Chapter 6.20
RABIES
Sections:
6.20.010 Proclamation of emergency requiring confinement of animals.
6.20.020 Quarantine measures—Animals suspected of having rabies.
6.20.030 Quarantine measures—Animals biting persons.
6.20.010 Proclamation of emergency requiring confinement of animals.
Whenever it becomes necessary to safeguard the public from the dangers of hydrophobia or other disease, the city council, if they deem it necessary, shall issue a proclamation ordering every person owning or keeping an animal to confine it securely indoors unless such animal shall have a muzzle of sufficient strength to prevent it from biting any person or thing. Any unmuzzled animal running at large during the time of the proclamation shall be seized and impounded, unless noticeably infected with rabies. All animals noticeably infected with rabies and all unlicensed dogs at large during the period of such proclamation shall be immediately killed upon being apprehended. (Ord. 24-08 § 1; Ord. 18-01 § 6 (part): prior code § 4-41)
6.20.020 Quarantine measures—Animals suspected of having rabies.
If an animal is believed to have rabies, or has been bitten by an animal suspected of having rabies, such animal shall be confined indoors or muzzled and confined by a leash or chain on the owner’s premises and shall be placed under the observation of a duly licensed physician or veterinarian licensed under Alaska Statutes 08.98 for two weeks at the expense of the owner. The owner shall notify the animal control officer of the fact that his animal has been possibly exposed to rabies and the animal control officer is empowered to have such animal removed from the owner’s premises and placed under observation for two weeks at the expense of the owner. (Ord. 24-08 § 1; Ord. 18-01 § 6 (part): prior code § 4-42)
6.20.030 Quarantine measures—Animals biting persons.
A. If an animal bites a person:
1. The bitten person and the owner of the animal shall immediately notify the police department which shall order the animal held on the owner’s premises, or shall have it impounded as long as necessary for a complete examination at the Valdez animal shelter for not less than ten days. The animal’s owner or caretaker shall be responsible for the daily maintenance fee.
2. A physician or other practitioner of medicine who treats a person for an animal bite shall report the incident to the Valdez animal control or the Valdez police department and must release the name and address of the person being treated and any other information that may aid in the control of rabies.
3. A physical examination of the quarantined animal is to be made by a veterinarian licensed under Alaska Statutes 08.98 or the department’s animal control officer at the end of the quarantine period to check the animal for any signs of disease.
a. If it is determined by a veterinarian licensed under Alaska Statutes 08.98 that the animal is infected with rabies or other dangerous, contagious, and infectious disease, it shall be the duty of the animal control officer to ensure the animal is euthanized.
b. An animal shall be released from quarantine only when it is determined by the animal control officer or veterinarian licensed under Alaska Statutes 08.98, with written proof provided to the animal control officer, that the animal is free from such a disease.
4. The owner or persons harboring an animal under quarantine shall immediately notify animal control if such an animal becomes sick or dies during its period of confinement. If the animal dies during the period of quarantine or impoundment, its head shall be sent to the State Department of Health laboratory for examination.
5. During the period of quarantine, it shall be unlawful to remove the animal from the Valdez city limits.
6. Any animal whose owner resides outside of the Valdez city limits shall be quarantined at the animal shelter.
7. Prior to release from quarantine the animal must be vaccinated for rabies if it did not have the vaccination prior to the quarantine.
8. After the quarantine has ended, the owner shall be notified. If the animal is not claimed by the owner within five days, during which the animal shelter is open for regular business, the animal shall become property of the city. The owner shall be responsible for the daily maintenance fee for any day after the quarantine has ended.
B. As a result of the ineffectiveness of the rabies vaccine on hybrids, any animal that is purported to be hybrid shall not be placed into quarantine. Hybrid animals shall be immediately euthanized and submitted to the Department of Health or a laboratory designated by the department for rabies testing. This practice is in accordance with the policy of the State of Alaska Department of Health, Section of Epidemiology and 7 AAC 27.020. (Ord. 24-08 § 1; Ord. 18-01 § 6 (part): Ord. 00-09 § 14: prior code § 4-43)
6.20.040 Quarantine measures—Removal of animals with rabies prohibited—Disposition of animals with rabies.
No person, knowing or suspecting that an animal has rabies, shall allow the animal to be taken off the premises or beyond the Valdez city limits without the written permission of the animal control officer. Every owner or other person upon ascertaining an animal is rabid shall immediately notify the animal control officer. The animal shall be euthanized. (Ord. 24-08 § 1; Ord. 18-01 § 6 (part): prior code § 4-44)