Whenever any animal bites a person, the person so bitten and the owner of the animal shall immediately notify the Enforcement Officer, who shall quarantine the animal, order the animal held on the owner’s premises if the animal meets the home quarantine guidelines, and is current on rabies vaccinations and on licensing, or shall have it impounded for at least 10 calendar days from the date of the bite, or a longer period if necessary for a complete examination. If it is determined that the animal is infected with rabies or other dangerous, contagious and infectious disease, it shall be the duty of the Enforcement Officer to destroy the animal in a humane manner. If the animal is surrendered by the owner to the Animal Control Division and the animal is acting aggressively or unpredictably, the animal will be humanely euthanized and its head will be forwarded to the Arizona Department of Health Services for rabies testing. If the animal dies during the period of quarantine or impoundment, its head shall be forwarded to the Arizona Department of Health Services for examination. It is unlawful for a person either to refuse surrender of the animal for quarantine, or to fail to abide by the home-quarantine provisions of this section. If at the end of the quarantine period, it is determined to not be infected with rabies or other dangerous, contagious or infectious diseases, the animal shall be released to its owner.
(Ord, 1465, passed 12-4-2018)