§ 6-31. Vaccination against rabies.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, or harbor any dog, cat, or ferret, male or female, over four months of age within the corporate limits of the city unless such dog, cat or ferret has been immunized by vaccination against rabies in accordance with the regulations promulgated by the state department of health.

(b)

Such vaccination shall be performed by or under the supervision of a veterinarian, licensed to practice veterinary medicine within the state.

(c)

Each veterinarian shall utilize one of the rabies vaccines recommended by the Compendium of Animal Rabies Vaccines, as amended every year by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc.

(d)

Each veterinarian, after vaccinating a dog, cat, or ferret for rabies, shall issue a legible certificate in duplicate, one copy to be retained by the veterinarian and one copy to be retained by the animal owner. Each certificate shall include the following information:

(1)

Date on which the vaccination is administered.

(2)

Owner's full name, address, zip code and telephone number.

(3)

Type of vaccine and duration of immunity.

(4)

Signature of the veterinarian administering the vaccination.

(5)

Name of the animal if applicable.

(6)

Breed, age, sex, and color or marking of the dog or cat or ferret.

(e)

Upon payment of the veterinarian's fee, the veterinarian shall deliver to the owner, keeper or harborer of each dog or cat vaccinated a metallic or plastic tag showing the name of the veterinarian or veterinary clinic vaccinating said dog or cat, and showing the registration or certificate number from said veterinarian or veterinary clinic.

(f)

Any person owning, keeping or harboring within the city any dog or cat not vaccinated as required in this article shall be guilty of an offense.

(Code 1982, § 6-31; Ord. No. 2069, § 1, 5-2-1983; Ord. No. 2641, § 1, 3-1-1999; Ord. No. 2777, § 9, 3-24-2003)