(a) Reports; quarantine.
(1) Every animal that bites a person shall be promptly reported to the Animal Warden and shall thereupon be examined by a practicing veterinarian and securely confined for clinical observation at the direction of the Animal Warden for a period of ten days.
(2) After a laboratory confirmed case of rabies has occurred within the last 12 months, such confinement shall be at the City Animal Shelter or, at the owner’s option and expense, in a veterinary hospital of his or her choice.
(3) Dogs that have been vaccinated within three years with CEO, or within one year with phenolized vaccine, may be confined on the premises of the owner, isolated from all individuals other than the immediate family. The animal must be examined by a practicing veterinarian on the first and tenth days after the bite and a written report sent to the Animal Warden.
(4) Confinement may be on the premises of the owner as provided in division (a)(3) of this section if there have been no laboratory confirmed cases of rabies during the past 12 months within the county.
(5) In the case of stray animals, or in the case of animals whose ownership is not known, such confinement shall be at the direction of the Animal Warden. At the end of the ten-day confinement, the animals shall be examined a second time and a written report sent to the Animal Warden.
(6) The owner, upon demand by the Animal Warden, shall forthwith surrender any animal that has bitten a human being, or that is suspected of having been exposed to rabies, for supervised confinement, the expense of which shall be borne by the owner. Such animal may be reclaimed by the owner, if it is adjudged free of rabies, upon payment of the actual costs incurred for such confinement.
(7) When rabies has been diagnosed in an animal confined for clinical observation, or when rabies is suspected by a practicing veterinarian, or when the animal has bitten anyone within ten days and the animal dies while under such observation, the head of such animal shall be sent to the State Health Department by the local health authorities for pathological examination and the proper public health officer shall be notified of reports of human contacts and the diagnosis.
(8) When a positive diagnosis of rabies has been made, the Animal Warden shall recommend an area-wide quarantine for a period of ten days, during which all animals must be on a leash. All pets shall be under restraint of the owner. During such quarantine, no animal shall be taken or shipped from the city without written permission of the Animal Warden.
(9) During the quarantine period and as long afterward as he or she decides it is necessary to prevent the spread of rabies, the Animal Warden may require that all dogs that are three months of age and older be vaccinated against rabies by an accredited veterinarian with a canine rabies vaccine approved by the Biologics Control Section of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The types of approved canine anti-rabies vaccine to be used and the recognized duration of immunity for each shall be established by any qualified health officer or veterinarian. All vaccinated dogs shall be restricted (leashing or confinement on enclosed premises) for 30 days after vaccination. During the quarantine period, the health officer or veterinarian shall be empowered to provide for a program of mass immunization by the establishment of temporary emergency canine rabies vaccination clinics strategically located throughout the area of health jurisdiction.
(10) Dogs bitten by a known rabid animal shall be immediately destroyed. If the owner is unwilling to destroy the exposed animal, strict isolation and observation of the animal in the City Animal Shelter or, at the owner’s option and expense, in a veterinary hospital of his or her choice, for six months, shall be enforced. If the dog has been previously vaccinated, re-vaccination and restraint (leashing and confinement) for 30 days shall be carried out.
(11) If additional cases of rabies occur during the period of the quarantine, such quarantine may be extended for additional six-month periods.
(12) No person shall kill or cause to be killed any rabid animal, any animal suspected of having been exposed to rabies, or any animal biting a human being, except as herein provided, nor remove any such animal from the city without written permission from the Animal Warden.
(13) The carcass of any animal exposed to rabies shall, upon demand, be surrendered to the Animal Warden.
(14) The Animal Warden shall direct the disposition of any animal found to be infected with rabies.
(15) No person shall fail or refuse to surrender any animal for quarantine or destruction as required herein when demand is made therefor by the Animal Warden.
(b) Responsibility of physicians and medical practitioners. It shall be the duty of every physician or other medical practitioner to report to the Animal Warden or a law enforcement officer within the city the names and addresses of persons treated for bites inflicted by animals, together with such other information as will be helpful in rabies control.
(c) Responsibilities of veterinarians. It shall be the duty of every veterinarian to notify the Animal Warden promptly upon presentation of any suspected rabid animal or any animal presented for quarantine examination. At the termination of the quarantine, a written report shall be submitted to the Animal Warden or a law enforcement officer within the city. During the quarantine period, any animal showing clinical signs of rabies shall be reported immediately to the Animal Warden.
(d) Penalty. Whoever violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.