CHAPTER 24.20: RABIES CONTROL
Section
24.20.040 Surrender of animals
24.20.050 Supervised quarantine
24.20.080 Cooperation with Alaska State Department of Health and Social Services
24.20.090 Low cost rabies vaccination and spay/neuter clinics for dogs and cats
24.20.010 DEFINITION.
Notwithstanding MSB 24.05.010, for purposes of this chapter the word “animal” includes all animals, unless otherwise specified. “Dog” does not include canid hybrids for purposes of this chapter.
(Ord. 15-002, § 2 (part), 2015: Ord. 92-013(sub1), § 3 (part), 1992)
24.20.020 RABIES IMMUNIZATION.
(A) A person may not keep, own, or harbor a dog or cat over six months of age unless the dog or cat has been immunized for rabies in accordance with the laws of the state and borough ordinance. The person is required to provide proof of the rabies certificate to the borough in the form required by the state of Alaska upon application to license any dog or cat, or upon notification by the chief animal care and regulation officer. Violation of this provision is an infraction. It shall be an affirmative defense that the animal was currently vaccinated for rabies at the time that proof of the rabies certification was requested by the chief animal care and regulation officer.
(B) It is unlawful for any person owning a dog or cat to knowingly procure, receive, use, or attempt to use a purported proof, certificate of, or receipt for rabies immunization not actually given to the animal described in the proof, certificate, or receipt. An act in violation of this provision is an infraction.
(C) [Repealed by Ord. 15-002, § 2 (part), 2015]
(Ord. 15-002, § 2 (part), 2015: Ord. 94-120AM, § 36, 1994; Ord. 92-109AM(sub), § 3, 1992; Ord. 92-013(sub1), § 3 (part), 1992)
24.20.030 REPORTING.
(A) All practitioners of human medicine shall report to the animal care and regulation office within 12 hours of discovery of the names and addresses of persons treated for animal bites and the owner of the animal, if known. Violation of this provision is an infraction.
(B) All practitioners of veterinary medicine shall report to the animal care and regulation office within 12 hours of observation of any animal having or suspected of having rabies. Violation of this provision is an infraction.
(C) [Repealed by Ord. 15-002, § 2 (part), 2015]
(D) Except for dogs and cats, other domestic or domesticated animals that have bitten a human or another animal shall be reported immediately to the Alaska State Department of Social and Health Services.
(Ord. 15-002, § 2 (part), 2015: Ord. 01-120, § 17, 2001; Ord. 94-120AM, § 37, 1994; Ord. 92-013(sub1), § 3 (part), 1992)
24.20.040 SURRENDER OF ANIMALS.
An owner of a domestic or domesticated animal, at the request of an animal care and regulation officer, shall not refuse to surrender the domestic or domesticated animal for supervised quarantine, pursuant to MSB 24.20.050, if the domestic or domesticated animal has bitten a human or another animal. Violation of this provision is an infraction.
(Ord. 15-002, § 2 (part), 2015: Ord. 01-120, § 18, 2001; Ord. 92-013(sub1), § 3 (part), 1992)
24.20.050 SUPERVISED QUARANTINE.
(A) A domestic or domesticated animal subject to a supervised quarantine shall be securely confined for a minimum period of ten calendar days following the bite.
(B) At the discretion of the chief animal care and regulation officer, the quarantine location may be:
(1) at the designated borough animal shelter;
(2) at a veterinary hospital or clinic of the owner’s choosing, subject to the approval of the chief animal care and regulation officer;
(3) at a licensed boarding kennel or cattery of the owner’s choosing, subject to the approval of the chief animal care and regulation officer;
(4) confined on the owner’s premises subject to the approval of the chief animal care and regulation officer.
(5) Exceptions. If at any time the chief animal care and regulation officer makes a determination to classify the animal as Level 3 or 4, or recommend the animal as Level 5 to the animal care and regulation board, the animal shall be surrendered to the animal care and regulation shelter pending the outcome of the case.
(C) Fees and costs associated with quarantine, treatment, and care reasonably incurred by the borough shall be paid by the owner of the animal.
(D) Violation of any condition of a supervised quarantine order is an infraction.
(Ord. 15-002, § 2 (part), 2015: Ord. 04-103, § 6, 2004; Ord. 03-154(AM), § 5, 2003; Ord. 01-120, § 19, 2001; Ord. 94-120AM, § 38, 1994; Ord. 92-013(sub1), § 3 (part), 1992)
24.20.060 RABID ANIMALS.
(A) Notification to the chief animal care and regulation officer. When a domestic or domesticated animal under a supervised quarantine, other than at the borough animal shelter, is diagnosed or tentatively diagnosed as rabid, the chief animal care and regulation officer shall be notified immediately.
