(A) Quarantine of unvaccinated dog or cat. Any unvaccinated dog or cat that bites any person shall be confined and quarantined for a period of not less than ten days. The quarantine period shall start on the day of the bite incident. If the day of the bite is not known, the quarantine period shall start on the first day of impoundment.
(B) Quarantine of properly vaccinated dog or cat. A dog or cat properly vaccinated that bites any person may be confined and quarantined at the home of the owner or wherever the dog or cat is harbored and maintained with the consent of and in a manner prescribed by the Animal Control Officer. The Animal Control Officer shall have the right to enter upon the owner’s premises to inspect the animal premises and cage for compliance with the quarantine procedure as described herein, and may remove the animal to the Humane Society or other appropriate location at any time when the Animal Control Officer determines that quarantine and confinement precautions taken by the owner are insufficient to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the town and surrounding areas.
(C) Quarantine of other domestic animals. Any domestic animal, other than a dog, cat, a caged or pet rodent or rabbit, that bites any person shall be confined and quarantined in a county pound or the Humane Society, or, upon the request and at the expense of the owner, at a veterinary hospital, for a period of not less than 14 days. Livestock shall be confined and quarantined for the 14-day period in a manner regulated by the Arizona Department of Agriculture.
(D) Wild animals. With the exception of a wild rodent or rabbit, any wild animal that bites any person or directly exposes any person to its saliva, may be killed and submitted to the Animal Control Officer or other law enforcement official for transport to an appropriate diagnostic laboratory. A wild rodent or rabbit may be submitted for laboratory testing if the animal has bitten a person and either the animal’s health or behavior indicates that the animal may have rabies or the bite occurred in an area that contains a rabies epizootic, as determined by local, county or state authorities.
(E) Report of bite. Whenever an animal bites any person, the incident shall be reported to the Animal Control Officer immediately by any person having knowledge thereof. It is unlawful for any person, other than the Animal Control Officer or other law enforcement officer in an emergency warranting such destruction, to destroy or dispose of any dog or other animal which has bitten any person or animal within a period of not less than ten days after such biting.
(F) Destruction of animal by consent.
(1) The Animal Control Officer or other law enforcement officer, county pound or town humane shelter may destroy any animal confined and quarantined pursuant to this section prior to the termination of the minimum confinement period for laboratory examination for rabies if the following conditions exist:
(a) The animal shows clear clinical signs of rabies.
(b) The animal’s owner consents to its destruction.
(2) The owner of the animal shall be responsible for the cost of such destruction and shall reimburse either the Humane Society or town therefor, whichever entity incurs the expense. In the event that the owner fails to so reimburse the proper entity as herein provided, that failure shall be deemed a violation of this chapter and shall be subject to enforcement under the terms hereof.
(G) Destruction of animal by court order.
(1) A duly licensed veterinarian shall destroy a vicious animal upon an order of a justice of the peace or town magistrate. A justice of the peace or town magistrate may issue such an order after notice to the owner, if the owner is known or can be located, and if the owner is located, after a hearing.
(2) The owner of the animal shall be responsible for the cost of destruction. In the event that either the Humane Society or town incurs any expense in connection with the destruction of an animal pursuant to court order, the owner of the animal shall reimburse the proper entity for the expense. In the event that the owner fails to so reimburse the proper entity as herein provided, failure shall be deemed a violation of this chapter and shall be subject to enforcement under the terms hereof.
(H) Delivery or pick-up of animal for impoundment and quarantine. The owner of any dog or other animal that has bitten a person may voluntarily deliver the dog or other animal to the Animal Control Officer at the Humane Society for the mandated quarantine period. The owner of the dog or other animal shall be responsible for the cost of maintenance, vaccination, licensing and any other costs as may be incurred during the quarantine period of the dog or other animal. In addition, should the owner of the dog or other animal fail to voluntarily deliver the dog or other animal and it becomes necessary for the Animal Control Officer to pick up the dog or other animal for quarantine, the owner thereof shall, in addition to any quarantine expenses, be responsible for the cost of picking up the dog or other animal.
(I) Disposition of animal following quarantine. Upon the failure of the owner of any quarantined dog or other animal to obtain release of the dog or other animal, the animal shall become the property of the Humane Society for disposition as provided in this section. Failure shall include failing to pay all charges and costs of quarantine on the tenth day of the quarantine period, including compliance with all licensing provisions herein by paying a current license fee if the dog is not currently licensed as required herein, as well as providing proof of compliance with all vaccination provisions herein within 15 days following the animal’s release from the Humane Society.
(`82 Code, § 6-2-11) (Ord. 500, passed 6-26-97; Am. Res. 2793, passed 8-14-14; Am. Ord. 854, passed 8-14-14) Penalty, see § 90.99