(A) A report of bites. All persons bitten and the parents or guardians of minor children bitten by a dog, cat, skunk, fox, bat, coyote, bobcat or other animal known to constitute a serious threat of rabies shall notify the animal control officer immediately thereafter. Physicians treating such bites and other persons having the knowledge of such bites shall also be required to make such notification.
(B) Report of suspected rabid animals. Any person who observes or has knowledge of an animal which shows symptoms of rabies or which acts in a manner which would lead to a reasonable suspicion that it may have rabies shall notify the animal control officer and comply with appropriate laws and regulations regarding suspected cases of rabies as directed by the state or city/county health departments.
(C) Isolation of biting or suspected rabid animals. Upon the reasonable order of the animal control or public health officer, a biting or suspected rabid animal shall be isolated, at the owner’s expense if owned, in strict confinement under proper care and under the observation of a licensed veterinarian in an animal shelter or veterinary hospital in a manner approved by the animal control officer.
(D) Examination of head. Any biting or suspected rabid animal may be humanely euthanized immediately, and such animal’s undamaged and properly packaged and properly refrigerated head shall be delivered promptly to an approved medical facility having the capability of performing tests to demonstrate the presence of rabies.
(E) Release. Ten days after the day of infliction of a bite by an animal, such animal may be released to its owner after a licenced veterinarian has examined that animal and in his or her opinion found it not to have had rabies in a transmittable stage on the day of infliction of the bite. Non-immunized animals shall be vaccinated for rabies before release.
(F) Animals possibly exposed to rabies.
(1) Any animal of a species subject to rabies which has been bitten by a known rabid animal, or which has been in intimate contact with such an animal, shall be isolated, at the owner’s expense if owned, in strict confinement in a place and manner approved by the animal control officer and observed by a licensed veterinarian for a period of six months, or euthanized.
(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following alternative is permitted in cases of dogs and cats. If the dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days prior to the suspected exposure with a type of vaccine produced under U.S.D.A. license and within the time period approved by the state veterinarian, the dog or cat may be re-vaccinated and isolated in strict confinement in a place and manner which is approved by the animal control officer and observed by a licensed veterinarian for a period of 30 days.
(Ord. 2002-11-1, passed 11-4-2002) Penalty, see § 90.999