(A) Every animal which bites a person shall be promptly reported to the Chief of Police and shall thereupon be securely quarantined at the direction of the Chief of Police for a period of 14 days, and shall not be released from the quarantine except by written permission of the city.
(1) In the discretion of the Chief of Police, the quarantine may be on the premises of the owner or at the veterinary hospital of his or her choice.
(2) If the animal is quarantined on the premises of the owner, the city shall have access to the animal at any reasonable time for study and observation of rabies symptoms.
(3) In the case of a stray animal or, in the case of an animal whose ownership is not known, the quarantine shall be at the animal pound, or at the discretion of the Chief of Police the animal may be confined in a veterinary hospital designated by him or her.
(B) The owners, upon demand made by any city employee empowered by the Council to enforce this section, shall forthwith surrender any animal which has bitten a human, or which is suspected as having been exposed to rabies, for the purpose of supervised quarantine. The expenses of the quarantine shall be borne by the owner and the animal may be reclaimed by the owner if adjudged free of rabies upon payment of fees set forth in this section and upon compliance with licensing provisions set forth in this section.
(C) When an animal under quarantine and diagnosed as being rabid or suspected by a licensed veterinarian as being rabid dies or is killed, the city shall immediately send the head of the animal and rabies data report to the State Health Department for pathological examination and shall notify all persons concerned of the results of the examination.
(D) The city shall issue a proclamation and that action when rabies is suspected or exists as is required by state statutes.
(2003 Code, § 8.05-14)