(B) Confirmation of diagnosis. If a domestic or domesticated animal is rabid or tentatively diagnosed as rabid, the chief animal care and regulation officer may take any action necessary including, but not limited to, immediate euthanasia and the removal of tissue samples from the domestic or domesticated animal to confirm the diagnosis of rabies.
(C) Destruction of animals. Destruction of animals shall be as follows:
(1) No person except an authorized agent of the state of Alaska, the chief animal care and regulation officer, or a licensed veterinarian may kill or cause to be killed any domestic or domesticated animal which is rabid or may be rabid.
(2) Any domestic or domesticated animal diagnosed or tentatively diagnosed as rabid by an Alaska licensed veterinarian shall be destroyed immediately.
(D) Disposition of rabid animal. Disposition of rabid animals shall be as follows:
(1) A person shall not fail or refuse to surrender a domestic or domesticated animal which is rabid or suspected of having rabies or has been directly exposed to a rabid animal, including the carcass or portion of the carcass.
(2) The chief animal care and regulation officer shall dispose of any dead domestic or domesticated animal, or portions of the animal, which is diagnosed as rabid or is suspected of being rabid.
(E) Violation. Violation of subsection (A), (C)(1) and (2), or (D)(1) of this section is an infraction.
(Ord. 15-002, § 2 (part), 2015: Ord. 01-120, § 20, 2001; Ord. 94-120AM, § 39, 1994; Ord. 92-013(sub1), § 3 (part), 1992)
24.20.070 AREA QUARANTINE.
(A) When one or more positive diagnoses of rabies are made within the borough, the chief animal care and regulation officer may institute an area quarantine for a period of 30 calendar days. The area covered by the quarantine shall be at the discretion of the chief animal care and regulation officer.
(B) A person within the quarantine area may not:
(1) take a domestic or domesticated animal off the premises of its owner, except on a leash or in a harness; or
(2) take or ship a domestic or domesticated animal from the area of quarantine without written permission of the chief animal care and regulation officer.
(C) During an area quarantine a domestic or domesticated animal running-at-large may be destroyed immediately by an authorized animal care and regulation officer.
(D) In the event subsequent and continued cases of rabies occur during the 30-calendar-day quarantine period, the quarantine time may be extended up to an additional six months at the discretion of the chief animal care and regulation officer.
(E) During the period of quarantine, the boundaries of the quarantine area may be adjusted by the chief animal care and regulation officer as needed.
(F) Any domestic or domesticated animal with a current rabies vaccination during an area quarantine which is bitten by any animal shall be immediately revaccinated and placed under supervised quarantine. The bite shall be reported immediately to the chief animal care and regulation officer.
(Ord. 15-002, § 2 (part), 2015: Ord. 01-120, § 21, 2001; Ord. 94-120AM, § 40, 1994; Ord. 92-013(sub1), § 3 (part), 1992)
24.20.080 COOPERATION WITH ALASKA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
(A) The borough may defer to the judgment of the Alaska State Department of Health and Social Services on rabies issues. The borough may cooperate on issues including, but not limited to:
(1) surrendering jurisdiction of an animal to the state;
(2) cooperation in state-authorized quarantines;
(3) cooperation in identification of rabies cases;
(4) control of the spread of rabies, including the euthanasia of animals in order to test brain tissue.
(B) The borough may enter into cooperative agreements with the Alaska State Department of Health and Social Services regarding the protocol for addressing rabies and potential rabies cases for all animals within the borough, whether the animals are categorized as domestic, domesticated, wild or otherwise categorized. The protocol shall be set forth in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough’s “Animal Care and Regulation Policies and Procedures” manual.
(C) Where borough law conflicts with state law concerning rabies control, state law shall be controlling.
(Ord. 15-002, § 2 (part), 2015: Ord. 01-120, § 22, 2001; Ord. 94-120AM, § 41, 1994; Ord. 92-013(sub1), § 3 (part), 1992)
24.20.090 LOW COST RABIES VACCINATION AND SPAY/NEUTER CLINICS FOR DOGS AND CATS.
At least semi-annually, the animal care manager may conduct low cost clinics for dogs and cats where spaying/neutering services and rabies vaccinations are made available at cost, plus ten percent. Such clinics should be held at such times and places as to encourage the widest participation from all areas of the borough.
(Ord. 15-002, § 2 (part), 2015: Ord. 01-120, § 23, 2001; Ord. 94-120AM, § 42, 1994; Ord. 92-013(sub1), § 3 (part), 1992)