Section 24-901. VACCINATION OF DOGS AGAINST RABIES

 

901.1Each year, during the period from the last Monday in April through the following Saturday, each person in the District of Columbia who owns, keeps, or has custody of a dog that is three (3) months old or older shall have the dog vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian.

 

901.2The provisions of §901.1 shall not apply to any dog that has been vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian within the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the last Monday in April, if the owner, keeper, or person having custody of the dog has secured and kept a valid vaccination certificate and numbered vaccination tag for the dog.

 

901.3A dog that has been vaccinated under the provisions of §901.2 shall be revaccinated each year twelve (12) months after the date of the previous vaccination.

 

901.4The anti-rabies vaccine used for the vaccination required under this section shall be of a strength and type approved by the Director of Human Services.

 

901.5Vaccination shall be done in either of the following ways:

 

(a)At the expense of the District by veterinarians designated for that purpose; or

 

(b)At the expense of the person owning, keeping, or having custody of the dog by a private veterinarian.

 

901.6The Mayor shall establish and publicize several school locations throughout the city where free vaccinations shall be provided.

 

901.7Dogs shall be brought to the clinics as soon as possible after the opening time. Clinics will not be held during periods of rain.

 

901.8Dogs brought to clinics shall be leashed in accordance with the provisions of §§ 900.3 and 900.4.

 

901.9The veterinarian administering the anti-rabies vaccine shall execute a certificate of vaccination and furnish the original to the owner other person presenting the dog for vaccination. The certificate shall be on a form prescribed by the Mayor.

 

901.10The veterinarian administering the vaccine shall retain a copy or duplicate of the certificate.

 

901.11The copy or duplicate of the certificate of vaccination shall be disposed of in the manner prescribed by the Director of Human Services.

 

901.12Each veterinarian practicing in the District shall furnish to the Director of Human Services any reports concerning dogs vaccinated against rabies by the veterinarian that may be required by the Director.

 

901.13Upon completion of a rabies vaccination, a veterinarian shall furnish a numbered vaccination tag to the owner or other person presenting the dog for vaccination.

 

901.14No veterinarian licensed to practice in the District shall issue a rabies vaccination certificate or vaccination tag for any dog unless the dog has been vaccinated against rabies by him or her.

 

901.15Each person owning, keeping, or having custody of a dog in the District shall affix the vaccination tag provided under §901.13 to the collar or harness of the dog. The owner shall keep the tag affixed to the dog's collar or harness.

 

901.16No person owning, keeping, or having custody of a dog in the District shall do either of the following:

 

(a)Affix or permit to be affixed to the collar or harness of the dog any tag other than a current tax tag, vaccination tag, or owner's identification tag; or

 

(b)Affix or permit to be affixed to the collar or harness of the dog any vaccination tag not issued for that dog.

 

901.17Except as provided otherwise in §901.18, the owner, keeper, or other person having custody of a dog that is brought into the District shall have that dog vaccinated against rabies within fifteen (15) days after the arrival of the dog in the District.

 

901.18If a dog brought into the District has already been vaccinated in accordance with the provisions of this section and the owner, keeper, or other person having custody of the dog has a valid vaccination certificate and tag issued by the veterinarian who performed the vaccination, the dog shall not have to be vaccinated again until twelve (12) months after the date of the last vaccination.

 

901.19The Director of Human Services shall have authority to require the following control measures when deemed necessary to control the spread of rabies in the District:

 

(a)Muzzling;

 

(b)Leashing;

 

(c)Confinement; and

 

(d)Quarantine.

 

source

Regulation No. 71-23, effective July 9, 1971.