ORDINANCE NO. 454

AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE PREVENTION OF INFECTION FROM RABIES.

WHEREAS, Rabies is a dangerous disease caused in almost every case from the bite of a rabid animal; and

WHEREAS, It is the belief of scientists, versed in such subjects, that rabies may be prevented by the timely use of rabies vaccine; and

WHEREAS, The public peace, health, and safety of the City of Grand Junction, Colorado, demands protection from this level; NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO:

Section 1. That from and after the passage of this ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person to own or harbor any dog or cat in the City of Grand Junction, Colorado, that has not been properly immunized by vaccination against rabies and upon which such treatment by vaccination is not continued or repeated at least once every two years, as hereinafter described; provided, that any dog or cat not immunized, as hereinafter provided, shall be kept in a pen or other confining quarters from which it is impossible for said dog or cat to escape.

Section 2. The inoculation with the proper vaccine for the prevention of infection for rabies shall be performed by a licensed veterinarian or veterinarians upon each cat and dog and shall be repeated at least once in each two year period thereafter, and the fees for such inoculation shall be paid by the owner or owners of said dog or cat; and such licensed veterinarian or veterinarians shall issue to the owner or owners or keepers of such dog or cat a certificate showing the inoculation thereof and the date thereof, which shall be safely kept by such owner or owners or keeper and exhibited to any public or police officer of the City of Grand Junction upon request; and such licensed veterinarian or veterinarians shall also furnish such owner or keeper, without additional cost, a tag or tags to be attached to the collar of such dog or dogs; and it is hereby made the duty of the owner or owners or keepers of such dog or dogs to securely attach said tag to the collar of such dog or dogs.

Section 3. No license shall be issued to any person to own or keep any dog or bitch in the City of Grand Junction, Colorado, by the City Clerk of said City as described in the ordinances of said city, unless such dog or bitch has been immunized against rabies as set out in Section 2 hereof, and the certificate of inoculation of such dog or bitch showing vaccination for rabies within eighteen months of the date of the application for license shall be presented and exhibited to such City Clerk. Any police officer of said city shall have the right, and it is hereby made his duty, to kill any dog or bitch running at large and unmuzzled in said city, the collar of which dog or bitch does not display the inoculation tag provided in this ordinance.

Section 4. Whenever the Mayor shall apprehend dager of hydrophobia, he shall issue his proclamation requiring all persons owning or keeping any cat or cats within the city to confine the same for such time or times as he may designate, and it shall be the duty of any police or other public officer to kill any cat found running at large during such time.

Section 5. Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than Five ($5.00) Dollars nor more than one hundred ($100.00) Dollars for each offense, and the dog or cat of any owner or keeper violating this ordinance shall be killed.

Section 6. For the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and, by reason thereof, this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval.

Passed and adopted this 4th day of December, A. D. 1929.

/s/ Fred A. Rogers

President City Council

ATTEST:

/s/ Helen C. Niles

City Clerk

I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing ordinance entitled "AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE PREVENTION OF INFECTION FROM RABIES" was introduced, read, passed and adopted as an emergency ordinance, numbered 454, and ordered published, at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Grand Junction, Colorado, held on the 4th day of December, A. D. 1929.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of said City this 4th day of December, A. D. 1929.

/s/ Helen C. Tomlinson

City Clerk

Published December 5th, 1929.