(a) If any person alleges that any animal has bitten, scratched or otherwise attacked any person, he shall report the incident to the ACD at which time a bite report will be completed, documenting the circumstances of the bite. The ACD shall, as soon as feasible, impound such animal for quarantine purposes for at least 240 hours from the time of the incident. If the custodian of the animal refuses to release the animal for quarantine, the ACD shall obtain a warrant for the seizure and quarantine of the animal from any magistrate.
(b) Custodians of animals that do not exhibit symptoms of rabies may request permission from the ACD to home quarantine such animal. The ACD will review and determine on a case by case basis whether an animal qualifies for home quarantine.
(c) If there is uncertainty regarding whether a wound is the result of an animal bite, the complainant shall be required to sign a notarized affidavit before the ACD will institute impoundment and quarantine.
(d) Impoundment at any approved facility for rabies quarantine purposes shall be at the expense of the custodian of the impounded animal. If a custodian of a quarantined animal cannot be identified and located within a reasonable length of time, the victim, at his option, instead of continuing quarantine, may elect to have the animal examined by a veterinarian or to have the animal destroyed and the tissue submitted for laboratory examination, and the costs so incurred shall be borne by the victim.
(e) It shall be unlawful for the custodian of any animal subject to this section to fail to turn over the animal for quarantine, or refuse to allow the quarantine of such animal, or in any way attempt to interfere with such impoundment or quarantine.
(f) Unvaccinated animals should not be vaccinated against rabies during the 240 hour observation period; however, animals may be treated for unrelated medical problems diagnosed by a veterinarian.
(Prior Code, § 3-43; Ord. of 8-26-1975; Ord. of 11-8-2005; Ord. of 8-24-2010)