the suspected exposure with a type of vaccine and within
the time period approved by the State Department of Health, the dog
or cat may be revaccinated in a manner prescribed by the city or authorized
agency, or the health officer and isolated in strict confinement in
a place and manner approved by the city or authorized agency or the
health officer and observed for a period of thirty days.
(Ord. 175, 1990; Ord. 245 § 6, 1995)
