§ 8-5. Animal vaccinations, registrations, fees, and tags.

(a)

Required. Every owner of a dog or cat four months of age or older shall have such animal vaccinated against rabies. The animal must receive a booster within the 12-month interval following the initial vaccination. Every dog and cat must be revaccinated against rabies every one to three years, as specified or recommended by the veterinarian on the rabies certificate as the next due, revaccinate, or expires on date with a rabies vaccine licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture. The vaccine must be administered according to label recommendations. Nothing in this section prohibits a veterinarian and owner or custodian from selecting a more frequent rabies vaccination interval per state health and safety code chapter 826. Any person moving into the city from a location outside of the city, and who has not had such an animal vaccinated within one year, shall comply with this chapter within ten days after having moved into the city. If the dog or cat has inflicted a bite on any person, or another animal, within the last ten days, the owner of the dog or cat shall report such fact to a veterinarian and no rabies vaccine shall be administered until after a ten-day observation period.

(b)

Certificate of vaccination. Upon vaccination, the veterinarian shall execute and furnish to the owner of the dog or cat, as evidence thereof, a certificate of vaccination. The veterinarian shall retain a duplicate copy of such certificate. Such certificate shall contain the following information:

(1)

The name, address and telephone number of the owner of the vaccinated dog or cat.

(2)

The date of the vaccination.

(3)

The type of rabies vaccine used.

(4)

The year and number of rabies tags.

(5)

The breed, age, color and sex of the vaccinated dog or cat.

(6)

Next due date, revaccinate date or expires on date.

(c)

Proof. It shall be unlawful for any person who owns or harbors a vaccinated animal to fail or refuse to exhibit his copy of the certificate of vaccination upon demand to any person charged with the enforcement of this chapter.

(d)

Harboring unvaccinated animals. It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor any dog, cat or any other animal which has not been vaccinated against rabies, as provided herein, or which cannot be identified as having a current vaccination certificate.

(e)

Animals exposed to rabies. Any person having knowledge of the existence of any animal known to have been or reasonably believed to have been exposed to rabies must immediately report such knowledge to the local animal control officer, giving any information which may be required. For any animal known to have been or reasonably believed to have been exposed to rabies, the following is required:

(1)

Animals having current vaccination must be revaccinated immediately and confined according to the method prescribed by the local animal control officer for a period of not less than 90 days.

(2)

Animals not having a current vaccination should be humanely euthanized. However, if the owner of such animals elects, he may, at his expense and in a manner prescribed by the local animal control officer, confine the animal. Such animal must be vaccinated immediately following exposure and quarantined for not less than six months. A revaccination shall be done one month prior to release from quarantine.

(3)

Animals may be humanely euthanized.

(f)

Registration. No owner shall have within the city any dog or cat four months of age or older unless such dog or cat is currently registered with the city. A current metal registration tag issued by the city must be affixed to a collar or harness that must be worn by the animal at all times. No dog or cat shall be registered until it has a current vaccination.

(g)

Fees. Application for initial issuance or renewal of each registration must be made by the owner in writing or in person, and be accompanied by a fee as provided on the city fee schedule, unless the cat or dog being registered has been neutered or spayed and proof of such surgical sterilization can be shown, then the fee will be as provided on the city fee schedule. The registration fee for a dog determined to be a dangerous dog pursuant to section 8-23 or a guard or attack dog as defined at section 8-17 is as provided on the city fee schedule. If the original current registration tag is lost or destroyed, the owner may obtain a duplicate registration tag from the city by paying a fee as provided on the city fee schedule. Dogs and cats under the age of six months shall be registered at the sterilized fee.

(h)

Tags. The metal tag issued upon the payment of the annual license shall be stamped thereon, the year for which it is issued. Such tag shall be securely attached to a collar or harness around the neck of the dog or cat to which it is issued.

(Code 1994, art. 2.500; Ord. No. 389, § 1, 6-13-2005; Ord. No. 457-08, § 1, 10-13-2008)