HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-19 Ordinance 5248follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 5248
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Adding Section
6.16.101 to Chapter 6 (Dogs) of Title 6 (Animals) to Mandate
Reporting of Rabies Vaccinations
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings and Declarations. The City Council finds and declares as
(a) The California Animal Care of Health Services mandates that all counties have
a rabies control program through Title 17 ofthe Health Code;
(b) Rabies control is primarily achieved through dog and cat immunization and
licensing. Since the 1970s, Palo Alto City ordinance Section 6.16.020 has
required that every person owning or having custody of a dog over four
months of age be rabies-immunized and licensed;
(c) Currently, Palo Alto is the only City in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties
that does not mandate rabies vaccination reporting from its veterinarians;
(d) Comparisons with other cities' and counties' license compliance rates shows
a marked increase in compliance rates and increased revenues for
jurisdictions that have implemented mandatory rabies vaccination reporting;
and
(e) A mandatory reporting requirement will likely increase rabies immunization
compliance rates in Palo Alto.
SECTION 2. Section 6.16.101 is hereby added to Chapter 6 (Dogs) of Title 6
(Animals) of the Palo Alto Municipal code to read as follows:
11Section 6.16.101
VETERINARIAN RESPONSIBILITIES
Every licensed veterinarian in the City of Palo Alto who vaccinates or causes or
directs to be vaccinated any dog, residing in the City of Palo Alto, with anti-rabies
vaccine shall certify that such animal has been vaccinated. Every veterinarian shall
submit to Palo Alto Animal Services as the licensing authority, a copy of the anti-
rabies vaccination certificate, within ten (10) days of the beginning of each month,
for any dog which he/she vaccinates or directs to be vaccinated with the anti-rabies
vaccine during the previous month. An Animal Control Officer or Superintendent of
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Animal Services or designee shall have the right to inspect records of rabies
vaccinations during the veterinarian's normal business hours."
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
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City Attorney
Police Chief
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