(A) When any person owning or harboring an animal has been notified that said animal has bitten or attacked any person, the owner must immediately place the animal under the care and observation of the Animal Control Officer or a licensed veterinarian for a period of not less than ten days; however, in those cases where the animal is a dog and the owner has a current rabies vaccination for the said dog, the Officer may, if he or she feels the facilities are adequate and if the owner is a responsible person, allow the quarantine of the dog on the owner’s premises. In such a case, the owner must sign a statement in which the owner recognizes and assumes the responsibility that is involved with the quarantine of a dog that has bitten. A quarantined dog must, at all times, be available for inspection during the quarantine.
(B) At the end of the ten-day period of observation, the animal shall be examined by a veterinarian or the Animal Control Officer and, if cleared, may be reclaimed by the owner. The owner must pay the expense incurred incident thereto.
(C) Any animal impounded or placed for observation showing active signs or rabies, suspected of having rabies, or known to have been exposed to rabies shall be confined under competent observation for such time as may deemed necessary to determine a diagnosis.
(D) Any animal that has bitten or attacked and cannot be captured, shows of or is suspected of rabies, or any animal that has no confirmable rabies vaccination history may be destroyed in such a manner that the head is not damaged and can be submitted for rabies examination to a laboratory.
(E) Every unvaccinated animal bitten by another animal showing positive symptoms of rabies shall be forthwith destroyed or shall, at the owner’s option and expense, be held for observation for not less than six months under direct supervision of a veterinarian and the animal is to receive a rabies vaccination one month prior to its release from observation.
(F) Every owner having knowledge that his or her animal has bitten or is suspected of biting a human being shall forthwith report the same to the Police Department for disposition of said animal under the provisions of the chapter.
(Ord. 33, passed 7-8-2010)