(a) Reporting Animal Bites. It shall be the duty of any person having knowledge that an animal has bitten or injured any person in the Borough to immediately report the facts to the Health Officer, including, if known, the whereabouts of such animal. It shall be the duty of the owner of such animal to confine it immediately for ten days and to comply with the directions of the Health Officer. The animal shall be examined by a veterinarian within forty-eight hours and a written report of such examination shall be submitted by the owner to the Health Officer who, in his discretion, may order the owner to place the animal in a veterinary hospital or other approved location. An immediate report shall be made to the Health Officer if the animal becomes ill, escapes or dies. At the end of the ten-day confinement the animal shall again be examined by a veterinarian and a written report of his findings shall be submitted to the Health Officer by the veterinarian or the owner within forty-eight hours. If such second report reveals no symptoms of rabies, the animal may then be released from confinement.
(b) Reporting Animals Bitten by a Rabid Animal. It shall be the duty of any person having knowledge that an animal in the Borough has been bitten by, or otherwise exposed to, an animal infected or suspected of being infected with rabies, to immediately report the facts to the Health Officer, including, if known, the whereabouts of the animal bitten. If such animal has not been vaccinated, it shall be placed immediately in a veterinary hospital or other approved location under the supervision of a veterinarian for a minimum of six months or be immediately disposed of as directed by the Health Officer.
If the animal that was bitten or otherwise exposed to rabies had previously been vaccinated in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, disposition may be either;
(1) Immediate revaccination of the bitten animal and confinement for thirty days thereafter, or
(2) Confinement in strict isolation in an approved kennel or other approved location for six months under supervision of a veterinarian or, if either of the above are not done,
(3) Such bitten animal shall be disposed of as directed by the Health Officer.
(c) Reporting Animals Infected With Rabies. It shall be the duty of any person having knowledge that an animal in the Borough is infected or suspected of being infected with rabies to immediately report the facts to the Health Officer, including, if known, the whereabouts of such animal. The Health Officer, after an investigation, may order the immediate confinement of such animal in a veterinary hospital or other approved location and such animal shall not be released therefrom without the permission of the Health Officer. Any animal found to be infected with rabies shall be disposed of as directed by the Health Officer.
(Ord. 771.Passed 3-8-76. )