Pursuant to the authority contained in title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes annotated 1971, section 1-508, and the policy adopted by the Oklahoma state board of health (a copy of which is attached to the ordinance codified herein and made a part of this chapter), the animal control officer or his representative is directed and authorized to enforce the aforesaid policy in conjunction and cooperation with the state board of health, and to do all acts consistent therewith in the quarantine and control of rabid animals, or animals suspected of being rabid.
A. Report Of Animal Bite Required: Any person owning, harboring, or keeping an animal that bites a person and any person bitten by an animal must report that occurrence to the animal control officer within twenty four (24) hours.
B. Notification Of Required Confinement And Observation: Upon receiving a report that a person has been bitten by an animal, an animal control officer shall issue a notice to the person owning, keeping or harboring the animal which states that confinement and observation of the animal are required.
C. Confinement And Observation Of Animal Required: Upon receiving the notice required, the person owning, harboring, or keeping the animal which in the preceding ten (10) days has bitten or is suspected of having bitten any person, shall have the animal immediately placed in confinement for rabies observation.
D. Method Of Confinement And Observation: Confinement and observation as required by state law and this section shall be effected by placing the animal under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian for a period of ten (10) days from the date the person was bitten. In the event of the suspect animal's death or illness, the person so designated as responsible for the animal shall immediately make arrangements for the removal and shipment of the animal's head to the laboratory of the state department of health for examination. In no event shall the suspect animal be removed from the city limits until released by the animal control officer or his specifically authorized representative.
E. Seizure And Impoundment By Animal Control Officer: In the event the person who owns, harbors or keeps the suspected animal cannot, with due diligence, be located or notified, or, in the event the person who owns, harbors, or keeps the suspected animal, refuses or fails to place the animal in confinement as required by this section after notice to do so has been given, an animal control officer shall seize and impound the animal and place it in confinement for the required observation period. The animal control officer shall thereafter notify the owner or keeper of the animal of the seizure, impoundment and confinement. If, subsequent to the seizure and impoundment of the animal by the animal control officer, the owner or keeper of the animal cannot be located or notified and if the animal remains unclaimed at the expiration of the confinement period, the animal control officer may dispose of the animal pursuant to the provisions of this chapter concerning the disposition of unclaimed, impounded animals.
F. Euthanasia: In special circumstances, the animal control officer or his representative may order the euthanasia of an animal and may perform or order the performance of tests for the diagnosis of rabies. Provided, however, that, prior to disposing of the animal, the division shall attempt to locate and notify the owner or keeper of the animal. For purposes of this section, "special circumstances" shall be defined as those situations involving severe animal bites upon the head, face, neck or upper extremities, or deep lacerations, or multiple animal bite wounds inflicted by unimmunized animals. (Ord. 999 §5, 2004: Ord. 386 §7, 1975)