§ 14-79. Duties of animal services department in suspected rabies cases.

(a)

Whenever the department is informed that any animal has bitten or scratched any person or is suspected of having or showing suspicious symptoms of rabies or any other infectious or contagious disease, it shall be the duty of the department to require the following:

(1)

The animal shall be captured. In the capture of dogs or cats, the animals shall not be killed unless in their capture a clear and present danger or harm or injury to any person exists. Such dogs or cats shall be placed in quarantine for observation for a period of at least ten days from the date of bite or scratch. Quarantine may be maintained at the owner's home when approved by the department or at a licensed veterinarian's office or animal control center.

(2)

When an animal dies prior to or during the quarantine period, it shall be the duty of the department to have the head of the animal forwarded to the appropriate state board of health authorities for pathological examination.

(3)

Any animal under quarantine shall not be released or moved from the place of the initial quarantine confinement unless permission is obtained from the department. The owner, if any, shall bear the cost of the care, feeding and maintenance of the quarantined animal.

(4)

If the report of the pathological examination indicates a positive diagnosis of rabies, the department may invoke an area-wide quarantine for a minimum period of 60 days. During such quarantine, the owner of any animal shall confine his animal to his property and shall not permit the animal off his property or premises.

(5)

The owner, harborer or keeper of any dog or cat currently vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian with an approved current anti-rabies vaccine, except such dog or cat exempted from the vaccination pursuant to section 14-76, after receiving approval of the department, may have such dog or cat quarantined and confined in a place other than that specified in this section. If the animal is quarantined at a place other than the places specified and it is subsequently determined by the department that the quarantine is not being properly maintained to ensure isolation of the animal, this exemption shall become inapplicable. If this exemption shall become inapplicable, the department shall impound the animal at the department facility at the owner's expense.

(Ord. No. 16-29, § 3, 10-11-16)