(a) Whenever any person is bitten by a dog or other animal, report of such bite shall be made to the Board of Health within twenty-four hours. Whenever it is reported to the Board of Health that any dog, cat or other animal has bitten a person, that dog, cat or animal, if available shall be quarantined under an order issued by the Board of Health. The dog or cat shall be quarantined by its owner or by a harborer, or shall be quarantined in a pound or kennel. In all cases, such quarantine shall be under the supervision of the Board of Health and shall be at the expense of the owner or harborer. Quarantine shall continue until the Health Commissioner determines that the dog or cat is not afflicted with rabies. The quarantine period hereby required shall not be less than ten days from the date on which the person was bitten. If at any time during the quarantine, the Board of Health requires the dog or cat to be examined for symptoms of rabies, then the examination shall be by a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine. The veterinarian shall report to the Board of Health the conclusions reached as a result of the examinations. The examination by a veterinarian shall be at the expense of the owner or harborer. No dog or cat shall be released from the required quarantine unless and until it has been properly vaccinated against rabies. No person shall fail to comply with the requirements of this section or with any order of the Board of Health made pursuant thereto, nor fail to immediately report to the Board of Health any symptoms or behavior suggestive of rabies.
(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(Ord. 2012-07. Passed 2-27-12.)