[1]
State Law Reference — Protection against rabies,
RSMo., Chapter 322.
[Ord. No. 92-31 Art. V § 1, 2-9-1993]
A.
No dog, cat, or other animal shall be kept in any way by its owner
so as to permit it to bite members of the public.
B.
The owner of any dog, cat or other animal which bites any person,
regardless of the circumstances, or irrespective of whether such dog
is vaccinated and registered, shall be required to place such dog,
cat or other animal in the custody of the Animal Control Officer and
in a manner that will prevent contact with people and other animals
for a period of ten (10) days, following the evening of the day of
the bite, for the purpose of clinical observation. All expenses shall
be borne by the owner of the dog, cat, or other animal. If such dog,
cat or other animal develops clinical symptoms suggestive of rabies,
it shall be allowed to die a natural death, or, if for any reason,
such dog, cat, or other animal dies while in confinement, it head
shall be removed by a licensed veterinarian and submitted to a qualified
laboratory. If, at the end of such ten (10) day period, such dog,
cat or other domestic animal is alive and healthy, it may be released
to its owner upon payment of applicable fines.
C.
All animals under clinical observation as the result of biting a
person must fulfill all other conditions of this Article prior to
release.
D.
It shall be the duty of any person bitten by any animal or the parent
or guardian of any minor bitten by an animal to report the same to
the City Police Department immediately. Such report shall contain
the name and address of the owner and of the animal, the day and time
bitten, and location where bitten, and a general description of the
animal. The person bitten shall also make himself available so as
to permit viewing of the wound by the Police Officer or Animal Control
Officer, his agents, and all other concerned parties and persons.
[Ord. No. 92-31 Art. V § 2, 2-9-1993; Ord. No. 2005-28 § 3, 8-9-2005]
Every rabid animal or animal exposed to rabies shall be immediately
confined by the Animal Control Officer or by a licensed veterinary
hospital. The owner shall be responsible for all costs. The animal
may be quarantined a maximum of two (2) weeks, but shall be released
earlier if certified by a licensed veterinarian to be free of rabies.
[Ord. No. 92-31 Art. V § 3, 2-9-1993]
The body of any animal dead of rabies or having been exposed
to rabies prior to death, shall be surrendered by the owner upon demand
of the Animal Control Officer or a Police Officer.
[Ord. No. 92-31 Art. V § 4, 2-9-1993]
No person shall kill a rabid animal or an animal exposed to
rabies, nor remove any such animal from the City, without permission
from the Animal Control Officer or a Police Officer, except when it
is necessary to kill such animal to prevent it from escaping or from
biting any other animal or person.
