The city within it jurisdiction shall serve notice upon the owner of or person in charge of a dog, cat or other animal which has bitten a person so as to cause an abrasion of the skin, to confine the animal at the expense of the owner or person in charge of it at the city dog pound or at a veterinary hospital within Lea County, for at least ten days after the animal has attacked or bitten a person. If the owner of or person in charge of a dog or cat or other animal which has bitten a person so as to cause an abrasion of the skin produces a valid and unexpired certificate of vaccination for the animal issued under Section 77-1-3, N.M.S.A, 1978 Comp., as amended, evidencing vaccination at least three weeks prior to the bite, then the owner of or person in charge of such animal shall be permitted to keep the animal at his own premises for the required period of ten days if the district health officer has declared the city a rabies-free area. No animal may be released from confinement except by a person designated by the district health officer. (Amended during 1992 codification: Ord. 265, 1977: prior code § 10-3-19)