§ 1-4-27. Rabies vaccination of dogs, cats and ferrets.

(a)

The owner or keeper of a dog, cat or ferret four (4) months of age or older shall cause such dog, cat or ferret to be vaccinated against rabies. The animal shall be revaccinated twelve (12) months after the initial vaccination, and, thereafter, the interval between vaccinations shall conform to the vaccine manufacturers' directions. A veterinarian in his or her discretion may use a rabies vaccine of either one (1) or three (3) years' duration of immunity. Evidence of circulating rabies virus neutralizing antibodies shall not be used as a substitute for current vaccination in managing rabies exposure or determining the need for booster vaccinations. It is a violation of this article for the owner or keeper of a dog, cat or ferret to refuse or fail to have the dog, cat or ferret vaccinated against rabies as required by this section. Regardless of the duration of the vaccine used, the license tag and certificate shall be renewed each year on the anniversary of the initial vaccination.

(1)

Only veterinarians actively engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine, who are duly registered and licensed by the State of Florida, are hereby authorized to vaccinate dogs, cats and ferrets against rabies.

(2)

Evidence of such vaccinations for a dog, cat or ferret shall consist of a current county license tag and a certificate of vaccination executed in triplicate, issued and signed by the veterinarian administering the vaccine.

(3)

The certificate of vaccination shall be in conformity with National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) Form 51 (attached to Ordinance No. 2006-062). One (1) copy of the certificate shall be given to the owner and one (1) retained by the person administering the inoculation and one (1) returned to the animal control department.

(4)

All vaccines used shall be a type licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for use with those species.

(Ord. No. 98-070, § 4, 12-1-98; Ord. No. 2006-062, § 11, 6-27-06; Ord. No. 2012-023, § 1, 6-12-12)