(A) Whenever it becomes necessary to safeguard the public from the dangers of hydrophobia or rabies, the Mayor, if the Mayor deems it necessary, shall issue a proclamation ordering every owner of an animal to confine the animal securely on the owner’s premises at all times, for such period as deemed necessary.
(2013 Code, § 6-30)
(B) (1) It shall be the duty of every physician or other practitioner in the city to make written report to the Police Department of the name and address of any person treated for a bite inflicted by an animal, together with such other information as will assist in the prevention of rabies.
(2) It shall be the duty of every veterinarian in the city to report to the Animal Warden any diagnosis of rabies in an animal made by him or her or under his or her supervision.
(3) It shall be the duty of the owner of any animal or any person having knowledge of such animal biting or causing a skin abrasion upon any person in the city to promptly report such fact to the Animal Warden.
(2013 Code, § 6-31)
(C) (1) The Animal Warden shall impound animals in the city suspected of being infected with rabies or other disease communicable to humans or any animal that has bitten or caused a skin abrasion upon any person in the city and cause such animals to be placed in isolation and under quarantine for observation for a minimum period of ten days. The isolation and quarantine shall be either at the pound or humane shelter authorized by the city or in a veterinary hospital. However, if such animal has an effective vaccination against rabies given not less than 30 days and not having expired prior to the date of bite or skin abrasion, and the animal was not at large at the time of bite, it may be placed in the custody of the owner on the owner’s premises during the isolation and quarantine period. When isolation and quarantine is authorized on the owner’s premises, it will be at the discretion of and under the supervision of the Animal Warden.
(2) The expense of isolation and quarantine will be borne by the owner. If the animal is placed in isolation and under quarantine in the pound or humane shelter authorized by the city, an additional charge shall be assessed.
(2013 Code, § 6-32)
(D) Every owner or person having possession, custody or control of any animal which is known to be rabid or which has been bitten by an animal infected with rabies shall immediately report such fact to the Police Department or Animal Warden and shall have such animal placed in isolation and quarantine as directed by the Animal Warden for such period as designated at the owner’s expense.
(2013 Code, § 6-33)
(E) The owner of any animal shall forthwith surrender any animal which has bitten a human or any animal which is suspected as having been exposed to rabies for supervised quarantine at the owner’s expense as provided in division (C) above, upon demand of the Animal Warden, police officer or City Attorney’s office. No person shall kill any animal suspected of being rabid or remove the animal from the city without permission of the Animal Warden.
(2013 Code, § 6-34)
(Ord. 9073, passed 6-25-1956; Ord. 12017, passed 4-11-1972; Ord. 14707, passed 3-10-2003)