A. Isolation And Quarantine Of Suspect Animals:
1. It shall be the duty of the City animal services personnel authorized to impound animals in the City to cause to be placed in isolation and under quarantine for observation for a minimum period of ten (10) calendar days any animal that animal services personnel suspect of being infected with rabies or other diseases communicable to humans and also any animal that is known to have bitten or caused a skin abrasion upon any human in the City.
2. Such isolation and quarantine shall be either at the animal shelter or in a veterinary hospital, except if such animal is properly licensed and is currently vaccinated against rabies, the animal may be placed in the custody of the owner on the owner's premises during the isolation and quarantine period if the owner resides in the City. When isolation and quarantine is authorized on the owner's premises, it will be at the discretion of and under the direct supervision of the City.
3. The expense of isolation and quarantine at a veterinary hospital will be borne by the owner. If the animal is placed in isolation and under quarantine in an animal shelter authorized by the City, a fee shall be charged to the owner. Every owner or person having possession, custody or control of an animal known to be rabid or which has been bitten by an animal infected with rabies shall immediately report such fact to the City and shall have such animal placed in isolation and quarantine as directed by the City for such period as may be designated and at the expense of the owner.
B. Reports Required:
1. Physicians: It shall be the duty of every physician or other medical practitioner in the City to make written report to the City of the names and addresses of persons treated for bites inflicted by animals, together with such other information as will assist in the prevention of rabies.
2. Veterinarians: It shall be the duty of every veterinarian in the City to report to the City any diagnosis of animal rabies.
3. Owners: An owner of any animal or any person having knowledge of such animal biting or causing a skin abrasion upon any human in the City shall promptly report such fact to the City.
C. Emergency Proclamation: Whenever it becomes necessary to safeguard the public from the dangers of rabies, the City Council may issue a proclamation ordering every owner of an animal to confine the same securely on the owner's premises at all times for such period of time as is deemed necessary.
D. Duty To Report: Any person having knowledge of the presence of any disease among animals capable of being communicated to humans shall immediately report such knowledge to the County Health Officer. (Ord. 18-4767, 9-4-2018)