(A)
Every dog, cat or ferret which has bitten any person shall be confined immediately and shall be promptly reported to the Animal Control Section and, thereupon, shall be securely quarantined, at the direction of the Animal Control Section, for a period of ten days, and shall not be released from the quarantine except by documented permission from the Animal Control Section.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to report as soon as possible that an animal has bitten a person. It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to inform the Animal Control Section of the whereabouts of an animal that has bitten a person, if the owner or keeper has given the animal away or in any way caused the animal to be taken from the owner’s or keeper’s premises.
(C) If there is any evidence that an animal bite may have occurred, it shall be assumed by law that a bite did occur, and quarantine procedures shall apply if required.
(D) Every dog, cat or ferret quarantined under this section shall be confined at the expense of its owner or keeper in a veterinary hospital or at the county animal shelter, if space is available; provided, however, that, if an animal control officer determines that the owner or keeper of a dog, cat or ferret which must be quarantined has adequate confinement facilities upon his or her own premises, the animal control officer may authorize the dog, cat or ferret to be confined on the premises upon proof of current vaccination against rabies. If the dog, cat or ferret is confined on its owner’s or keeper’s premises, an animal control officer shall revisit the premises for inspection purposes on the fifth and tenth day of the confinement period. If the owner or keeper fails to provide continuous quarantine of the dog, cat or ferret on his or her premises as instructed, the animal shall be removed by an animal control officer and quarantined at a veterinary hospital or at the county animal shelter at the owner’s cost. The owner or keeper shall agree in writing to the above conditions prior to the animal control officer authorizing confinement on the owner or keeper’s property.
(E) In cases of stray animals of unknown ownership, the supervised quarantine required shall be at the county animal shelter or at a licensed veterinary hospital, or in lieu of supervised quarantine at the direction of the Animal Control Section, the animal may be euthanized, and the head examined for rabies.
(F) If rabies does not develop within ten days after a dog, cat or ferret is quarantined under this section, the dog, cat or ferret may be released from quarantine with the documented permission of the Animal Control Section. If the dog, cat or ferret has been confined in the county animal shelter, the owner shall pay any necessary veterinarian fees and a boarding fee approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
(G) In the case of a non-dog, cat or ferret or bat suspected of carrying rabies, the animal may be euthanized, and the head examined for rabies.
(H) (1) The Animal Control Section will make a determination as to whether any stray, owner-surrendered, or abandoned animal that has bitten a person is to be considered adoptable. If the animal is not determined to be adoptable, it may be disposed of as otherwise provided in this subchapter.
(2) Determination of whether or not a bite animal will not be considered adoptable is guided by the Bite Waiver Policy in place at the county animal shelter.
(I) Every dog, cat or ferret which shows symptoms of rabies shall be confined immediately and shall be promptly reported to the Animal Control Section and, thereupon, humanely euthanized by either a licensed veterinarian or at the Wake County Animal Center. If any exposure to a person or other animal is suspected, the dog, cat or ferret will have the head examined for rabies.
(Ord. passed 5-3-2004; Ord. passed - - )
Penalty, see § 91.99