[Amended 5-29-2001 by Ord. No. 14-2001; 7-27-2009 by Ord. No. 39-2009; 10-12-2020 by Ord. No. 65-2020]
A. Animal bite incidents shall be reported to the Property Maintenance Division and the City Health Officer by the animal owner or the victim providing the name and address of the victim, telephone number if known, age of the victim, the time and the date of the biting incident, the type of animal and the name and address of the attending physician. When known, the report shall include the name and address of the animal owner.
B. Any animal which bites or attacks a human being shall be confined in quarters approved by the City's animal control authority, property maintenance inspector or a police officer. The animal shall be detained and isolated in an approved kennel or at the animal owner's property or at another location approved by the investigating officer. Where the animal is detained is at the discretion of the investigating officer. All animals so detained must be isolated for a minimum of 10 days. Any costs incurred in the detaining and isolation of the animal shall be paid by the offending animal's owner or keeper or both. If the animal's owner or keeper is not known, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is responsible for all reasonable costs for holding and detaining the animal.
(1) Within the ten-day quarantine period, the owner shall arrange to have the animal examined by a licensed veterinarian, and return his signed diagnosis and/or opinion to the Property Maintenance Division and the City Health Officer on the notice form provided.
(2) In the event that the animal dies within the quarantine period, it shall be the owner's responsibility to report the animal's death to the examining veterinarian and to the Property Maintenance Division and the City Health Officer, and further make available the dead carcass for further examination.
(3) No person shall destroy, or have destroyed, any animal involved in a biting incident that is being held within the ten-day quarantine period, unless approved by the Health Officer.
(4) No person shall house, maintain or kennel any animal involved in a biting incident during the ten-day quarantine period unless the owner or operator or person maintaining such housing facility shall be made aware of the animal biting incident and isolation facilities are provided for the animal.
Please also refer to Chapter 141 Animals, Part 2 Animal Control, § 203 Animal Bites and Attacks, § 211 Restraining of Dangerous Dogs, Aggressive Dogs and Vicious Animals and § 216 Aggressive Dog Vicious Animal and Dangerous Dog determination/permit required.