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Footnotes:
--- (5) --- State Law reference— Rabies control, G.L. 1956, §§ 4-13-26—4-13-32, Rules and Regulation Governing Rabies Control Within The State of Rhode Island, Rabies Control Board, March 1993.
Sec. 10-131. - Report of persons bitten; quarantine of animal.#
Every dog, cat, ferret and other animal susceptible to rabies that bites a person shall be promptly reported to the animal control officer, and shall thereupon be securely quarantined at the direction of the animal control officer for a period of 14 days and shall not be released from such quarantine except by written permission of the animal control officer. At the discretion of the animal control officer, such quarantine may be on the premises of the owner, at the shelter designated as the animal pound or, at the owner's option and expense, in a veterinary hospital of his choice. In the case of stray animals, or in case of animals whose ownership is not known, such quarantine shall be at the shelter designated by the animal control officer.
(Ord. of 11-2-92, § 7(a))
Sec. 10-132. - Surrender of animal by owner; expense of quarantine; reclaiming animal.#
The owner, upon demand by the animal control officer, shall forthwith surrender any animal which has bitten a human, or which is suspected as having been exposed to rabies, for supervised quarantine, the expense of which shall be borne by the owner. Such animal may be reclaimed by the owner if it is adjudged free of rabies, upon payment of fees set forth in section 10-173.
(Ord. of 11-2-92, § 7(b))
Sec. 10-133. - Medical practitioner reports of bite cases.#
It shall be the duty of every physician or other medical practitioner to report to the animal control officer or the town clerk the names and addresses of persons treated for bites inflicted by animals, together with such other information as will be helpful in rabies control.
(Ord. of 11-2-92, § 8)
Sec. 10-134. - Responsibilities of veterinarians.#
It shall be the duty of every licensed veterinarian to report to the animal control officer any animal considered by him to be a rabies suspect.
(Ord. of 11-2-92, § 9)
Sec. 10-135. - Death of animal; examination of head; report.#
When rabies has been diagnosed in any animal under quarantine or rabies is suspected by a licensed veterinarian, and the animal dies while under such observation, the animal control officer shall immediately send the head of such animal to the state health department for the pathological examination; and shall notify the proper public health office of reports of human contacts and the diagnosis.
(Ord. of 11-2-92, § 7(c))
Sec. 10-136. - Areawide quarantine; requirements.#
(a)
When one or both reports indicated a positive diagnosis of rabies, the animal control officer shall recommend an areawide quarantine for a period of 90 days, and upon invoking of such emergency quarantine, no animal shall be taken into the streets, or permitted to be in the streets, during such period of quarantine. During such quarantine, no animal may be taken or shipped from the town without the written permission of the animal control officer.
(b)
If there are additional positive cases of rabies occurring during the period of quarantine, such period of quarantine may be extended for an additional six months.
(c)
During this quarantine period and as long afterwards as is necessary to prevent the spread of rabies, the health officer shall require all dogs, three months of age and older to be vaccinated against rabies with a canine rabies vaccine approved by the biologics control section of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The types of approved canine anti-rabies vaccine to be used and the recognized duration of immunity for each shall be restricted (leashing or confinement of enclosed premises) for 30 days after vaccination. During the quarantine period, the health officer shall be empowered to provide for a program of mass immunization by the establishment of temporary emergency canine rabies vaccination clinics strategically located throughout the town.
(Ord. of 11-2-92, § 7(d), (f))
Sec. 10-137. - Claiming of impounded strays during quarantine.#
No dog which has been impounded by reason of its being a stray, unclaimed by its owner, is allowed to be claimed during the period of the rabies emergency quarantine, except by special authorization of the health officer and the animal control officer.
(Ord. of 11-2-92, § 7(d))
Sec. 10-138. - Destruction or isolation of bitten animals.#
Animals bitten by a known rabid animal shall be immediately destroyed or if the owner is unwilling to destroy the exposed animal, strict isolation of the animal in a kennel for six months shall be enforced. If the animal has been previously vaccinated against rabies, within time limits established by the health officer, based on the kind of vaccine used, revaccination and restraint, including leashing and confinement, for 30 days shall be carried out.
(Ord. of 11-2-92, § 7(e))
Sec. 10-139. - Killing of animals; permit required.#
No person shall kill, or cause to be killed, any rabid animal, any animal suspected of having been exposed to rabies, or any animal biting a human, except as provided in this article, nor remove any such animal from the town limits without written permission from the animal control officer.
(Ord. of 11-2-92, § 7(g))
Sec. 10-140. - Disposition of carcasses; surrender of animals upon demand.#
(a)
The carcass of any dead animal exposed to rabies shall, upon demand, be surrendered to the animal control officer.
(b)
The animal control officer shall direct the disposition of any animal found to be infected with rabies.
(c)
No person shall fail or refuse to surrender any animal for quarantine or destruction as required in this article when demand is made therefor by the animal control officer.
(Ord. of 11-2-92, § 7(h)—(j))
Sec. 10-141. - Vaccination deadline.#
All dogs in the town shall be vaccinated against rabies by the age of three months.
(Ord. of 11-2-92, § 7(k))