(A) If an animal is believed to have rabies or has been bitten by an animal suspected of having rabies or has bitten any individual who is not a member of the owner’s family, such animal shall be confined and shall be placed under the observation of a licensed veterinarian, animal control officer, or another agent as specified by the city at the expense of the owner for a period of at least ten days or as ordered by said licensed veterinarian, animal control officer, or another agent of the city. The owner of any animal shall notify the police of the fact that his or her animal has been exposed to rabies or has bitten an individual, and the animal control officer shall have such animal removed from the owner’s premises and placed under observation in the city pound or the Humane Society for a period of ten days at the expense of the owner.
(B) Whenever the governing body of the city or the animal control officer thereof has reason to believe that there is danger that rabies may spread within the municipality, the City Council shall publish a notice requiring owners of animals, and other specified animals in the area designated, to confine the animals for such period as may be necessary to prevent the spread of rabies. The City Council shall have the authority to quarantine, for a period not less than six months, any animal bitten by another animal known or suspected to have rabies, and to quarantine, for a period not to exceed ten days, any animals which have bitten a human being or which exhibit symptoms of rabies. The animal shall be held in a kennel as specified by the Police Department. If an animal that has bitten another person should become ill or die within the quarantine period, the owner shall be financially responsible for the expense of the animal being tested for rabies by a proper laboratory. All confinement imposed shall be of sufficient strength to hold such animal securely.
(C) If it is not reasonable under the circumstances to impound or to attempt to seize an animal reasonably believed to be rabid, the police officer or animal control officer has permission to destroy the animal immediately in any humane manner.
(Ord. 627, passed 9-12-2016)
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see SDCL §§ 9-29-3, 9-29-12, 9-29-13, 9-32-1