618.11 ANIMAL BITES; QUARANTINE AND REPORTING.

   (a)   Whenever any animal bites any person or any animal, the Ohio Department of Health, Cuyahoga County Board of Health or the Animal Control Officer may order such animal quarantined for a period extending not longer than ten days or longer as determined by a representative of the Ohio Department of Health, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, or the Animal Control Officer at the time of the biting. Any owner or person in custody or possession of such animal who fails to comply with such quarantine order shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. All expenses incurred for the keeping of such animal or the necessary tests to determine whether rabies exists, shall be borne exclusively by the owner or keeper of such animal. No person, having knowledge of the existence of any rabies, or the fact that any animal has bitten any other person or animal, shall fail to immediately report such information to the Animal Control Officer, Board of Health or Police Department.

   (b)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. Punishment shall be as provided in Section 698.02. (Ord. 1999-18. Passed 4-13-99.)