351.1 through 351.24

Repealed by 94 Acts, ch 1173, §42.

351.25 Dog as property.

All dogs under six months of age, and all dogs over said age and wearing a collar with a valid rabies vaccination tag attached to the collar, shall be deemed property. Dogs not provided with a rabies vaccination tag shall not be deemed property.

351.26 Right and duty to kill untagged dog.

It shall be lawful for any person, and the duty of all peace officers within their respective jurisdictions unless such jurisdiction shall have otherwise provided for the seizure and impoundment of dogs, to kill any dog for which a rabies vaccination tag is required, when the dog is not wearing a collar with rabies vaccination tag attached.

351.27 Right to kill tagged dog.

It shall be lawful for any person to kill a dog, wearing a collar with a rabies vaccination tag attached, when the dog is caught in the act of worrying, chasing, maiming, or killing any domestic animal or fowl, or when such dog is attacking or attempting to bite a person.

351.28 Liability for damages.

The owner of a dog shall be liable to an injured party for all damages done by the dog, when the dog is caught in the action of worrying, maiming, or killing a domestic animal, or the dog is attacking or attempting to bite a person, except when the party damaged is doing an unlawful act, directly contributing to the injury. This section does not apply to damage done by a dog affected with hydrophobia unless the owner of the dog had reasonable grounds to know that the dog was afflicted with hydrophobia and by reasonable effort might have prevented the injury.

351.29 Construction clause.

A holding that one or more sections hereof are unconstitutional shall not be held to invalidate the remaining sections.

351.30 to 351.32

Repealed by 67 Acts, ch 118, § 9.

351.33 Rabies vaccination.

Every owner of a dog shall obtain a rabies vaccination for such animal. It shall be unlawful for any person to own or have a dog in the person's possession, six months of age or over, which has not been vaccinated against rabies. Dogs kept in kennels and not allowed to run at large shall not be subject to these vaccination requirements.

351.34 Condition for license.

Repealed by 94 Acts, ch 1173, §42.

351.35 How and when.

The rabies vaccination required by section 351.33 shall be an injection of antirabies vaccine approved by the state department of agriculture and land stewardship, and the frequency of revaccination necessary for approved vaccinations shall be as established by such department. The vaccine shall be administered by a licensed veterinarian and shall be given as approved by the state department of agriculture and land stewardship. The veterinarian shall issue a tag with the certificate of vaccination, and such tag shall at all times be attached to the collar of the dog.

351.36 Enforcement.

Local health and law enforcement officials shall enforce the provisions of sections 351.33 to 351.43 relating to vaccination and impoundment of dogs. Such public officials shall not be responsible for any accident or disease of a dog resulting from the enforcement of the provisions of said sections.

351.37 Apprehension and impoundage.

Any dog found running at large and not wearing a valid rabies vaccination tag and for which no rabies vaccination certificate can be produced shall be apprehended and impounded.

When such dog has been apprehended and impounded, the official shall give written notice in not less than two days to the owner, if known. If the owner does not redeem the dog within seven days of the date of the notice, the dog may be humanely destroyed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with law. An owner may redeem a dog by having it immediately vaccinated and by paying the cost of impoundment.

If the owner of a dog apprehended or impounded cannot be located within seven days, the animal may be humanely destroyed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with law.

351.38 Owner's duty.

It shall be the duty of the owner of any dog, cat or other animal which has bitten or attacked a person or any person having knowledge of such bite or attack to report this act to a local health or law enforcement official. It shall be the duty of physicians and veterinarians to report to the local board of health the existence of any animal known or suspected to be suffering from rabies.

351.39 Confinement.

When a local board of health receives information that any person has been bitten by an animal or that a dog or animal is suspected of having rabies, it shall order the owner to confine such animal in the manner it directs. If the owner fails to confine such animal in the manner directed, the animal shall be apprehended and impounded by such board, and after two weeks the board may humanely destroy the animal. If such animal is returned to its owner, the owner shall pay the cost of impoundment.

351.40 Quarantine.

If a local board of health believes rabies to be epidemic, or believes there is a threat of epidemic, in its jurisdiction, it may declare a quarantine in all or part of the area under its jurisdiction and such declaration shall be reported to the Iowa department of public health. During the period of quarantine, any person owning or having a dog in the person's possession in the quarantined area shall keep such animal securely enclosed or on a leash for the duration of the quarantine period.

351.41 Not a limitation on power of municipalities and counties.

This chapter does not limit the power of any city or county to prohibit dogs and other animals from running at large, whether or not they have been vaccinated for rabies, and does not limit the power of any city or county to provide additional measures for the restriction of dogs and other animals for the control of rabies and for other purposes.

351.42 Exempt dogs.

Dogs that are under the control of the owner or handlers and which are in transit, or are to be exhibited shall be exempt from the vaccination provisions of these sections if they are within the state for less than thirty days. Dogs assigned to a research institution or a like facility shall be exempt from the provisions of sections 351.33 to 351.43.

351.43 Penalty.

Any person refusing to comply with the provisions of sections 351.33 to 351.42 or violating any of their provisions, shall be deemed guilty of a simple misdemeanor.