(a) Whenever it is reported to the Health Commissioner that any dog or cat has bitten a person within the City limits, that dog or cat shall be quarantined, under an order issued by the Health Commissioner, by its owner, keeper or harborer, or shall be quarantined in a pound or kennel. In all cases, such quarantine shall be under the supervision of the Health Commissioner and shall be at the expense of the owner, keeper or harborer. Quarantine shall continue until the Health Commissioner of the health district in which the bite was inflicted 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 anytime during the quarantine, the Health Commissioner 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 Health Commissioner the conclusions reached as a result of examinations. The examination by a veterinarian shall be at the expense of the owner, keeper or harborer. No dog or cat shall be released from the required quarantine unless and until it has been properly vaccinated against rabies.
(b) If any quarantined dog or cat dies before the quarantine period expires, then the head of the dog or cat shall be submitted to the State Department of Health Laboratories for rabies examination.
(c) If the owner, keeper or harborer of the dog or cat is unknown, the Health Commissioner may direct that the dog or cat be killed, in which case the head of the dog or cat shall be submitted to the State Department of Health laboratories for rabies examination.
(d) Whenever it is reported to the Health Commissioner that any other animal that is commonly known to transmit rabies has bitten a person, the Health Commissioner at his or her discretion may direct the immediate killing of such animal by a suitable humane method. The head of the animal shall then be submitted to the State Department of Health Laboratories for rabies examination.
(Ord. 1986-01. Passed 1-14-86.)