A. It is unlawful for any person knowing or suspecting a dog to have rabies to allow such dog to be taken off his or her premises or beyond the limits of the municipality without the written permission of the chief of police or other designated official. Every owner, or other person, upon ascertaining a dog is rabid, shall immediately notify the chief of police, or other designated official, who shall remove the dog to an animal shelter or a veterinary hospital.
B. Any dog that bites a person or animal shall be quarantined for fifteen (15) days. If a police officer or other designated official determines that the risk of the biting animal being infected with rabies is possible but not probable, the quarantine may be on the premises of the keeper. A dog quarantined on the premises of the keeper shall be securely confined in an enclosure which is at least fenced on all sides and from which the dog cannot escape, and which is not accessible to the public.
C. If a police officer or other designated official determines that it is probable that the biting dog is infected with rabies the police officer or other designated official may require the keeper to surrender the dog for the quarantine period to an animal shelter or place the dog in a veterinary hospital. The keeper shall pay all cost incurred during a period of quarantine.
D. Any dog for which probable cause exists to cause a police officer or other designated official to believe that it may be rabid may be quarantined by such police officer or other designated official under the terms and conditions for biting dogs set forth in subsection C of this section.
E. No person shall kill or cause to be killed any dog which has bitten a person or other animal, or any dog suspected of being rabid, except as needed to prevent immediate injury or death to another animal or to a person until after the animal has been placed in quarantine and a diagnosis of suspected rabies is made by a licensed veterinarian. (Ord. 2000-05, 7-24-2000)