A. The owner of an animal that bites a person and a person bitten by an animal have a duty to report that occurrence to the Animal Control Division within twenty four (24) hours of the occurrence. The owner of an animal that bites a person shall surrender said animal to an animal protection officer if the officer deems it necessary to impound said animal for a period of observation.
B. A physician who renders professional treatment to a person bitten by an animal shall report to the Animal Control Division that he has rendered professional treatment within twenty four (24) hours of his first professional attendance. The physician shall report the name and address of the person bitten as well as the type and location of the bite. The physician shall report the name and address of the owner of the animal that inflicted the bite, if known and any other facts or details that may assist the animal protection officer in ascertaining the immunization status of the animal.
C. An animal that bites a person shall be confined and observed for a period of ten (10) days from the date of the bite at the Animal Adoption Center, a veterinary hospital or an approved kennel. However, if the animal has a current vaccination for rabies, the Animal Control Division may permit quarantine of such animal at the owner's home. Home confinement shall not be permitted unless the premises have been inspected and approved for such purpose by the animal protection officer. If observance of the animal is denied or prevented, the animal shall immediately be confined at the Animal Adoption Center for the remainder of the quarantine period. The owner of the animal shall bear the cost of confinement. The owner of the animal shall be required to enter into an indemnity agreement on a form approved and prescribed by the City Manager for such home confinement.
D. If the animal shows signs of sickness, abnormal behavior, or if the animal escapes confinement, the person shall immediately notify the Animal Control Division. The person having custody of an animal that dies during the confinement period shall notify the Animal Control Division and surrender the carcass of the animal to an animal protection officer.
E. If an officer deems it necessary to impound an animal for observation for violation of the above conditions and/or severity of the bite, the owner cannot remove the animal from observation until the observation period is complete. The owner shall bear the cost of confinement.
F. The owner of any animal over three (3) months of age that has bitten a person shall be required to pay the reclaim fee, sterilization fee or provide proof of sterilization before the animal will be released from impound restrictions.
G. It is unlawful for a person to keep an animal known to have bitten any person on two (2) separate incidents. The owner has a duty to destroy said animal humanely or surrender such an animal to the Animal Control Division for proper humane euthanizing upon the order of the court. This does not include an animal which bites, attacks, or injures a person unlawfully upon its owner's premises, or where provoked. (Ord. 2017-10, 12-12-2017)