(a) Reporting Suspected Rabid Animals. Any person who suspects that a dog, cat or other domestic animal is infected with rabies shall report this information to the Police Department, describing the animal and giving the name of the owner (if known) and location.
(b) Area-Wide Rabies Quarantines.
(1) Area Confinement Order.
If a district is quarantined for rabies, all dogs, cats or ferrets within the Village of Edgar shall be kept securely confined, tied, leashed or muzzled. Any dog, cat or other domestic animal not confined, tied, leashed or muzzled is declared a public nuisance and may be impounded. All officers shall cooperate in the enforcement of the quarantine. The Village Administrator shall promptly post in at least three (3) public places in the Village notices of quarantine.
(2) Exemption of Vaccinated Animals from Village Quarantine.
An animal which is immunized currently against rabies, as evidenced by a valid certificate of rabies vaccination or other evidence, is exempt from the Village quarantine provisions of Subsection (a) if a rabies vaccination tag or substitute tag is attached to the animal's collar.
(c) Quarantine or Sacrifice of an Animal Suspected of Biting a Person or Being Infected or Exposed to Rabies.
(1) Quarantine or Sacrifice.
A law enforcement or animal control officer shall order an quarantined if the officer has reason to believe that the animal bit a person, is infected with rabies or has been in contact with a rabid animal. If a quarantine cannot be imposed because the animal cannot be captured or such animal exhibits actual signs of rabies, the officer may kill the animal. The officer shall attempt to kill the animal in a humane manner and in a manner which avoids damage to the animal's head. No person shall interfere with Village of Edgar authorities or agents in carrying out their duties in this regard. All expenses thus incurred shall be paid by the owner or the person having custody of such animal.
(2) Sacrifice of other animals.
a. An officer may order killed or may kill an animal other than an animal if the officer has reason to believe that the animal bit a person or is infected with rabies.
b. Any domesticated wild animal that has bitten any person, inclusive of, but not limited to, wolf-dog hybrids, skunks and raccoons, shall be immediately destroyed by a licensed veterinarian and the proper specimen from the animal tested for rabies by the State Laboratory of Hygiene. All expenses connected therewith shall be charged to the owner or custodian of the animal.
(d) Quarantine Procedures; Law Enforcement Dog Exception.
(1) Vaccinated Animal Bite Incidents.
Any animal which has bitten any person, and whose owner shows evidence of a current rabies inoculation, shall be quarantined at such place as designated by law enforcement or health authorities for a minimum period of ten (10) days. The animal shall be examined by and under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian within twenty-four (24) hours of a quarantine notice and again on the tenth (10th) day after the incident. If, in the opinion of law enforcement or health authorities, the vaccinated animal cannot be confined securely at the residence of its owner or custodian, or exhibits signs of illness as determined by a licensed veterinarian, the animal shall be quarantined at a veterinary hospital under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
(2) Unvaccinated Animal Bite Incidents.
Any animal which has bitten any person and which does not display evidence of rabies inoculation shall be quarantined within twenty-four (24) hours of the quarantine order at a veterinary hospital under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian for a minimum of ten (10) days. "Supervision of a licensed veterinarian" includes, at a minimum, examination of the animal on the first day of isolation and on the last day of isolation. If the veterinarian certifies that the animal has not exhibited any signs of rabies, the animal may be released from quarantine at the end of the observation period. After such period of time, such veterinarian shall report his/her determination or findings thereof in writing.
(3) Risk to Animal Health Due to Suspected Exposure to a Rabid Animal.
a. If an animal is ordered to be quarantined because there is reason to believe that the animal has been exposed to a rabid animal and if the animal is not currently immunized against rabies, the custodian of an isolation facility or the owner shall keep the animal leashed or confined for one hundred eighty (180) days. The owner shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies between one hundred fifty- five (155) and one hundred sixty-five (165) days after the exposure to a rabid animal.
b. If an animal is ordered to be quarantined because there is reason to believe that the animal has been exposed to a rabid animal but if the animal is immunized against rabies, the custodian of an isolation facility or the owner shall keep the animal leashed or confined for sixty (60) days. The owner shall have the animal revaccinated against rabies as soon as possible after exposure to a rabid animal.
c. No person shall keep or harbor any dog or other domesticated animal, whether licensed or not, which is known to be, or when there is good reason to believe the same to be, mad, rabid, vicious or dangerous to the public.
(4) Destruction of an Animal Exhibiting Symptoms of Rabies.
If a veterinarian determines that an animal exhibits symptoms of rabies during the original or extended observation period, the veterinarian shall notify the owner and the officer who ordered the animal quarantined and the officer or veterinarian shall kill the animal in a humane manner and in a manner which avoids damage to the animal's head. If the animal is suspected to have bitten a person, the veterinarian shall notify the person or the person's physician.
(5) Law Enforcement Dog Exception.
The quarantine requirements of this Subsection does not apply to a dog used by a law enforcement agency and which bites a person while the dog is performing law enforcement factions if the dog is immunized against rabies as evidenced by a valid certificate of rabies vaccination or other evidence. The agency shall make the dog available for examination at any reasonable time. The law enforcement agency shall notify the local health authorities if the dog exhibits any abnormal behavior.
(e) Delivery of Carcass; Preparation; Examination by Laboratory of Hygiene.
An officer who kills an animal shall deliver the carcass to a veterinarian or local health department. The veterinarian or local health department shall prepare the carcass, properly prepare and package the head of the animal in a manner to minimize deterioration, arrange for delivery by the most expeditious means feasible of the head of the animal to the State Laboratory of Hygiene and dispose of or arrange for the disposal of the remainder of the carcass in a manner which minimizes the risk or exposure to any rabies virus. The State Laboratory of Hygiene shall examine the specimen and determine if the animal was infected with rabies. The State Laboratory of Hygiene shall notify the Village of Edgar, the veterinarian or local health department which prepared the carcass and, if the animal is suspected to have bitten a person, that person or the person's physician.
(f) Cooperation of Veterinarian.
Any practicing veterinarian who is requested to be involved in the rabies control program by an officer is encouraged to cooperate in a professional capacity with the Village of Edgar, the State Laboratory of Hygiene, the applicable health department, the officer involved and, if the animal is suspected to have bitten a person, the person's physician.
(g) Responsibility for Quarantine and Laboratory Expenses.
The owner of an animal is responsible for any expenses incurred in connection with keeping the animal in an isolation facility, supervision and examination of the animal by a veterinarian, preparation of the carcass for laboratory examination and the fee for the laboratory examination.
(h) State Laws Adopted by Reference.
The provisions of Sec. 95.21 and Chs. 173 and 174, Wis. Stats., insofar as the same are applicable and exclusive of penalties, are incorporated by reference and made a part of this Section with the same force and effect as those set forth verbatim herein. Any amendments to those sections shall be adopted by reference as if they were fully set forth herein.
State Law Reference:
Secs. 95.21 and 174.02(3), Wis. Stats.