The following rules and regulations concerning rabies control shall apply to the areas of the county that have been placed under the jurisdiction of this chapter:
(A) Whenever a dog or cat is affected by rabies or suspected of being affected by rabies or has been bitten by an animal known or suspected to be infected with rabies, the owner or keeper of the dog or cat or any person having knowledge thereof shall forthwith notify the animal control officer or the health department stating precisely where the animal may be found;
(B) The animal control officer shall immediately inform the health department upon receipt of any information concerning an animal bite or a possible animal bite;
(C) The animal control officer, in conjunction with the health department, shall arrange for the supervised confinement of any dog or cat which has bitten a person. The confinement may be on the premises of the owner if the owner will sign a DHEC agreement assuming total responsibility for the safe confinement of the pet or other animal or the confinement may be at the county animal shelter with the current impoundment and boarding fees charged, or the dog or cat may be confined at a private animal shelter or a veterinary hospital at the owner's expense;
(D) Any dog or cat which has bitten a person must be confined for a period of at least ten days. The health department or the animal control officer shall be permitted by the owner or keeper of the dog or cat to examine the same at anytime and daily if desired within the ten-day period of confinement to determine whether the animal shows symptoms of rabies. No person shall obstruct or interfere with the animal control officer or the health department in making the examination;
(E) In the case of an animal other than a dog or cat which has scratched or bitten a person, the health department shall serve notice upon the owner of that animal that the owner shall have the animal euthanized immediately and have the brain submitted for rabies examination;
(F) The health department shall serve notice in writing upon the owner of a dog, cat or other animal known to have been bitten by an animal known or suspected of being affected by rabies requiring the owner to confine the animal for a period of not less than six months except that animals properly treated with anti-rabies vaccine shall be confined for a period of not less than three months;
(G) No person shall kill, or cause to be killed any dog, cat or other animal, that is suspected of having been exposed to rabies or which has bitten a person, nor remove the animal from the jurisdiction of the county without written permission of the health department. An exception to the preceding requirement is in any circumstance in which there exists the possibility of the animal escaping or being involved in an additional biting incident in which case the animal is to be killed and the health department notified immediately.
(Ord. 1009, passed 2-2-09; Am. Ord. 2412, passed 10-15-12) Penalty, see § 55.99