A. An animal that has rabies or shows signs of having rabies, and every animal bitten by another animal afflicted with rabies or that has been exposed to rabies, shall be reported by the owner, as set forth above, and shall immediately be confined in a secure place by the owner. The owner shall turn over the animal to the division upon demand, whereupon the division shall quarantine the animal for observation for a period of not less than ten (10) days. The owner of the animal shall bear all costs of quarantining the animal. Although the animal shelter or a veterinary kennel shall be the normal place for quarantine, other arrangements, including confinement by the owner, may be made by the director or his designee if the animal had a current rabies vaccination at the time the bite was inflicted or if there are other special circumstances justifying an exception. A person who has custody of an animal under quarantine shall immediately notify the division if the animal shows any signs of sickness or abnormal behavior, or if the animal escapes confinement. It shall be unlawful for any person who has custody of a quarantined animal to fail or refuse to allow a health or animal control officer to make an inspection or examination during the period of quarantine. If the animal dies within ten (10) days from the date of the bite, the person having custody shall immediately notify the division who shall immediately remove and deliver the head of such animal to the state health laboratory to be examined for rabies. If, at the end of the ten (10) day period, the director or his designee examines the animal and finds no sign of rabies, the animal may be released to the owner, or in the case of a stray, it shall be placed for adoption or otherwise disposed of as provided in this title.
B. In the case of an unvaccinated animal species subject to rabies which is known to have been bitten by a known rabid animal, said bitten or exposed animal should be immediately euthanized. If the owner is unwilling to euthanize the bitten or exposed animal, the animal shall be immediately isolated and quarantined for six (6) months under veterinary supervision, the cost of such confinement to be paid in advance by the owner. The animal shall be euthanized if the owner does not comply herewith. (Ord. 2015-16)