§ 5-37. Rabies vaccination.

(a)

The owner or keeper of a dog, cat, or ferret four (4) months of age or older shall vaccinate such dog, cat, or ferret against rabies through a licensed veterinarian. Evidence of rabies vaccination shall consist of a certificate signed by the licensed veterinarian administering the vaccination and identifying the owner and the address of the dog, cat, or ferret and containing such other information as required by state law.

(b)

A rabies vaccination is excused only if a dog, cat, or ferret is less than four (4) months of age, or if a licensed veterinarian certifies in writing that rabies vaccination would be injurious to the health of a dog, cat, or ferret. In the latter case, such dog, cat, or ferret shall be confined in an enclosed building or a kennel at all times until a licensed veterinarian can safely vaccinate the dog, cat, or ferret.

(c)

The county rabies control program shall be carried out pursuant to F.A.C. ch. 64D-3 and the following provisions:

(1)

When a dog or cat has bitten or is believed to have bitten a human being or another animal, or is suspected of carrying rabies, the dog or cat shall be quarantined for rabies observation for a reasonable period of time, as determined by the division manager, but in no case less than ten (10) calendar days. The owner/keeper of such dog or cat shall relinquish possession of the dog or cat for the purpose of quarantine. Refusal to surrender any animal believed to have inflicted a bite on a person upon lawful demand shall be in violation of this article. At the discretion of the division manager, any such dog or cat without a current rabies vaccination may be kept in quarantine at the owner's expense in a county shelter or at an approved holding facility of a local veterinarian or an approved boarding kennel.

(2)

The state department of health and rehabilitative services county public health unit director/administrator or the state health officer may make an exception and approve confinement of a dog or cat having a current rabies vaccination administered by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's home or at another acceptable location. If the division manager determines, at any time during the quarantine period, that the owner/keeper of the dog or cat has failed to sufficiently confine the dog or cat, the owner shall relinquish possession of the dog or cat to the animal services division. The dog or cat will then be confined in the custody of the animal services division or at an approved holding facility of a local veterinarian for the remainder of the quarantine period at the owner's expense.

(3)

Dogs and cats or other animals under quarantine shall not be released or removed from the place of quarantine unless permission is obtained from the county health unit director or the state department of health and rehabilitative services county public health unit director/administrator or the state health officer.

(4)

Bites of guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, lagomorphs (rabbits and hares), livestock, squirrels, gerbils, chipmunks, rats, mice and other rodents shall be evaluated on an individual basis at the discretion of the state department of health and rehabilitative services county public health unit director for a determination as to the need for laboratory examination.

(5)

Any free-roaming wild mammal that has bitten or exposed a human to rabies shall be disposed of immediately in a manner that the head of the animal can be submitted to one (1) of the laboratories of the state department of health and rehabilitative services for examination for rabies. When a free-roaming wild mammal which is on a list of endangered animal species is involved, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shall be notified and given the opportunity to obtain the specimen and other relevant information.

(6)

Any dog or cat with a current rabies vaccination that is bitten or exposed by a known rabid animal shall be revaccinated immediately by a licensed veterinarian and quarantined for ninety (90) calendar days. The state health director or his designee may permit such animal to be quarantined at home, the animal services division, or another approved facility. Such animal shall be on a leash when taken outdoors.

(7)

Any dog or cat without a current rabies vaccination that is bitten by or exposed to a known rabid animal shall be disposed of or, if the owner so desires, placed under rabies quarantine for six (6) months at the owner's expense in a place approved by the state department of health and rehabilitative services county public health unit director/administrator or the state health officer. Such animals shall be given a rabies vaccination upon entering quarantine and shall be revaccinated one (1) month prior to release from quarantine.

(8)

Any animal held under quarantine must be claimed by the owner within three (3) working days following the last day of quarantine unless prior arrangements have been made or the animal shall be considered abandoned and disposed of as the animal services division deems appropriate.

(9)

The owner of any dog or cat held under quarantine must provide proof of vaccination against rabies or have the dog or cat vaccinated against rabies before the dog or cat will be released from quarantine. The owner's failure to have the dog or cat vaccinated against rabies shall be a violation of this article.

(Code 1965, § 3-14; Ord. No. 87-9, § 14, 3-9-87; Ord. No. 91-8, § 13, 4-2-91; Ord. No. 95-32, § 10, 9-26-95; Ord. No. 2002-04, § 6, 6-4-02; Ord. No. 2005-07 , § 11, 7-12-05)