(a) Every animal which bites a person shall be promptly reported to the Animal Warden, and shall thereupon be examined by a practicing veterinarian and securely confined for clinical observation. After a laboratory confirmed case of rabies has occurred within the last twelve months, such confinement shall be for a period of at least twenty-one successive days at the owner's expense and on the owner's premises under the supervision of the Animal Warden.
(b) Dogs having been vaccinated within three years with CEO (chick-embryo rabies vaccine) or within one year with phenolized vaccine, may be confined on the premises of the owner, isolated from all individuals other than the immediate family. The animal must be examined by a practicing veterinarian on the first and tenth days after the bite and a written report sent to the Animal Warden. Confinement must also be on the premises of the owner as provided in this subsection if there has been no laboratory confirmed case of rabies during the past twelve months within the county.
(c) The owner, upon demand by the Animal Warden, shall forthwith surrender any animal which has bitten a human being, or which is suspected of having been exposed to rabies, for supervised confinement, the expense of which shall be borne by the owner. Such animal may be reclaimed by the owner if it is adjudged free of rabies upon payment of the actual costs incurred for such confinement.
(d) When rabies has been diagnosed in an animal confined for clinical observation, when rabies is suspected by a practicing veterinarian, or if the animal dies while under observation, the head of such animal shall be sent to the Ohio State Health Department by the local health authorities for pathological examination and the proper public health officer shall be notified of reports of human contacts and the diagnosis.
(e) When a positive diagnosis of rabies has been made, the Animal Warden shall recommend an area-wide quarantine for a period of ten days, during which time all animals must be on a leash. All pets shall be under restraint of the owner. During such quarantine, no animal may be taken or shipped away from the Municipality without written permission of the Animal Warden. During this quarantine period and as long afterward as he decides it is necessary to prevent the spread of rabies, the Animal Warden may require that all dogs, three months of age and older, shall be vaccinated against rabies by an accredited veterinarian with a canine rabies vaccine approved by the Biologics Control Section of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The types of approved canine anti-rabies vaccine to be used and the recognized duration of immunity for each shall be established by any qualified health officer or veterinarian. All vaccinated dogs shall be restricted, by leashing or confinement on enclosed premises for thirty days after vaccination. During the quarantine period the health officer or veterinarian shall be empowered to provide for a program of mass immunization by the establishment of temporary emergency canine rabies vaccination clinics strategically located throughout the area of the health jurisdiction.
(f) Dogs bitten by a known rabid animal shall be immediately destroyed. If the owner is unwilling to destroy the exposed animal, strict isolation and observation of the animal shall be enforced at the owner's expense for a period of six months. If the dog has been previously vaccinated, revaccination and restraint, leashing and confinement, for thirty days shall be carried out.
In the event that there are additional cases of rabies occurring during the period of the quarantine, such quarantine may be extended for additional six-month periods.
(g) No person shall kill or cause to be killed any rabid animal, any animal suspected of having been exposed to rabies or any animal biting a human being, except as herein provided, nor remove such animal from the Municipal limits without written permission from the Animal Warden.
(h) The carcass of any animal exposed to rabies shall upon demand be surrendered to the Animal Warden.
(i) The Animal Warden shall direct the disposition of any animal found to be infected with rabies.
(j) No person shall fail or refuse to surrender any animal for quarantine or destruction as required herein when demand is made therefor by the Animal Warden.
(k) Every physician or other medical practitioner shall report to the Animal Warden the names and addresses of persons treated for bites inflicted by animals, together with such information as will be helpful in rabies control.
(l) Every veterinarian shall notify the Animal Warden promptly upon presentation of any suspected rabid animal or any animal presented for quarantine examination, and at the termination of quarantine shall submit a written report to the Animal Warden. During the quarantine period any animal showing clinical signs of rabies shall be reported immediately to the Animal Warden. (Ord. 25-73. Passed 5-1-73. )
(m) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.