(A) (1) Any animal which shows symptoms of rabies or which has bitten anyone shall be penned up immediately by its owner or by the person having charge of the animal or by the person sheltering, feeding, harboring or taking care of said animal, and the animal control officer or Johnston County Health Director shall be notified immediately.
(2) The animal shall be confined in a place and under conditions approved by the animal control officer or Johnston County Health Director for not less than 10 days. The animal shall be subject to observation by the animal control officer or person designated by him or her at all times during said period. An owner confining an animal on private property shall execute a waiver of any and all liability of the town, its agents or employees for any injury to person or property arising out of or by reason of such confinement.
(B) In lieu of the provisions of division (A) above, the owner of any such animal may, at his or her own expense, take such animal to any duly qualified and licensed veterinarian to be placed under observation for a period of 10 days at the expense of the owner or allow the animal to be impounded under the provisions of this chapter.
(C) All animals confined for suspicion of rabies as hereinabove provided shall be securely penned and separated from other animals at all times.
(D) If rabies does not develop within the aforesaid period of confinement, then the animal shall be released to his or her owner. But if symptoms develop justifying microscopic examination, then the animal shall be destroyed in a humane manner by the animal control officer or licensed veterinarian.
(Ord. 121, passed 11-11-1993)