(A) If a dog or cat or other animal, without provocation, attacks or injures any person or other animal who is at any place where he or she may lawfully be, the owner or custodian of the attacking dog, cat or other animal is liable for damages to the injured person or animal and all fees and fines incurred in the investigation of the attack by the Administrator or animal control warden or any other law enforcement officer.
(B) Any person who has knowledge that another person or animal has been bitten by a dog or cat or other animal shall notify the Administrator or animal control warden or law enforcement officer immediately. Failure to do so is a violation of this chapter.
(C) It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of a dog, cat or other animal that has bitten a person or another animal, to terminate, sell, give away, hide, transfer to an unknown place, or otherwise dispose of the animal, until it has been examined and released by the Administrator or animal control officer.
(D) When the Administrator or animal control warden receives information that a person or animal has been bitten by an animal, he or she shall investigate the report, and if no proof is presented that the attacking animal has been inoculated for rabies, he or she may impound or confine the animal under observation of a licensed veterinarian for a period of ten days. The investigating animal control warden shall attempt to determine the owner or custodian of the animal and obtain his or her name, address and a description, breed, age, sex of his or her animal, and provide this information to the licensed veterinarian who is observing the animal.
(E) When, during investigation of an animal bite of a person or animal, evidence is presented (rabies tag or rabies certificate) that the attacking animal was inoculated against rabies within the time prescribed by law, the Administrator or animal control warden may allow the attacking animal to be confined in the house of the owner or custodian or within an enclosure as defined in this chapter for a period of ten days.
(F) At the end of a confinement period described above, the animal shall be examined by the Administrator or another licensed veterinarian to determine if the animal is infected by rabies and shall make a report to the victim or his or her attending physician or health agency. Also, the Administrator or animal control warden will then determine the final disposition of the biting animal. They shall do one of the following:
(1) Return the animal to the owner or custodian;
(2) Declare the animal as vicious and order it held in an enclosure as defined in this chapter; or
(3) Humanely terminate the animal.
(G) In all cases, the animal shall not be released until all expenses, fees and fines for violations of this chapter are paid in full.
(1986 Code, § 6.16.030) (Ord. 1514, passed - -1999) Penalty, see § 90.999