(A) The owners of any dog or other animal which exhibits symptoms of rabies and any dog or other animal in direct contact with such dog or other animal, whether or not such dog or other animal has been vaccinated, shall immediately notify the administrator and shall promptly confine such dog or other animal, or have it confined, under suitable observation, for a period of at least ten days, unless officially authorized by the administrator, in writing, to release it sooner.
(B) It is unlawful for any person having knowledge that any person has been bitten by a dog or other animal to refuse to notify the administrator promptly. It is unlawful for the owner of such dog or other animal to euthanize, sell, give away, or otherwise dispose of any such dog or other animal known to have bitten a person, until it is released by the administrator, or his or her designated agent or animal control officer.
(C) It is unlawful for the owner of such dog or other animal to refuse or fail to comply with the written or printed instructions made by the administrator, or his or her designated agent or animal control officer. If such instructions cannot be delivered in person, they shall be mailed to the owner of such dog or other animal by regular mail, postage prepaid. The affidavit or testimony of the administrator, or his or her designated agent, delivering or mailing such instructions is prima facie evidence that the owner of such dog or other animal was notified of his or her responsibilities.
(D) Any expense incurred in the handling of any dog or other animal under this section shall be borne by the owner.
(E) For the purpose of this section, the word IMMEDIATELY means by telephone, in person, or by other than use of the mail.
(F) (1) Any dog or cat that bites a person may be microchipped before the animal is released to the owner, or if the animal is already rabies vaccinated and quarantined at home, the animal may be microchipped after the ten-day quarantine period is finished.
(2) The owner is responsible for the microchip expense. In the event the owner fails to comply with the provisions hereof, the dog or cat will be impounded and owner charged for the impoundment fee, any boarding fees, and the microchip fee.
(Prior Code, § 5-5-17) (Ord. 688, passed 3-1-2010) Penalty, see § 94.99