El Centro Municipal Code Div. 2 Rabies Control

It shall be unlawful for any person to own, harbor or keep any dog or cat in the city unless such dog shall have been immunized annually against rabies in a manner as set forth in this division.

(Ord. No. 569, § 1; Code 1962, § 4-20; Ord. No. 81-2, § 1)

Editor's note— Ordinance No. 569, from which this section is derived, was adopted as an initiative ordinance.

At the discretion of the editor the provisions of subsection (b) of Ord. No. 81-2, § 1, enacted Jan. 7, 1981, that read as follows:

"Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) herein above, any dog or cat which has not been immunized since November 1, 1980 shall be immediately immunized as described in this division, unless otherwise excepted by the county health officer on a case by case basis, and it shall be unlawful for any person to own, harbor or keep any such dog or cat in the city unless such immunization has occurred," have not been codified because § 2 of the ordinance states that "the provisions of section 5-69(b) shall be null and void effective May 31, 1981."

Cross reference— Cats, § 5-131 et seq.

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 (4) months of age, or within one month after obtaining any dog over four (4) months of age. It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, harbor or possess or to have in his care, charge or custody any dog five (5) 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.

(Code 1962, § 4-20.1; Ord. No. 74-10)

The city 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 applicable fee.

(Code 1962, § 4-21; Ord. No. 74-10)

Any veterinarian who vaccinates a dog for rabies shall so certify by properly completing, as described in section 5-57, the dog license application-rabies certificate form issued by the city for that purpose, and shall forward monthly to city hall a copy of each form so completed. 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.

(Code 1962, § 4-22; Ord. No. 74-10)

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, a dog need not be vaccinated for rabies during an illness if a licensed veterinarian has examined the dog and certified in writing that such vaccination should be postponed or withheld because of a specified condition. Old age, debility and pregnancy are not considered contraindications to rabies vaccination. Exemption certificates are subject to approval by a veterinarian designated by the city and shall be valid only for the duration of the illness and in no case for more than one month from the date issued. Exemption from vaccination does not exempt a dog from the other licensing requirement.

(Code 1962, § 4-23; Ord. No. 74-10)

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 animal control officer and comply with appropriate laws and regulations regarding suspected cases of rabies as directed by the city.

(Code 1962, § 4-24; Ord. No. 74-10)

All persons bitten and the parents or guardians of minor children bitten by any warm blooded animal known to constitute a serious threat of rabies shall notify the city animal control officer or animal control director as soon as possible thereafter. Physicians treating such bites and other persons having knowledge of such bites also are required to make such notification. All bites should be reported by physicians to the animal control officer.

(Code 1962, § 4-25; Ord. No. 74-10)

Upon the order of the animal control 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, or other adequate facility in a manner approved by the animal control officer; and such animal shall not be killed or released for at least ten (10) days after the onset of symptoms suggestive of rabies unless permission is obtained from the animal control officer to sacrifice the animal for the purpose of laboratory examination. The animal control officer may enter private property to inspect the premises for the possibility of rabies.

(Code 1962, § 4-26; Ord. No. 74-10)

Any animals 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 animal shall be isolated, at the owner's expense if owned, in strict confinement in a place and manner approved by the city animal control officer and observed for a period of six (6) months, or such animal shall be 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 (30) 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 veterinarian and isolated in strict confinement in a place and manner approved by the animal control officer and observed for a period of thirty (30) days.

(Code 1962, § 2-27; Ord. No. 74-10)