Article 5. Rabies Control

2-501.        Rabies vaccination and required tag.

(a)   The owner of any dog over six months of age maintained or harbored at any time in the city shall have such dog vaccinated against rabies each 12 months with an approved vaccine administered by a veterinarian, who shall maintain a record of vaccination for a period of at least two years, and who shall issue the owner of the dog a vaccination certificate who shall retain such certificate until the vaccination is renewed.

(b)   The veterinarian administering the rabies vaccination shall issue a metallic tag for the particular dog vaccinated, on which tag shall be distinctly marked the veterinarian’s name or veterinary clinic name, address and tag identification number. The year of issuance also shall be distinctly marked, which shall be the same year of vaccination.

(c)   The owner of any dog six months of age or older which is determined by the animal control officer to be running-at-large which is not wearing a current rabies vaccination tag, is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

2-502.        False statements.

Any false statement in rabies certification or application for a license to keep a dog shall render null and void the license issued to the owner for keeping such dog. Any person who makes a false statement in any application, affidavit or other document required by this division, or any regulation prescribed thereby, is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

2-503.        Authorization for quarantine.

The animal control officer shall report to the mayor in the event a potential outbreak of rabies is suspected in the dog or cat population, and if the mayor concurs with the animal control officer that the danger of the public safety from rabid animals is reasonably imminent, the mayor is authorized and it shall be his duty to issue a quarantine proclamation ordering persons owning, keeping or harboring any dog or cat to muzzle the same and/or confine it as provided in this chapter for such time as may be specified in such quarantine proclamation. Upon publication of such proclamation by the mayor, the person keeping or harboring any dog or cat shall follow the procedure as prescribed in the definition of “running-at-large” in section 6-1 except that any such animal may be under the control of an adult person on a lead if the animal is effectively muzzled. All dogs, cats or other animals found running-at-large during the time specified by the mayor in his proclamation may be killed by an officer of the city under procedures established by the animal control officer.

2-504.        Immediate destruction.

Nothing in this division shall be construed to prevent the animal control officer or any person delegated animal control authority or any law enforcement officer from taking whatever action is reasonably necessary to protect himself or members of the public from injury or danger, including the immediate destruction of any vicious animal without notice to the owner.