(A) The owner or keeper of any animal that has rabies, or that shows signs of having rabies, or an animal bitten by another animal that may have rabies, or that has been exposed to rabies, shall immediately confine the animal in a secure place and contact Animal Control.
(B) Animal Control shall immediately impound and quarantine the suspect animal for a period of not less than ten days by the Division. The owner of the animal is responsible for the quarantine costs.
(C) Quarantine shall occur at the animal shelter, unless the animal has current rabies vaccinations or there exist special circumstances justifying an exception. Regardless, a person who has custody of an animal under quarantine shall immediately notify the Division if the animal shows any signs of sickness or abnormal behavior, or if the animal escapes confinement. It is unlawful for any person who has custody of a quarantined animal to fail or refuse to allow a health official or Animal Control Officer to make an inspection or examination of the animal during the period of quarantine. If the animal dies within ten days from the date of the bite, the person having custody shall immediately notify Animal Control or the Health Department immediately.
(D) If, at the end of the ten-day period, an investigating officer examines the animal and finds no sign of rabies, the animal may be released to the owner, or if a stray, be disposed of as provided in § 91.098.
(E) (1) Handling of an unvaccinated animal that may have been exposed to rabies shall be as follows:
(a) Any exposed animal shall be immediately destroyed;
(b) If the owner is unwilling to destroy the bitten or exposed animal, the animal shall be immediately isolated and quarantined for six months under veterinary supervision, the cost of such confinement to be paid by the owner; and
(c) A quarantined animal may be release when declared free of rabies by a licensed veterinarian after a minimum six-month quarantine.
(2) Handling of a vaccinated animal that may have been exposed to rabies shall be as follows:
(a) If the bitten or exposed animal is vaccinated, as prescribed, the animal shall be re-vaccinated within 24 hours and quarantined for a period of 30 days following re-vaccination; or
(b) If the animal is not re-vaccinated within 24 hours, the animal shall be isolated and quarantined under veterinary supervision for six months.
(F) It shall be unlawful for any person to remove any such animal from the place of quarantine except under the direction of the Director.
(Prior Code, § 9.12.060) (Ord. 04-2013, passed 3-6-2013) Penalty, see § 91.999