(A) Anyone who strikes a pet with a motor vehicle or bicycle and injures or kills the pet must, if the owner thereof cannot be found, notify the Animal Control Officer immediately. The Animal Control Officer will then take the necessary steps to provide for the proper treatment or disposal of the pet.
(B) The city is authorized to enter into agreements with licensed veterinarians for the care of injured pets. If the owner cannot be located, the city will pay for reasonable expenses incurred.
(C) Any pet received by a veterinarian in critical condition from wounds, injuries or disease may be destroyed at the veterinarian's discretion if the owner cannot be contacted within 12 hours. If the pet is suffering great pain, it may be destroyed immediately.
(D) The owner of any pet which dies shall immediately provide for its burial or cremation if the owner knows of its death and the location of its remains. If the owner fails to do so within three hours, the Animal Control Officer shall arrange for the disposal and the owner shall be required to pay the cost thereof.
(E) The city shall collect, or cause to be collected, all dead domestic animals found on public grounds or highways of the city. If the animal is identifiable, the city will notify the owner of the animal as soon as practical.
(F) No person shall kill, or cause to be killed, any rabid animal, or one suspected of having been exposed to rabies or which has bitten a person, nor remove the animal from the jurisdiction of the county without written permission of the Health Department. An exception to the preceding requirement is in the event of the possibility of the animal's escape or additional biting, in which case the animal is to be killed and the County Health Department notified immediately.
(G) (1) In the event a suspect stray animal has bitten a person, the animal will be seized and the county Health Department contacted for necessary forms for processing.
(2) The animal will then be taken to a consenting veterinarian who will euthanize the animal and remove the head.
(3) Once the head is removed, the county Health Department will pick up and ship the head to the state authorities for examination.
(1985 Code, § 4-12) (Ord. 94-005, passed 9-13-1994) Penalty, see § 10.99