A. Any person with knowledge that an animal has bitten a human shall promptly make a report of the bite to the animal control officer.
B. Every physician or other medical practitioner shall report to the animal control officer the name and address of any person treated for an animal bite.
C. Upon suspicion that a person has sustained a bite that may have exposed the person to rabies, the animal control officer shall order that the biting animal be quarantined for no less than ten (10) days. If the animal control officer does not believe the biting animal has been exposed to rabies, the animal control officer may, at his or her sole and absolute discretion, allow the animal to be quarantined on the premises of the owner. If the biting animal is not quarantined on the premises of the owner, quarantine shall occur at a veterinary hospital, veterinarian's office of the owner's choice, or at any other place approved by the animal control officer, all at the owner's expense. The biting animal shall not be released from quarantine except by permission of the animal control officer.
D. If the animal control officer suspects an animal has been exposed to rabies, the animal control officer may immediately seize the animal for placement in quarantine at a veterinary hospital or veterinarian's office, all at the owner's expense. The owner can only reclaim the animal upon compliance with the licensing provisions of this chapter, payment of any accrued quarantine fees, and confirmation that the animal is free of rabies.
E. If a quarantined animal dies while under observation and a veterinarian has diagnosed a quarantined animal as rabid or suspects the animal is rabid, the veterinarian or the animal control officer shall promptly send the animal's head to a competent laboratory for pathological examination. The animal control officer shall notify the proper public health office of the examination results as well as any reports of the animal's contact with humans. (Ord. 3282, 7-13-2020)