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A. Duty To Report Bites: Any person having knowledge of any individual or animal having been bitten by an animal of a species subject to rabies shall report the incident immediately to the division of animal control, giving the name and address of the person bitten and of the owner or custodian of the biting animal, if available. Failure to provide such information or otherwise assist the division in discovering possible exposure to rabies or in ascertaining the immunization status of an animal shall be in violation of this chapter.

B. Vaccination: Rabies vaccination is required for dogs and cats. The owner or custodian of a dog or cat shall have said animal vaccinated within thirty (30) days after it reaches the age of four (4) months. Unvaccinated dogs or cats over four (4) months of age acquired by the owner or brought into the jurisdiction must be vaccinated within thirty (30) days. Every dog shall be revaccinated thereafter every twenty-four (24) months, and every cat shall be revaccinated thereafter every twelve (12) months with a modified rabies virus rabies vaccine approved by the division. This provision shall not apply to veterinarian or kennel operators temporarily maintaining on their premises animals owned by others. Each veterinarian, when vaccinating any animal for rabies, shall complete a certificate of rabies vaccination (in duplicate) which includes the following information:

1. Owner’s name and address;

2. Description of animal (breed, sex, markings, age, name);

3. Date of vaccination;

4. Rabies vaccination tag number;

5. Type of rabies vaccine administered;

6. Manufacturer’s serial number of vaccine;

and a copy of the certificate shall be distributed to the owner and original retained by the issuing veterinarian. Any unvaccinated animal shall be impounded but may be reclaimed prior to disposal by payment of impound fees and by obtaining a rabies vaccination within seventy-two (72) hours of release. Any animal not reclaimed prior to the five (5) day period provided in section 5-2-10 of this chapter may be disposed of pursuant to provisions of that section.

C. Quarantine:

1. An animal that has rabies or shows signs of having rabies, and every animal bitten by another animal afflicted with rabies or that has been exposed to rabies, shall be reported by the owner, as set forth above, and shall immediately be confined in a secure place by the owner. The owner shall turn over the animal to the division of animal control upon demand. The division shall quarantine the animal for observation for a period of not less than ten (10) days. The owner of the animal shall bear the cost of confinement. The animal shelter or a veterinary kennel shall be the normal place for quarantine, but other arrangements, including confinement by the owner, may be made by the division lieutenant if the animal had a current rabies vaccination at the time the bite was inflicted or if there are other special circumstances justifying an exception. A person who has custody of an animal under quarantine shall immediately notify the division of animal control if the animal shows any signs of sickness or abnormal behavior, or if the animal escapes confinement. It shall be unlawful for any person who has custody of a quarantined animal to fail or refuse to allow a health or animal control officer to make an inspection or examination during the period of quarantine. If the animal dies within ten (10) days from the date of the bite, the person having custody shall immediately notify the division of animal control who shall immediately remove and deliver the head of such animal to the state health laboratory to be examined for rabies. If, at the end of the ten (10) day period, the division lieutenant examines the animal and finds no sign of rabies, the animal may be released to the owner, or in the case of a stray, it shall be disposed of as provided in section 5-2-10 of this chapter.

2. In the case of an unvaccinated animal species subject to rabies which is known to have been bitten by a known rabid animal, said bitten or exposed animal should be immediately destroyed. If the owner is unwilling to destroy the bitten or exposed animal, the animal shall be immediately isolated and quarantined for six (6) months under veterinary supervision, the cost of such confinement to be paid in advance by the owner. The animal shall be destroyed if the owner does not comply herewith.

3. If the bitten or exposed animal has been vaccinated, the animal shall be revaccinated within twenty-four (24) hours and quarantined for a period of thirty (30) days following revaccination. If the animal is not revaccinated within twenty-four (24) hours, the animal shall be isolated and quarantined under veterinary supervision for six (6) months. The animal shall be destroyed if the owner does not comply herewith. (Ord. 81-11-2, 11-5-1981; amd. 2003 Code)