(A) If any person is a victim of an animal bite, he or she shall immediately notify the Town Marshal’s office of the incident, and provide a description of the animal and the identification, if possible, of the owner. When an animal is determined to have bitten a person, the animal shall be confined in quarantine for a period of not less than 10 days.
(B) If the owner of an animal which has bitten a person has proof of current rabies inoculation, the animal may be left in the charge of the owner under quarantine unless, in the judgment of the Town Marshal and based upon consideration of public safety, he or she determines it should be removed to an animal shelter or veterinary hospital for the period of observation.
(C) The owner shall be liable for all costs incurred in the quarantine of the animal and for any personal and property damage realized by the incident.
(D) If the ownership of the biting animal cannot be determined, or if the owner does not furnish proof of current rabies inoculation, the animal shall be impounded for the period of observation of not less than 10 days.
(E) The Town Marshal shall be empowered to enter onto private property for the purpose of impounding animal(s) which are known to have bitten a person and shall obtain legal process to do so if necessary.
(F) The Town Marshal shall send quarterly reports of all these bite cases and animals struck by motor vehicles, listing date, location, and type of animal involved, to the Town Council.
(G) Unless otherwise provided, the town and any of its agents shall comply with the standards set forth in I.C. 15-2.1-6, entitled “Rabies.”
(1996 Code, § 6-45) (Ord. 1996-4, passed 11-15-1996) Penalty, see § 91.99
Statutory reference:
Dog bite liability, see I.C. 15-5-12-1
Impoundment and expenses of confining animals, see I.C. 15-2.1-6-7
Periods of confinement for animals, see I.C. 15-2.1-6-11