(A) When either the animal control authority or the appropriate county or state public health agency has grounds to suspect that a dog or other animal is infected with the disease of rabies, there shall be delivered to the keeper of the dog or other animal a written notice. The biting of any person by a dog or other animal shall constitute adequate grounds for suspecting the dog or other animal to be so infected. The keeper shall thereupon be required to quarantine the dog or other animal for ten days. The delivery of the notice to a member of the keeper’s family 14 years of age or older at the premises where the dog or other animal is kept or at the keeper’s usual place of residence shall be considered a delivery of the notice to the keeper.
(B) Any dog or other animal required to be quarantined shall be confined as follows:
(1) Inside the keeper’s home or garage. The pet can be exercised within a fenced yard under adult supervision or walked on a leash within keeper’s yard under the control of a responsible adult.
(a) The pet is to be kept away from other animals and people. This does not include other pets within the home or family members.
(b) The pet must not be removed from the residence for any reason during the quarantine period. This includes rides in the car or walks off keeper’s property.
(c) If the keeper’s pet has been vaccinated for rabies, the keeper will need to provide proof of the vaccine or the name and telephone number of the keeper’s veterinarian.
(d) If the keeper’s pet has not been vaccinated for rabies, the keeper will have to wait until the pet is released from quarantine before the keeper’s veterinarian can give the vaccination.
(2) At the owner’s expense, in a veterinary clinic;
(3) Any animal that has been bitten by a dog or other animal proved to be rabid shall be destroyed; and
(4) If a dog or other animal exhibits symptoms of rabies while it is under quarantine, the Director of Public Health may order in writing that it be destroyed and that its head be submitted to the State Public Health Laboratory.
(Ord. 1276, passed 7-15-2013)