(A) When the Administrator receives information that any person has been bitten by an animal the Administrator shall have the owner confine the biting animal under observation of a licensed veterinarian for a period of ten days beginning within 24 hours of the biting incident. All dogs and cats under observation, owned by a resident of Will County, shall be implanted with a microchip approved by the Administrator at the time of the first examination unless the animal is to be euthanized. The microchip number shall be reported to Will County Animal Protection Services within 24 hours of the first exam. The biting animal may be confined in the house of its owner in a manner which will prohibit it from biting any person or animal if the Administrator or other licensed veterinarian adjudges such confinement satisfactory.
(1) When the biting animal is currently inoculated with rabies vaccine the animal's health shall be reported by the veterinarian to the Will County Animal Protection Services on the first and tenth days of the observation period for rabies.
(2) When the biting animal is not currently inoculated with rabies vaccine the animal's health shall be reported by the veterinarian to the Will County Animal Protection Services on the first, fifth and tenth days of the observation period for rabies.
(3) When the biting animal is not currently inoculated with rabies vaccine and the owner refuses to have the animal examined by a veterinarian, Will County Animal Protection Services shall impound the animal for a period of ten days. If the animal is not reclaimed by the owner within five days of the end of the observation period, the Administrator will make a determination of placement for the animal.
(B) Confirmation of the health of the biting animal shall be sent by the veterinarian to the Will County Animal Protection Services within 24 hours of the first and final examinations. Official forms shall be provided by the Department.
(C) When an animal confined for biting shows signs of rabies or acts in a manner which would lead a person to believe that an animal may have rabies, the owner or veterinarian shall notify the Administrator immediately by telephone or in person of these signs. The Administrator shall immediately notify the physician attending the bitten person or responsible health agency as soon as he or she receives notice of such signs.
(D) If the animal confined is determined not to be infected with rabies at the end of the period of confinement it shall be released from quarantine. The animal owner shall show proof of rabies inoculation for cats and dogs and shall pay any fee, charge or penalty including any fee for veterinary services attributed to the bite.
(E) It shall be unlawful for the owner of a biting animal to conceal the whereabouts, euthanize, sell, give away or otherwise dispose of or have inoculated against rabies the animal known to have bitten a person until it has been released from confinement for observation for rabies by the Administrator. It shall be unlawful for the owner of such animal to refuse or fail to comply with the written or printed instructions made by the Administrator. If such instructions cannot be delivered in person they shall be mailed to the owner of such animal by regular mail, postage prepaid. The affidavit or testimony of the Administrator delivering or mailing such instructions is prima facie evidence that the owner of such animal was notified of his or her responsibilities.
(Ord. 24-19, passed 1-18-2024) Penalty, see § 90.99
Statutory reference:
Dog or other animal bites; observation of animal, see 510 ILCS 5/13