Chapter 6-16 Rabies Control

(A) It is unlawful for any person to own, keep, harbor, or possess any dog, cat, or ferret over the age of three months which has not been inoculated against rabies with a rabies vaccine approved by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered by a veterinarian licensed by the State of Colorado, and which has not been registered with the city as required by this chapter.

(B) The owner acquiring any dog, cat, or ferret shall have the animal inoculated against rabies and registered with the city within thirty days after acquiring the animal, or within thirty days after the animal attains the age of three months, whichever occurs last, and shall have the animal so vaccinated and registered thereafter as set forth in this chapter.

(C) Any person moving into the city from a location outside of the city shall comply with this section within thirty days after having moved into the city.

(D) If any dog, cat, or ferret has inflicted a bite on any person within a ten-day period preceding the date on which such animal is to be vaccinated, the owner of the animal shall report such fact to the veterinarian, and no rabies vaccine shall be administered until after an observation period advised by the Colorado Department of Health. Further, the veterinarian shall inquire before any rabies inoculation is given whether such animal to be vaccinated is under quarantine or has inflicted a bite upon any person within the last ten days.

(E) The requirement for rabies inoculation as set forth herein is intended primarily to apply to dogs, cats, and ferrets; provided, however, that whenever it is deemed advisable in the interest of the public health, welfare, and safety, the city council may order that all animals, or certain specified animals within the city which are susceptible to the rabies virus, shall be vaccinated against rabies, such vaccination to be performed by a licensed veterinarian. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §1, 1975; Ord. 1289 §2, 1997; Ord. 1409 §§1, 2, 1999)

6-16-020 Certificate of vaccination; contents; issuance.

Upon vaccination for rabies, the veterinarian administering the vaccination shall execute and furnish to the animal owner as evidence thereof a certificate of vaccination, upon a form furnished by the city. The certificate shall contain the following:

(A) The name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the inoculated animal;

(B) The breed, sex, color, and name of the inoculated animal;

(D) The type of vaccine used;

(E) Where applicable, the tag number of the rabies vaccination tag issued; and

(F) The signature of the veterinarian issuing the certificate. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §2, 1975)

6-16-030 Registration complementary to rabies inoculation requirements; provision of forms and tags.

(A) It is the intent of this chapter that the registration of dogs, cats, and ferrets be coordinated with and be complementary to the requirements for rabies inoculations set forth in this chapter.

(B) It shall be the duty of the city clerk to acquire and to furnish the certificate of vaccination forms and the rabies tags as required by this chapter. The rabies vaccination tags shall be of a size, shape, color, and material as may be deemed suitable by the city clerk; provided, however, that the color or size thereof shall be changed each year. Each such tag shall have the following printed thereon:

(1) City of Broomfield;

(2) Rabies vaccination;

(3) Year for which the tag is issued;

(4) Tag number; and

(5) Telephone number of the police department.

(D) The rabies inoculation tags shall constitute the city registration tags. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §3, 1975; Ord. 1289 §3, 1997)

6-16-040 Registration procedure.

(A) Consistent with the intent of registration as described in subsection 6-16-030(A), the city clerk shall furnish an adequate supply of the city certificate of vaccination forms and of the city rabies vaccination tags to all veterinarians maintaining a practice within the city and to all veterinarians maintaining a practice outside the city who have agreed in writing to comply with the provisions of this chapter. Said veterinarians shall be referred to in this chapter as Broomfield veterinarians.

(B) Upon vaccination of any dog, cat, or ferret for rabies as provided for in section 6-16-020, the Broomfield veterinarian administering the same shall execute and furnish to the animal owner the certificate of vaccination on the form therefor provided by the city.

(C) Concurrent with the issuance of the certificate of vaccination for any dog, the Broomfield veterinarian administering the same shall attach to the collar of the dog, whose owner is a resident of the city, a city rabies vaccination tag provided by the city. The tag number and serial number thereon shall correspond with and shall be identical to the numbers therefor entered on the certificate of vaccination issued for such dog.

(D) Within seven days from the issuance of the certificate of vaccination for any dog, cat, or ferret and of the concurrent issuance of the rabies vaccination tag for any such dog, the Broomfield veterinarian issuing the same shall file one duplicate copy of the certificate of vaccination with the city clerk. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §4, 1975; Ord. 802 §1, 1988; Ord. 1289 §4, 1997)

6-16-050 Dogs; complete registration designated.

The city certificate of rabies vaccination, when and as completed, signed, and thereafter filed with the city by a Broomfield veterinarian, combined with the issuance of the city rabies vaccination tag by the veterinarian, shall constitute the city registration of the dog for which the certificate and tag have been so issued. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §5, 1975)

6-16-060 Cats and ferrets; complete registration designated.

