If the sheriff of Mineral County, his designate or the animal control officer has reasonable cause to believe a dog or cat is rabid or that a dog or cat has been bitten by any animal suspected of having rabies, such dog or cat shall be forthwith confined by the animal control officer and placed under the observation of a veterinarian for a period of two (2) weeks at the expense of the owner of such dog or cat. It is unlawful for the owner of a dog or cat to fail to notify the sheriff of Mineral County or the animal control officer of the probable or possible exposure to rabies of his dog or cat. (MC Ord. 102A § 2, 1986)