[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Harrisburg by Ord. No. 10-1992. Amendments noted where applicable.]
CROSS-REFERENCES
Animal bites: see § 3-505.4.
[Ord. No. 6-1995]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the regulation and control of dogs, cats and/or any other mammal that has bitten anyone in the City of Harrisburg. This chapter shall be administered by the Director of the Department of Public Safety and is enacted for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of City residents and the general public.
A. 
It shall be the duty of any person treating a patient or another person who has received a bite or laceration caused by a mammal to report such injury to the Bureau of Police within 48 hours from the date of the initial treatment.
B. 
The report shall give the name, age, sex, and address of the person treated, the date of the biting incident, the date(s) of treatment and, if available, the name and address of the animal's owner and the animal's breed, sex, age, color and history of vaccination.
C. 
The Bureau of Police or other authorized local agency is hereby authorized to investigate a reported biting incident and to notify the mammal owner by a quarantine notice that such animal is required to be quarantined for a period not less then 10 days following the date of receipt of the quarantine notice. If the bite was inflicted by a wild animal or a stray, unlicensed dog or cat, said wild animal or stray, unlicensed dog or cat may be impounded by the Bureau of Police. Any animal subject to regulation under this chapter or any other ordinance of the City, whether licensed or unlicensed, may be impounded or euthanized in a humane manner if, in the discretion of the Chief of Police or authorized designee, such animal is an immediate threat to public health, safety or property.
D. 
Following the investigation of each biting incident, a report of the incident will be filed with the Bureau of Police by the individual or agency conducting the investigation.
A. 
Any dog, cat or mammal which has been exposed to rabies shall be immediately destroyed unless otherwise treated as provided herein. The destruction of any animal which has been exposed to the rabies virus shall be performed in the most humane manner possible. The destruction of animals which have been exposed to the rabies virus shall be conducted only by police officers or those persons qualified and trained in the handling and disposal of infected remains. Owners of animals which have been exposed to the rabies virus shall not be permitted to destroy such animals or handle the remains of such animals unless authorized to do so by the Chief of Police or authorized designee.
B. 
If the owner is unwilling to have such animal destroyed, the owner shall deliver up and surrender the animal to the Bureau of Police or other authorized agency, and said animal shall be kept in strict isolation in a kennel or animal hospital for a period not less than six months.
C. 
The owner of any animal subject to the provisions of this section shall, at all times, be responsible for the proper care and treatment of his or her animal(s) hereunder and shall be responsible and reimburse the City for any and all costs, fees and expenses incurred by the City in the enforcement of this section, including, but not limited to, boarding fees, transportation and handling fees, the costs of medicine and treatment, and costs associated with the disposal of the euthanized animal.
Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to Chapter 6-103, Enforcement and Penalty, of these Codified Ordinances.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1-303).