Chapter 6.24
RABIES CONTROL
Sections:
6.24.040 Surrender of animals.
6.24.050 Supervised quarantine.
6.24.080 Cooperation with Alaska State Department of Health and Social Services.
6.24.090 Low cost rabies vaccination clinics for dogs and cats.
6.24.010 Definitions.
Notwithstanding HMC 6.04.010, 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.
6.24.020 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 City ordinance. Violation of this provision is an infraction.
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. The rabies immunization requirements do not apply to canid hybrids unless and until a rabies vaccine is approved by the state.
For rabies issues concerning canid hybrids, the City shall defer to the state of Alaska.
6.24.030 Reporting.
A. All practitioners of human medicine shall report to the Animal Control 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 Control Office within 12 hours of observation of any animal having or suspected of having rabies. Violation of this provision is an infraction.
C. A person who knows of an animal biting a domestic or domesticated animal or human shall report the bite to the Animal Control Office within 12 hours of witnessing or receiving knowledge of the bite. Violation of this provision is an infraction.
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. (Prior code §§ 6.16.100, 6.16.110, 6.16.120)
6.24.040 Surrender of animals.
An owner of a domestic or domesticated animal, at the request of an Animal Control Officer, shall not refuse to surrender the domestic or domesticated animal for supervised quarantine, pursuant to HMC 6.24.050, if the domestic or domesticated animal has bitten a human or another animal. Violation of this provision is an infraction. (Prior code § 6.16.020)
6.24.050 Supervised quarantine.
A. A domestic or domesticated animal subject to a supervised quarantine shall be securely confined for a minimum period of 10 calendar days following the bite.
B. At the discretion of the Chief Animal Control Officer, the quarantine location may be:
1. At the designated animal shelter;
2. At a veterinary hospital or clinic of the owner’s choosing, subject to the approval of the Chief Animal Control Officer;
3. At a licensed boarding kennel or cattery of the owner’s choosing, subject to the approval of the Chief Animal Control Officer;
4. Confined on the owner’s premises subject to the approval of the Chief Animal Control Officer.
C. Fees and costs associated with quarantine, treatment and care reasonably incurred by the City shall be paid by the owner of the animal. (Prior code § 6.16.010)
6.24.060 Rabid animals.
A. Notification of Chief Animal Control Officer. When a domestic or domesticated animal under a supervised quarantine, other than at the animal shelter, is diagnosed or tentatively diagnosed as rabid, the Chief Animal Control 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 Control 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 Control 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 Control 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. (Prior code)
E. Violation. Violation of subsection (A), (C)(1) and (C)(2) or (D)(1) of this section is an infraction. (Prior code §§ 6.16.040, 6.16.050, 6.16.080)
6.24.070 Area quarantine.
A. When one or more positive diagnoses of rabies is made within the City, the Chief Animal Control 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 Control 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 Control Officer.
C. During an area quarantine a domestic or domesticated animal running at large may be destroyed forthwith by an authorized Animal Control 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 Control Officer.
E. During the period of quarantine, the boundaries of the quarantine area may be adjusted by the Chief Animal Control 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 re-vaccinated and placed under supervised quarantine. The bite shall be reported immediately to the Chief Animal Control Officer. (Prior code §§ 6.16.040, 6.16.060)
6.24.080 Cooperation with Alaska State Department of Health and Social Services.
A. The City may defer to the judgment of the Alaska State Department of Health and Social Services on rabies issues. The City 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 City 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 City, whether the animals are categorized as domestic, domesticated, wild or otherwise categorized. The protocol shall be set forth in an Animal Control Policies, Regulations And Procedures Manual or a manual adopted by an agency authorized by contract with the City.
C. Where City law conflicts with state law concerning rabies control, state law shall be controlling.
6.24.090 Low cost rabies vaccination clinics for dogs and cats.
The Chief Animal Control Officer may, at the officer’s discretion, conduct low cost rabies vaccination clinics for dogs and cats as set forth in an Animal Control Policies, Regulations And Procedures Manual or a manual adopted by an agency authorized by contract with the City.