Chapter 6.20
RABIES CONTROL
Sections:
6.20.010 Immunization required.
6.20.030 Fraudulent certificates prohibited.
6.20.040 Reporting animal bites.
6.20.050 Quarantine of dangerous animals.
6.20.060 Handling rabies cases.
6.20.070 Disposition of rabid animals.
6.20.010 Immunization required.
Each dog and cat over the age of four months, or if younger and medically capable of being immunized, shall be immunized against rabies, and a rabies certificate reflecting such immunization shall be obtained and retained by the owner. [Ord. 03-2017-06].
6.20.020 Rabies certificate.
A rabies certificate shall contain the following information:
(a) The name and address of the animal’s owner;
(b) The age, sex, breed, color and name of the animal;
(c) The date of immunization;
(d) The type and effective duration of the immunization; and
(e) The full name and signature of the veterinarian issuing the certificate. [Ord. 03-2017-06].
6.20.030 Fraudulent certificates prohibited.
(a) No person shall fraudulently procure, issue, use or allow the use of a rabies certificate.
(b) No person shall use, attempt to use, or allow the use of a rabies certificate for an animal other than the animal for which the certificate was issued. [Ord. 03-2017-06].
6.20.040 Reporting animal bites.
The owner or responsible person of any animal that bites a human being shall report such occurrence, and shall, to the best of his/her ability, make the animal available for inspection and quarantine to an animal protection officer as soon as such occurrence becomes known to the owner or responsible person. They shall also provide such further information as requested by the animal protection officer. [Ord. 03-2017-06].
6.20.050 Quarantine of dangerous animals.
(a) Any domestic animal that bites a human being shall be “quarantined” or placed “under observation” at the expense of the owner or responsible party pursuant to one of the following procedures for a period of not less than 10 days:
(1) Quarantine at the animal shelter or a veterinary hospital;
(2) Quarantine at a licensed private kennel or foster care from a list of those which have previously been inspected and approved by the Director of Animal Protection for such quarantine;
(3) If the owner or responsible person shows proof of a valid rabies certificates the animal which bites a person must, at minimum, be placed under observation for 10 days. The owner or responsible person may be allowed to keep the animal under observation on their own premises if the owner or responsible person gives written assurances that the animal will not be allowed to come into contact with other domestic animals owned by or kept on adjacent properties owned by others and after their premises has been inspected and approved for such by any City animal protection officer; or
(4) If the animal is not of the variety that is a known carrier of rabies and is not required by ordinance or law to be vaccinated for such and the animal shows no signs of sickness or indication that it is infected with rabies the animal may be kept on the premises of the owner or responsible person under the same provisions as found in subsection (a)(3) of this section.
(b) Any animal under quarantine or placed under observation found to be at large or capable of coming into contact with other animals or humans, not in accordance with this section, shall be surrendered to and may be impounded by any animal protection officer for the duration of the quarantine period at the full cost of a 10-day quarantine. There will be no refund of the home quarantine charge. [Ord. 03-2017-06].
6.20.060 Handling rabies cases.
(a) Every person shall report to the Department of Animal Protection any suspected or positively diagnosed occurrence of rabies and any biting by any suspected or confirmed rabid animal.
(b) A person shall not kill any suspected or confirmed rabid animal except with the prior written consent of the Director of Animal Protection or in defense of a human being or other animal or to prevent the escape of such suspected or confirmed rabid animal.
(c) Only an animal protection officer or person authorized by an animal protection officer may remove the carcass of any suspected or confirmed rabid animal from the location where the animal was killed or found. [Ord. 03-2017-06].
6.20.070 Disposition of rabid animals.
All animals suspected or confirmed as having rabies shall be impounded by an animal protection officer and shall be handled in accordance with regulations, procedures, policies or directives promulgated, adopted or issued by the Commissioner of Natural Resources pursuant to AS 3.05.090 et seq., or by the Commissioner of Health and Social Services pursuant to AS 18.05.040, or in a manner otherwise provided by law. [Ord. 03-2017-06].
6.20.080 Areawide quarantine.
When there has been a positive diagnosis of rabies within the City, the Director of Animal Protection may declare an areawide quarantine for a reasonable period of time not to exceed six months. During the period of such quarantine, every owner shall confine his or her animal within the premises of the owner or responsible person and shall not transport, take, or remove his or her animal from the City without the prior written consent of the Director of Animal Protection. [Ord. 03-2017-06].