(A) If any person is a victim of an animal bite, he or she shall immediately notify the county’s Health Department and/or the town’s Department of Code Enforcement 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 14 days.
(B) If the owner of an animal which has bitten a person has proof of current rabies inoculations, the animal may be left in the charge of the owner under quarantine unless, in the judgment of the humane officer, and based upon considerations of public safety, the humane officer determines if it should be removed to an animal shelter or veterinary hospital for the period of observation.
(C) In addition to any other legal obligations prescribed by law, the owner shall be liable for all costs incurred in the quarantine of the animal.
(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 under the authority of the town’s animal control agency and confined in the town’s animal control facility for a period of observation of not less than 14 days.
(E) Humane officers 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) Unless otherwise provided, the town and any of its agents shall comply with the standards set forth in I.C. 15-17-6, entitled “Rabies.”
(Prior Code, § 71.11) (Ord. 10-92, passed 11-9-1992) Penalty, see § 91.999