The city certificate of rabies vaccination, when and as completed, signed, and thereafter filed with the city by a Broomfield veterinarian, shall constitute the city registration of the cat or ferret for which the certificate has been issued. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §6, 1975; Ord. 1289 §5, 1997)

6-16-070 Dogs, cats and ferrets vaccinated outside city; registration.

(A) If any dog, cat, or ferret owned, kept, or harbored within the city is inoculated against rabies by a veterinarian outside the city who has not agreed in writing to comply with the provisions of this chapter, the animal owner shall register such animal with the city in the manner set forth herein.

(B) Application for registration shall be made upon forms provided by the city clerk and shall be accompanied by a certificate of vaccination issued by a licensed veterinarian certifying that the animal has been inoculated against rabies for the then current calendar year.

(C) Upon receipt of the application and certificate of vaccination, the city clerk shall issue to the animal owner a city certificate of registration for the animal so registered, and a city rabies vaccination tag for the dog so registered. The city certificate of registration shall contain the following:

(1) The name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the animal so registered;

(2) The name of the veterinarian who administered the rabies inoculation;

(3) The breed, sex, color, and name of the animal so registered;

(4) The date of inoculation;

(5) The type of vaccine used;

(6) Where applicable, the tag number of the rabies vaccination tag issued; and

(7) The signature of the city clerk.

(D) The tag number and serial number of the rabies vaccination tag shall correspond with and shall be identical to the numbers therefor entered upon said certificate of registration. The owner shall then attach said rabies vaccination tag to the dog's collar.

(E) The issuance of the city certificate of registration, as signed by the city clerk, and the issuance of the city rabies vaccination tag, where applicable, shall then constitute the city registration of the animal for which the certificate and tag (for dogs) have been issued.

(F) In no event shall a city certificate of registration be issued for any animal if the animal owner fails to submit the certificate of vaccination as required by this section. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §7, 1975; Ord. 802 §2, 1988; Ord. 1289 §6, 1997)

6-16-080 Collars and tags required for dogs.

(A) The owner, keeper, or possessor of any dog shall place upon such dog a collar, harness, or similar device of durable material to which the city rabies vaccination tag provided for in this chapter shall be attached.

(B) It is unlawful for the owner, possessor, or keeper of any dog to keep the dog within the city without the current city rabies vaccination tag securely affixed to the dog's collar, which tag shall be worn by the dog at all times.

(C) If a dog within the city is of such age that it is not required by this chapter to have a rabies vaccination tag, the owner, possessor, or keeper of such dog shall obtain an identification tag for the dog setting forth the name and address of the owner, and the identification tag shall be attached to the dog's collar. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §8, 1975; Ord. 993 §4, 1993)

6-16-100 Rabies tag; transferability.

City rabies vaccination tags are not transferable, and it is unlawful for any person to affix any rabies tag to any dog other than the dog for which the tag has been issued. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §10, 1975)

6-16-110 Possession of false or stolen tags or certificates prohibited.

It is unlawful for any person to make use of, or have in his or her possession or under his or her control, any stolen, counterfeit, or forged city rabies tag, rabies vaccination certificate, or other form provided for by this title. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §11, 1975)

6-16-120 Replacement of lost or destroyed tags.

Lost or destroyed city rabies vaccination tags may be replaced upon application therefor to the city clerk and verification of the certificate of vaccination, and a payment of $1.00. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §12, 1975)

6-16-130 Recordkeeping requirements; city clerk duty.

The city clerk shall keep a complete and accurate record of all city certificates of vaccination and certificates of registration filed with or issued by the city, and shall keep a complete and accurate record of all city rabies vaccination tags issued pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §13, 1975)

6-16-140 Registration not required when.

The requirements for registration, as set forth in this chapter, shall not apply to animals whose owners are nonresidents or temporarily within the city, nor to animals temporarily brought into the city for exhibition purposes. However, if an animal, whose owner is a nonresident of the city, remains in the city for more than thirty days, then said animal shall be properly registered as provided by this chapter. (Ord. 233 Art. IV, §14, 1975; Ord. 1289 §7, 1997)

6-16-150 Veterinarians authorized to execute and issue certificates and tags.

All veterinarians who are licensed as such by the State of Colorado and who maintain a practice of veterinary medicine within the city or who maintain a practice of veterinary medicine outside the city and have agreed in writing to comply with the provisions of this chapter, are designated as authorized to execute city certificates of vaccination and to issue city rabies vaccination tags, as provided by this chapter. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §15, 1975; Ord. 802 §3, 1988)

6-16-160 Harboring unvaccinated, unregistered animals prohibited.

It is unlawful for any person to harbor any animal which is required by this title to be vaccinated against rabies and to be registered with the city which has not been so vaccinated and registered. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §16, 1975)

6-16-170 Refusal to provide proof of vaccination prohibited.

