Chapter 6.08
ANIMAL CARE

Sections:

6.08.010    Sanitation and disease control.

6.08.020    Rabies control.

6.08.030    Sale of sick or vicious animals.

6.08.040    Violation – Penalty.

6.08.010 Sanitation and disease control.

It is unlawful for an owner to:

A. Allow the accumulation of cat or dog feces in any open area, run, cage or yard where confined and fail to remove or dispose of feces at least once every 24 hours;

B. Fail to immediately remove from public property feces deposited by his or her animal;

C. Fail to have in his or her possession the equipment necessary to remove his or her animal’s feces from public property or a public easement when accompanied by his or her animal;

D. Have possession or control of any animal sick or afflicted with any infectious or contagious diseases and fail to provide treatment of such infection or disease, or allow or permit such diseased or infected animal to run at large or come in contact with other animals or human beings or drink at any public or common watering trough or stream accessible to other animals. (Ord. 99-029 § 2).

6.08.020 Rabies control.

A. All dogs over the age of six months or with a full set of canine teeth shall have an initial rabies vaccination and revaccinations administered by a licensed veterinarian. Any dog adopted from the animal control facility shall be vaccinated within 30 days of adoption. A veterinarian shall determine, before administering any rabies inoculation, whether the dog is under quarantine or has inflicted a bite on any person within the last 10 days. An owner or custodian shall have his or her dog inoculated against rabies within 30 days after having moved into the county. All dogs shall be revaccinated within not more than three years after the last rabies vaccination or as may be more often recommended by the vaccination manufacturer.

B. Any animal that has bitten any person shall be immediately detained and quarantined by the animal control authority for a period of 10 days. A detained animal shall be released only upon the direction of the animal control authority and the department.

C. It is unlawful for the owner of any animal that has bitten any person to destroy such animal before the animal can be properly detained and quarantined by the animal control authority. The detention and quarantine shall be at the sole expense of the owner or custodian. The owner or custodian of any animal that has been reported as having inflicted a bite on any person shall, on demand of the animal control authority, produce such animal for detention and quarantine. If the owner or custodian refuses to produce such animal, the owner or custodian shall be subject to immediate arrest by the city’s law enforcement authority if probable cause exists to believe that the animal has inflicted a bite upon any person, that the owner or custodian is harboring the animal, and the owner or custodian willfully refuses to produce the animal upon demand. An arrested owner or custodian shall be taken before a judge of the Douglas County district court, who may order immediate production of the animal. If the owner or custodian continues to willfully refuse to produce the animal, the district court may imprison the owner or custodian for contempt of court and until the owner or custodian complies with the order of the court.

D. When an animal under quarantine has been diagnosed as being rabid by a licensed veterinarian, the veterinarian making such diagnosis shall immediately notify the department and advise of any reports of human contact with such rabid animal. If any animal under quarantine dies, the animal control authority shall immediately take action to obtain a pathological and inoculation examination of the animal and, if found to be rabid, shall notify the department of any reports of human contact with the animal.

E. Any veterinarian who diagnoses rabies in any animal shall report such fact to the animal control authority.

F. Any animal which has not been inoculated against rabies and is known to have been bitten by a rabid animal shall be humanely destroyed immediately.

G. In case of an outbreak of rabies constituting an emergency, the city is authorized to impose strict regulations pertaining to animals within the city limits. (Ord. 99-029 § 2).

6.08.030 Sale of sick or vicious animals.

For the purpose of consumer protection, it is unlawful to:

A. Sell any animal known to be sick or injured unless the buyer is given, at the time of sale, written notice of the condition of the animal;

B. Sell any animal known to be vicious. (Ord. 99-029 § 2).

6.08.040 Violation – Penalty.

Violation of this chapter shall constitute a civil infraction subject to penalty as set forth in Chapter 6.16 RIMC, as now exists or as may be hereafter amended. (Ord. 99-029 § 2).