Chapter 6.36
RABIES PREVENTION

Sections:

6.36.010    Health officer – Quarantine duty.

6.36.020    Quarantine notice – Delivery – Impounding required.

6.36.030    Quarantined animal – Isolation requirements – Impound when.

6.36.040    Rabies outbreak – Animal confinement required – Dogs at large impounded.

6.36.050    Rabies outbreak – Notification requirements – Health officer authority.

Prior legislation: Ord. 231.

6.36.010 Health officer – Quarantine duty.

A. It is a necessary health measure to prevent the spread of rabies.

B. It is the duty of the health officer to cause to be quarantined any mammal within the city which he has grounds to suspect of being infected with the disease of rabies. Whenever any human being is bitten by a mammal the animal involved shall be restricted for 10 days for observation in such manner as to prevent contact with other animals or humans except for its caretaker. [Ord. 45-13 § 1 (Att. A), 2013; Ord. 22-05 § 28, 2005; Ord. 6-87 § 1, 1987].

6.36.020 Quarantine notice – Delivery – Impounding required.

A. Any such quarantine shall be initiated by delivering to the owner or keeper of any such animal a written notice of such quarantine which shall prescribe the duration of the same.

B. The delivery of the notice of quarantine to an adult residing upon the premises where such animal is kept shall be considered as delivery of the notice to the owner or keeper.

C. Any such animal so quarantined shall be impounded or, upon proof of current rabies vaccination, may be quarantined upon the premises of the owner during such time as the provisions of the quarantine are strictly kept. [Ord. 45-13 § 1 (Att. A), 2013; Ord. 6-87 § 1, 1987].

6.36.030 Quarantined animal – Isolation requirements – Impound when.

A. During the period of any quarantine made under the provisions of this chapter, the owner or keeper of any animal quarantined shall not allow the animal to come in contact with any other animal or person or permit such animal to run at large upon the street or public place in the city or upon the premises where quarantined unless the premises is enclosed by a secured fence, nor shall such owner or keeper remove or cause such animal to be removed from the premises without the consent of the health officer. These restrictions shall continue until the animal has been released from quarantine.

B. Any animal found running at large, as defined in WRMC 6.04.010(A), or which has been removed from the premises upon which quarantined, shall be impounded and, unless claimed and redeemed by its owner within 72 hours after the expiration of the quarantine period, may be destroyed by the proper authorities. [Ord. 45-13 § 1 (Att. A), 2013; Ord. 6-87 § 1, 1987].

6.36.040 Rabies outbreak – Animal confinement required – Dogs at large impounded.

A. Whenever any outbreak of rabies occurs or when rabies has been diagnosed or a rabid dog or animal has been present in the city, it is unlawful for any owner, keeper or handler of any dog to keep or harbor the same within the city limits after the last publication of the notice provided for in WRMC 6.36.050 and during the period prescribed in said notice unless such dog or animal is securely confined at all times by leash or kept in a tight enclosure from which such dog or animal cannot escape.

B. Any dog found running at large in the city during said period shall be impounded and, unless claimed and redeemed by its owner within 72 hours after such impounding, may be destroyed by the proper authorities. Any health or police officer may destroy any dog found running at large within the limits of the city during said period when, after reasonable effort, he is unable to impound the dog or after reasonable investigation shall be unable to locate the owner or keeper thereof. [Ord. 45-13 § 1 (Att. A), 2013; Ord. 6-87 § 1, 1987].

6.36.050 Rabies outbreak – Notification requirements – Health officer authority.

Upon any outbreak of rabies, when rabies has been diagnosed within the city limits or a rabid dog or animal has been found present, and when in the judgment of the health officer there is imminent danger of the spread of the disease, such officer shall publish a notice to that effect in the official newspaper of the city for three successive days, and for six weeks after the last publication of said notice, the provisions of WRMC 6.28.070 shall be applicable. The health officer shall have authority, when in his judgment an extension of the six-week time period is necessary to carry into effect the purpose of this chapter, to extend the said six-week period for an additional six weeks or such lesser time as he deems necessary, by notice given in the manner provided for in this section and to further, and in the same manner, continue that six-week or lesser period until, in his judgment, the strict quarantine for in this chapter is unnecessary. [Ord. 45-13 § 1 (Att. A), 2013; Ord. 22-05 § 30, 2005; Ord. 6-87 § 1, 1987].