It is unlawful for any person who owns or harbors any animal which is required by this title to be vaccinated against rabies to fail or refuse to exhibit his or her copy of the certificate of vaccination for said animal upon demand of the humane officer. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §17, 1975)

6-16-180 Animal bite; report required.

(A) Whenever any dog, cat, or other animal has bitten any person, it shall be the duty of the owner of such animal or of any person having knowledge thereof to immediately report such fact to the humane officer or to the police department, stating, if known, where the animal may be found.

(B) Whenever any dog, cat, or other animal is affected by rabies, or suspected of having rabies, or has been bitten by an animal known or suspected to be affected by rabies, the owner of such animal or any person having knowledge thereof shall immediately report such fact to the humane officer or to the police department, stating, if known, where the animal may be found.

(C) Consistent with subsection (A) of this section, every physician or medical practitioner after his or her first professional attendance upon a person bitten by a dog, cat, or other animal, shall within twelve hours report to the humane officer or to the police department the name, age, and address of the person so bitten and treated.

(D) It is the duty of every veterinarian who diagnoses rabies in any animal to immediately report such fact to the humane officer or to the police department. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §18, 1975)

6-16-190 Confinement and quarantine required when.

Any animal that has bitten any person, has been exposed to rabies, or is in any manner suspected of having rabies, shall be immediately confined for a period of ten days from the date of the incident, or for a longer period of time upon the advice of the humane officer or a veterinarian. The humane officer or other officers and employees of the city charged with the enforcement of this title shall serve notice of such confinement on the owner or harborer of the animal. Such confinement may be on the premises of the owner if deemed appropriate by the humane officer, but such animal must remain within the city during the confinement period. If the animal is not confined on the owner's premises, confinement shall be either in the city animal shelter or at a veterinary hospital of the owner's choice. Such confinement shall be at the expense of the owner. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §19(a), 1975)

6-16-200 Destruction of suspected animal before confinement prohibited.

It is unlawful for the owner or harborer of any animal that has bitten a person, has been exposed to rabies, or is in any manner suspected of having rabies, to destroy or to dispose of such animal before the animal can be properly confined by the humane officer. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §19(b), 1975)

6-16-210 Removal of confined animal prohibited.

It is unlawful for the owner or for any other person to allow any animal which is under confinement to come into contact with the public or with any other animal, or to remove any such animal from the place of confinement or quarantine without the written consent of the humane officer. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §19(c), 1975)

6-16-220 Refusal to surrender suspected animal prohibited.

The owner or harborer of any animal that has been reported to have bitten any person or is suspected of having bitten any person shall, on the demand of the humane officer or of any city officer or employee charged with the enforcement of this title, produce and surrender the animal for examination and quarantine, as prescribed in this section. If the owner or harborer of any such animal refuses to produce the animal, the owner or harborer shall be subject to immediate arrest, if there is probable cause to believe the animal has inflicted a bite upon a person and the owner or harborer is keeping the animal and willfully refuses to produce the animal upon demand. In such event, the owner shall be taken by an officer of the police department before a judge of the municipal court, who may order the immediate production of the animal. If the owner or harborer of any such animal willfully and knowingly secretes or refuses to produce the animal, each day of such secretion or refusal shall constitute a separate and individual violation of this section. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §19(d), 1975)

6-16-230 Rabid animal; notification of police and health officer.

When an animal under confinement and quarantine has been diagnosed by a licensed veterinarian as being rabid, the veterinarian making such diagnosis shall immediately notify the humane officer or the police department and the applicable county health officer of such fact, and shall advise them of any reports of human contact with such rabid animal. If any animal under confinement dies while under observation, the humane officer shall immediately take action to obtain a pathological and inoculation examination of the animal. As soon as a diagnosis is made available, the humane officer shall notify the applicable county public health officer of any reports of human contact with the animal. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §19(e), 1975)

6-16-240 Emergency confinement.

Whenever the city council has reason to believe or has been notified by the Colorado Department of Health that there is imminent danger that rabies may spread within the city, the city council may require every owner, keeper, or possessor of any dog, cat, or other specified animal to confine such animals for
such periods as may be necessary to prevent the spread of rabies within the city. (Ord. 233 Art. IV §20, 1975)

6-16-250 Failure to register.

The minimum penalty for failing to register an animal in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be a fine of $150.00, $50.00 of said amount shall not be waived, and all or a portion of the remaining amount may be waived if the owner provides evidence from a licensed veterinarian that the animal has been inoculated against rabies or has had a unique identifying computer microchip implanted by a licensed veterinarian and that the identifying microchip information has been registered with animal control and the central registry for such information. The remainder or an additional portion of any fine may be waived if the owner also provides proof from a licensed veterinarian that the animal has been spayed or neutered. (Ord. 1765 §1, 2004)

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