Chapter 6, Section 23, Vaccination against Rabies - Every person owning a dog with in the city, before obtaining a license for such dog, shall present satisfactory evidence that the dog for which such license is bought has been vaccinated against rabies within seven months of the time application is made for such license.

Chapter 6, Section 6-38, dogs and cats; Before any impounded dog or cat is released, there shall be paid to the Dog and Cat Shelter, a boarding fee for each day or fraction thereof that the dog or cat is impounded, the amount to be determined by the Shelter Manager with direction from the Shelter Board, the amount to be reasonable and customary for such fees in the region. In addition, a poundmaster's fee of ten dollars for each neutered male or spayed female; provided that proof of such neuter or spay is furnished to a representative of the Dog and Cat Shelter, or a fee of twenty-five dollars for each un-neutered male or un-spayed female over the age of six months, plus the license fee for any unlicensed dog. The certification for inoculation of rabies from a veterinarian must also be exhibited before any dog may be released.

Vaccinations for Cats

• Vaccines protect animals and people from specific viral and bacterial infections. They are not a treatment. If your companion cat gets sick because he is not properly vaccinated, the vaccinations should be given after your pet recovers.

• Kittens should be vaccinated with a combination vaccine (called a 3 in 1) at 2, 3 and 4 months of age and then annually. This vaccine protects cats from panleukopenia (also called feline distemper), calicivirus and rhinotracheitis (flu-like viruses). If you have an unvaccinated cat older than 4 months of age, he needs a series of two vaccinations given 2 to 3 weeks apart, followed by a yearly vaccination.

• There is a vaccine available for feline leukemia virus (FeLV). This is one of the two immune system viruses (retroviruses) that infect cats. The other is feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). There is no vaccine available for FIV. Cats can be infected with either virus for months to years without any indication that they are carrying a fatal virus. You cannot look at cats or kittens and know if they are infected—a blood test is necessary. All cats should be tested for these viruses. Infections can be transmitted at birth from the mother or by being bitten by an infected cat. Neither virus can infect humans. Many outdoor and stray cats and kittens carry this infection. Because of the fatal nature of these diseases, you should not expose the cats already living in your home by taking in untested cats or kittens. To be safe, keep your cat indoors, but if your cat does go outside, he should be vaccinated against feline leukemia virus. No vaccine is 100 percent effective.

Vaccinations for Dogs