§ 10-301. Rabies – Vaccinations.
(a) Vaccination required.
No person may own or keep a dog, cat, feral cat, or ferret that is older than 4 months unless it has a current rabies vaccination, unless this requirement is waived by the Public Health Veterinarian.
(b) Certificate required.
(1) Any person who brings a dog, cat, feral cat, or ferret over 4 months old into the City must have readily available a current rabies vaccination certificate signed by a veterinarian or issued by an approved government agency.
(2) A dog, cat, feral cat, or ferret for which there is no evidence of a current vaccination must immediately be:
(i) vaccinated by a veterinarian; or
(ii) removed from the City.
(c) Unlicensed dog or cat presumed unvaccinated.
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, any unlicensed dog, cat, or feral cat that is older than 4 months is presumed to be unvaccinated. This presumption can be rebutted only by a current rabies vaccination certificate signed by a veterinarian or issued by an approved government agency.
(2) A feral cat that has been ear tipped is presumed to have been vaccinated at least once.
(d) Issuance of certificates.
(1) Any veterinarian who administers a rabies vaccination to an animal must complete a vaccination certificate and give a copy of the certificate to the animal's owner or custodian.
(2) In addition to any other information that the Commissioner requires, the certificate must state:
(i) the date the vaccination was administered; and
(ii) the vaccination's expiration date.
(e) Commissioner may operate anti-rabies clinics.
The Commissioner may operate rabies vaccination clinics and charge reasonable fees to defray the cost of the services provided.
(f) Other animal rabies vaccinations.
In the rules and regulations adopted under § 2-106 {"Rules and regulations"} of this article, the Commissioner may require rabies vaccinations for other animals.
(g) Owner to provide copy of rabies vaccination certificate to custodian.
Whenever the owner of an animal places it in the care or custody of another person, the owner must provide that custodian with a copy of the animal's rabies vaccination certificate.