HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance - 904-1949 - Authorizing City Health Officers To Establish Quarantines In Areas /Rabies - 03/24/1949t
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ORDINANCE NO • ..2Q!f
. . 04--ILl -1...94
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING ~'HE CITY HEALTH OFFICER TO ESTABLISH QUARANTINES IN
AREAS \-THERE DOGS AND OTHER ANIMAlS ARE EXPOSED TO RABIES; PROVIDING NOTICE AND
METHOD OF QUARANTINE; IMP9UNDING OF SUSPECTED ANn1AI.S FOR OBS ERVATI ON AND THE DES.;.
' TRUCTION OF RABID ANIMAlS; REQUIRING CUSTODIANS OF SUSPECTED ANIMALS TO SUBJ:vliT
THEM FOR OBSERVATI N; PROVIDING THE RETURN TO CLAIMANT OF ANIMALS FOUND TO BE NO R-
I.'JIAL; MAKING IT UN LAvlFUL TO KNOWINGLY KEEP A RABID ANIMAL; 'EXCEPTI NG OFFICERS IN
THE COURSE OF DUTY AND PROVIDING PENALTIES.
WHEREAS, the City Commission finds thPt dogs and other animals exposed to or
infected with rabies are a menace to public health and safety and regulatory
measures are deemed necessary in the public interest, ~1EREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMHISSIO N OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCKs
SECTION 1. The City Health Officer is authorized to establish quarantines in
any area of the City of Lubbock when he deems such quarantine necessary to public
safety and welfare and b.Y such quarantine to restrict dogs and other domesticated
anima.ls from running at large for such time as he deems necessary when any such
animal or animals are found to be infected with rabies or have been exposed to
rabies, or when the Health Offioer has aood reason to believe that rabies exist in
any such area. Quarantine, as provided for in this ordinance, may be established
by notification in a newspaper of general circulation stating the effected area
included within streets to be designated by the City Health Officer of the
Director of Public Health, by personal notice of such officer~ to inhabitants in
the effected area and may include the r equirement that dogs or other animal
claimants put such animals under physical re s traint for a definite period of time,
prevent ~ng any such animals from running at larr,e within the area, or any other
reasonable and effective method of means adopted b.r the Ci~ Health Officer to pro-
• teet human beinq s and animals from the transmission of rabies ...
SECTION 2. v/henevar any person has been bitten by any dog or other domes-
ticated animal, the City He~lth Officer is fully authorized to order such animal
to be impounded and quarantined at any place and for such length of time as in the
judgment of such officer, shall be necessary to conserve the public health,
safety and welfare.
SECTi nN 3. When any dog or other animal displays symptoms commonly assoc-
iated with rabid dogs or other animals, such conduct of the animal shall consti-
tute eood cause for the City Health Officer or the Director of Public Health, to
reduce such animal to possession, or cause the same to be done for observation
and if the animal gets restless or irritable the animal shall be killed under
direction of the City Health Officer or the Director of Public Health and the head
sent to a proper laboratory for diagnosis.
SECTI ON 4. When any person has been notified by the Cit y Health Officer or
any authorized representative, that any dog or animal in his possession or under
' his custody ot control is infected with rabies, or is reasonably suspected of
being infected with rabies, it shall be the duty of such person to immediately
deliver any such animal to the City Health Officer or his authorized representa-
tive for the purpose of quarantining and observation of said animal, and the
City Health Officer and his authorized representative are hereby authorized and
directed to place any such animal at a proper place to be aGlected by the Health
Officer for the purpose of quarantine and observation for a period of time not
leas than twelve (12) days.
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SECTION 5. Upon .quarantining ani such animal the City Health Officer or his
· authorized representative is authorized and directed to make such observations
deemed necessary to determine whether such animal is infected with rabies. If
said animal becomes restless, irritable, and shows signs of paralysis, the animal
shall be killed and the head sent to a laboratory for diagnosis. In the event the
animal is normal at the end of the quarantine period, it shall be returned to the
known claimant of such animal.
SECTION 6. 'Whenever the City Health Officer or the Director of Public Health
has good reason to believe that a ny do g or other animal is infected with rabies
he shall have the authority and it shall be his duty to notify the keeper, harborer
or persons claiming any such animal of his belief and it shall thereafter be unlaw-I
ful for any per son having such notice to in any manner interfere with such officer
or his authorized representative in taking possession of such animal for .the pur-
pose of examination to determine if such animal is in fact infected with rabies.
SECTION 7. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, harbor or maintain
any dog or other animal within the corporate limits of the City of Lubbock after
having been notified by the Oity Health Officer or Director of Public Health or
an authorized representative that any such animal is infected with rabies or that
any such officer has good reason to believe that any such animal is infected vri th
~ rabies, unless the animal is kept under d irections and conditions required by the
City Health Officer.
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SECTION 8. It shall be unla\o~fu.l f or any person to knowingly keep, harbor or
maintain any do g or other animal withi n the corporate limits of the City of
Lubbock, which is infected with rabies.
SECTION 9. The provisions of this ordinance relating to the keeping of ani-
mals infe cted with rabies shall not a pply to officers or their authorized repre-
sentatives a cting in the course of duty.
SECTIO N 10. Any person vtho shall wilfully fail or refuse to comply with any
lawful order of the City Health Officer after the establishment of the quarantine
qyJ.the Oity Health Officer under the authority granted in Sections 1 and 2 of
i ... \,\s ordinance , shall upon conviction, be fined in any sum not exceeding TWO
HU~IDRED (~200.00) DOLLARs. The caption and penalty clause only shall be
pUblished.
AND IT IS SO ORDERED 1
Passed and approved b -y unanimous vote of the City Oommission this 24th day
of March, 1949.
-.; Passed and approved by unanimous vote of the City Commission this 14thday
of April, 1949.
ATTEST;
CITY. SECRETARY
(SEAL)
MAYOR