Sec. 6-88. - Vaccination or inoculation of cats, dogs and ferrets.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, hold or harbor any cat or dog over the age of four (4) months within the city unless such cat or dog shall have been vaccinated with a vaccine licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as recommended in the Compendium of Animal Rabies Vaccines, prepared by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians. It shall be unlawful for any person or dealer to sell, own, keep, hold, or harbor any ferret, three (3) months of age or older, within the city unless such ferret has been vaccinated with a vaccine licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). If, however, the requirement of vaccination or inoculation threatens the physical well-being of such cat, dog or ferret, the owner of such cat, dog or ferret shall have a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian certifying the same; and the owner shall keep such cat or dog [or ferret] in quarantine until same is inoculated or vaccinated.

(b)

Any person transporting a cat, dog or ferret into the city from some other jurisdiction shall conform with the provisions of this section within thirty (30) days subsequent to bringing such cat, dog or ferret into the city.

(c)

At the time of inoculation or vaccination under this section, a suitable and distinctive collar tag and certificate of rabies vaccination or inoculation, certifying that the cat, dog or ferret in question has been inoculated or vaccinated as provided in this section, shall be issued to the owner of the cat, dog or ferret in question. The collar tag shall be affixed to the cat's, dog's or ferret's collar and shall be worn at all times when the cat, dog or ferret is not on the owner's property or in the immediate control of a responsible person.

(d)

A certificate of rabies vaccination or inoculation issued under this section shall show the date of injection; sex and breed of cat, dog or ferret; weight of the cat, dog or ferret; color and marks of the cat, dog or ferret; rabies tag number; the owner of the cat, dog or ferret; amount and kind of vaccine injection; and the method of injection. Such certificate shall certify that the cat, dog or ferret has been properly vaccinated with animal rabies vaccine licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as recommended in the Compendium of Animal Rabies Vaccines, prepared by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians.

(Ord. No. 122, § 8; Code 1961, §§ 4-31, 4-32, 4-35; Ord. No. 3245-84; Ord. No. 3936-89; Ord. No. 4131-90; Ord. No. 4146-91)

Sec. 6-89. - Report of existence of rabid animals.

Every person having knowledge of the existence of an animal apparently afflicted with rabies shall report immediately to the city health department the existence of such animal, the place where seen, the owner's name, if known, and the symptoms suggesting rabies.

(Ord. No. 3245-84)

Sec. 6-90. - Emergency ordinance requiring confinement or restraint of cats or dogs when rabid animal at large.

When there is sufficient reason to believe that a rabid animal is at large, the city council shall have the power to pass an emergency ordinance, which shall become effective immediately upon passage, requiring owners of all cats or dogs in the city to keep the same confined on their premises, unless leashed under restraint of the owner in such a manner that persons or animals will not be subject to the danger of being bitten thereby. Any such emergency ordinance enacted pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be operative for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days, unless renewed by the city council.

(Ord. No. 3245-84)

Sec. 6-91. - Confinement or destruction of cats or dogs showing signs of or suspected of having rabies.

Cats or dogs showing active signs of rabies or suspected of having rabies shall be confined under competent observation for such a time as may be necessary to determine a diagnosis. If confinement is impossible or impracticable, such cat or dog shall be destroyed.

(Ord. No. 3245-84)

Sec. 6-92. - Confinement or destruction of cat or dog bitten by rabid animal.

Any cat or dog bitten by an animal believed to be afflicted with rabies shall be destroyed immediately or confined in a pound, kennel or enclosure approved by the health department for a period not to exceed six (6) months, at the expense of the owner of such cat or dog. If the bitten cat or dog has been vaccinated against rabies within one (1) year, the cat or dog shall be revaccinated and confined to the premises of its owner for thirty (30) days.

(Ord. No. 3245-84)

Sec. 6-93. - Confinement or destruction of animal which has bitten person.

At the discretion of the director of health, any animal which has bitten a person shall be confined under competent observation for ten (10) days, unless the animal develops active symptoms of rabies or expires before that time; provided, that a seriously injured or sick animal may be humanely euthanized and its head sent to the health department for evaluation.

(Ord. No. 3245-84)

Sec. 6-94. - Concealing or harboring animal to prevent its destruction or confinement under article.

It shall be unlawful for any person to conceal or harbor any cat or dog or other animal to keep the same from being destroyed or confined in accord with this article.

(Ord. No. 3245-84)

Sec. 6-95. - Treatment of person bitten by rabid animal.

Any person bitten by a rabid animal within the city shall be paid the costs of necessary treatment by the city, not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00); provided, that no person shall be entitled to recover such costs unless such person first applies to the health officer for treatment and such officer refuses or fails to treat the case.

(Ord. No. 3245-84)