(A) The person responsible for any animal which has bitten a person or another animal must report the incident to the Police Department or Animal Control Officer. Upon receiving the report of a bite, the shelter will quarantine the animal for ten days with the place of confinement to be in the discretion of the Animal Control Officer. During the quarantine period, the animal is to be securely confined and kept from contact with any other animal or person.
(1) During the quarantine period, the owner must provide a current rabies vaccination certificate for his or her animal that is being quarantined. If proof of vaccination cannot be supplied, the animal will be vaccinated by a veterinarian at the owner's expense before release.
(2) If the animal is quarantined at the shelter, a microchip may be implanted in it prior to its release from quarantine. Such determination shall be in the discretion of the Animal Control Officer. The animal shall be registered for its life with the Police Department. The cost of the implant shall be at the owner's expense before release.
(3) If the animal is quarantined in a place other than the shelter, as determined by the Animal Control Officer, a microchip may be implanted in it within 30 days following the animal's release from quarantine. Such determination shall be in the discretion of the Animal Control Officer. The animal shall be registered for its life with the Police Department. The cost of the implant and registry shall be at the owner's expense.
(4) The microchip used for these quarantine provisions shall be numbered. This number will provide entry into a data base that contains the animal's bite history. The microchip shall be contained in a sterilized implanting device and shall be individually packaged.
(5) The microchip and its corresponding registration history shall be considered prima facie evidence for any future dangerous animal determination in accordance with § 91.033 (Dangerous Animals).
(B) No person other than an Animal Control Officer or veterinarian shall kill or cause to be killed any animal suspected of being rabid except in cases of immediate self protection or the immediate protection of others. If that occurs, the person will retain the body of the animal and immediately notify the Police Department or Animal Control Officer.
(C) Violations of these quarantine provisions shall constitute a Class A offense and may subject the responsible party to civil penalties under § 91.999.
(Ord. 2005-12, passed 11-7-05) Penalty, see § 91.999