§ 6-30. Vaccinations; certificates, tags.

(a)

The owner or harborer (excluding animal shelters) of each dog or cat shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies by four months of age. The animal must receive a booster within the 12-month interval following the initial vaccination or as state law dictates. Every dog or cat must be revaccinated against rabies at a minimum of at least once every three years with a rabies vaccine licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture. The vaccine must be administered according to label recommendations. Livestock (especially those that have frequent contact with humans) should be vaccinated against rabies. Nothing in this section prohibits a veterinarian and owner or harborer from selecting a more frequent rabies vaccination interval. Failure to have said animal vaccinated shall be an offense under this chapter and shall subject the owner or harborer to a fine. The fine for the second violation of failure to have an animal vaccinated shall be at least double the fine for the original offense.

(b)

All such dogs or cats shall be vaccinated in accordance with V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code chapter 826.

(1)

All dogs and cats, after initial vaccination, must receive a second booster rabies vaccination within 12 months of receiving the initial vaccination, regardless of:

a.

Type of vaccination used; or

b.

The age at which the animal was initially vaccinated.

(2)

If the animal has received at least two vaccinations and the last vaccination consisted of:

a.

An annual rabies vaccine, the animal must receive a vaccination within 12 months.

b.

A triennial vaccine, the animal must receive a vaccination within 36 months.

(3)

If the animal has received at least two vaccinations prior to this amendment and a triennial vaccine was used for the last vaccination, this amendment is retroactive (i.e., the animal's next vaccination will be due within 36 months from the date of its last vaccination).

Any person establishing residency within the city shall comply with this section within ten business days of establishing residency. If an unvaccinated dog or cat inflicts a bite, scratch, or otherwise attacks any person within the city, a rabies vaccine shall not be administered to the dog or cat until after a 240 hour quarantine observation period, beginning with the date of a bite, scratch or attack.

(c)

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 the certificate, and one copy shall be filed with the owner. Such certificate shall contain the following information:

(1)

The name, address and telephone number of the owner of the vaccinated animal;

(2)

The date of the vaccination;

(3)

The type of rabies vaccine used;

(4)

The year and number of the rabies tag; and

(5)

The breed, age, color and sex of the vaccinated animal.

(d)

Concurrently with the issuance and delivery of the certificate of vaccination, the owner or harborer of the dog or cat shall cause to be attached to the collar or harness of the vaccinated animal a metal tag, serially numbered to correspond with the vaccination certificate number and bearing the year of issuance. It shall be an offense under this chapter for a person to own or harbor a dog or cat on which the rabies tag is not affixed to said animal when the pet is accessible to the public.

(Ord. No. 2018-001, § 2, 11-6-18)