(A) Every person, including veterinarians, who knows, learns or suspects that a warm- blooded animal has bitten, scratched or caused an abrasion of the skin of any human being shall immediately report that fact to the County Health Department. All reports must be submitted on a form approved by the County Health Department entitled “Animal Bite Report”. Upon receipt of an “Animal Bite Report”, the Environmental Health Division of the County Health Department shall contact the owner of the animal and determine whether or not the animal is being confined as required by this chapter.
(B) Every person, including veterinarians who discovers or suspects that a warm-blooded animal has rabies shall immediately report the fact to the County Health Department giving the name and address of the owner of the animal and the license number, if any, of the animal.
(C) Any warm-blooded animal which has bitten, scratched or caused an abrasion of the skin of any human being and any warm-blooded animal that is known or suspected of being rabid shall be confined for a period of not less than ten days. All animals which are required to be confined shall be confined in a completely enclosed building or secure enclosure with no means of escape. If the owner cannot confine the animal in a completely enclosed building or secure enclosure with no means of escape, then the owner must confine the animal at a place which is approved by the Environmental Health Division of the County Health Department. The cost of confinement is the owner’s responsibility.
(D) If a warm-blooded animal has bitten a human being or is known or suspected of being rabid and its owner is unknown or refuses to confine the animal as required herein, then the animal shall be confined in the County Animal Shelter. The owner of any animal so confined shall be responsible for the costs of confinement.
(E) It shall be unlawful for the owner of any warm-blooded animal, when notified that the animal has bitten, scratched or caused an abrasion of the skin of any human being or when notified by any person that the animal is suspected of being rabid, to sell, give away or allow the animal to escape or be taken beyond the limits of the county, but it shall be the duty of the owner upon receiving the notice to confine the animal for at least ten days as set forth herein.
(F) After the expiration of at least ten days of confinement and prior to release from confinement, the animal must be examined by a licensed doctor of medicine or veterinarian who shall certify that the animal is not rabid. The certification which states that the animal is not rabid must be presented to the Environmental Health Division of the County Health Department within four days of the examination. If the Environmental Health Division of the County Health Department determines that the animal is no longer suspected of being rabid, the animal may be released from confinement. The owner of the animal is responsible for certification. If the owner is unknown or refuses to pay these costs, the person, firm, agency or corporation which has contracted with the Board of Commissioners or Animal Control Commission to provide the animal control services shall be responsible for the cost of certification.
(G) If it should be determined that an animal is rabid, then it shall be killed by a licensed veterinarian. The head of the animal shall be removed and transported to the State Board of Health. The cost of the removal of the head and transportation of the head shall be the responsibility of the owner. If the owner of the animal is unknown or refuses to pay the cost of removal of the head and transportation of the head, and the animal is a dog, then the township trustee shall be responsible for these costs. If the animal is not a dog, the person, firm, agency or corporation which has contracted with the Board of Commissioners to provide animal control services shall be responsible for these costs.
(H) If any animal shall die while being confined as required by this section, the head of the animal shall be removed by a veterinarian and transported to the State Board of Health. The cost of removal of the head and transportation of the head shall be the responsibility of the owner. If the owner of the animal is unknown or refuses to pay the cost of removal of the head, and the animal is a dog, then the township trustee shall be responsible for these costs. If the animal is not a dog, the person, firm, agency or corporation which has contracted with the Board of Commissioners to provide animal control services shall be responsible for these costs.
(Prior Code, § 3-10) (Ord. 12-13-79A, passed 12-13-1979; Ord. 1980-7, passed 11-20-1980; Ord. 1987-16, passed 10-26-1987; Ord. 2021-06, passed 8-30-2021) Penalty, see § 92.99