[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
A. 
Any dog, cat or other animal which exhibits objective symptoms of rabies, after written certification by the Animal Control Officer to the owner, shall be quarantined. The animal may be held for ten (10) calendar days at the City's animal shelter for clinical observation, and, if alive after this period, shall be returned to the owner after payment of the shelter service fine provided for in this Article. The animal's owner may alternatively elect to quarantine for a similar ten (10) calendar day period. If such animal shall die during the observation period, regardless of location, the head shall be removed and submitted to a qualified laboratory for examination.
B. 
Before an animal quarantined hereunder shall be returned to the owner, or if quarantined by the owner, before such quarantine shall be lifted, said animal shall be vaccinated as required under and in accordance with the procedures set out in this Chapter of the Code of Ordinances, if such animal is not already vaccinated.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
A. 
Any person within the City having information or knowledge of any dog, cat or other animal that:
1. 
Exhibits clinical symptoms suggestive of rabies;
2. 
Has been exposed to rabies; or
3. 
Is suspected of exposure to, or having contacted rabies shall report such knowledge or information to the City Animal Control Officer or Police Department.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
Any person destroying a dog, cat or other animal infected with rabies or suspected of being infected with rabies shall immediately notify the City and shall surrender the carcass of such animal upon demand. The owner or custodian of any such destroyed animal shall immediately provide the Animal Control Officer with full particulars thereof, including the time, date, location, the names and addresses of any person bitten by such animal, and also the name and address of the owner or person having custody of any animal exposed to the animal destroyed.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
A. 
Whenever rabies becomes prevalent in any locality within the City subject to this Section, the Animal Control Officer shall recommend a quarantine order affecting that portion of the City, or affecting the entire City, according to the necessity of the case. The City may issue a quarantine order pursuant to such recommendation. The Animal Control Officer, during the first week after a quarantine order is issued, shall take proper measures to inform the people of the City of the existence of the quarantine order and of the penalties attached to the violation of the quarantine order. A quarantine order shall direct that all animals, whether vaccinated and registered according to the provisions of this Article or not, shall be confined in the home of the owner of the animal, or tied up or placed on a leash under the direct physical control of a competent person not less than fifteen (15) years of age. Any animal found otherwise, during such a quarantine, shall be impounded. Animals subject to rabies which are impossible to capture or impound, after the exercise of reasonable efforts and diligence, shall be destroyed, if the Animal Control Officer so designates.
B. 
The quarantine may be terminated by the City after the necessity therefor no longer exists. No quarantine shall remain effective for more than six (6) months from the date of the adoption of the quarantine order unless such quarantine order is specifically extended by order of the City Council.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
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 or other animals.
1. 
The owner of any dog, cat or animal kept on the premises which bites any person or other animal, regardless of the circumstances, or irrespective of whether such animal is vaccinated or registered, shall be required to place such animal in the custody of the Animal Control Officer for confinement in a manner satisfactory to the Animal Control Officer and in a manner that will prevent contact with people and other animals for a period of ten (10) calendar days, following the evening of the day of the bite, for the purpose of clinical observation. If such animal develops clinical symptoms suggestive of rabies, it shall be allowed to die a natural death, or, if for any reason, such animal should die while in confinement, its head shall be removed by the veterinarian and submitted to a qualified laboratory. If, at the end of such ten (10) calendar day period, such animal is alive and healthy, it may be released to its owner upon payment of applicable fines. Before an animal confined hereunder shall be returned to the owner, said animal shall be vaccinated as required under and in accordance with the procedures set out in this Chapter, if such animal is not already vaccinated.
2. 
All animals under clinical observation as the result of biting a person must fulfill all other conditions of this Article prior to release.
3. 
It shall be the duty of any person bitten by any dog, cat or animal kept on the premises or the parent or guardian of any minor bitten by a dog, cat or other animal to report the same to the Animal Control Officer immediately. Such report shall contain the name and address of the owner and of the dog, cat or animal, the day and time bitten, and location where bitten, and a general description of the dog, cat or animal. The person bitten shall also make himself/herself available so as to permit viewing of the wound by the Animal Control Officer, his/her agents, and all other concerned parties and persons.
4. 
In any case where a dog, cat or animal kept on the premises has attacked or bitten a person or other animal in a vicious manner, then such dog, cat or animal may be seized and impounded by City enforcement personnel. In addition to any penalties which may be imposed for violation of this Chapter, the Municipal Court may order such animal to be euthanized.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
It shall be the duty of every physician to report immediately to the Animal Control Officer the full name, age and address of any person under his/her care or observation who has been bitten by an animal irrespective of whether infected with rabies or suspected of being infected with rabies or not so infected or so suspected; and every veterinarian treating or having under observation any animal infected with rabies, or suspected of being rabid, or suspected of having been exposed to rabies shall report to the Animal Control Officer the owner's name and address, and the animal's vaccination-registration number.
[Ord. No. 6.42 (Bill No. 2806), 9-16-2021]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to conceal an animal or interfere with the Animal Control Officer in the performance of his/her legal duties as provided in this Article. The Animal Control Officer shall have the right of entry onto any unenclosed lots or lands for the purpose of collecting any animal which is on such lot or land in violation of this Article and whose presence on such lot or land constitutes a violation of any of the provisions of this Article. The Animal Control Officer shall have the right of entry to any property or premises within any quarantined area during the period of a quarantine for the purpose of examining or obtaining any dog, cat or other animal suspected of having rabies, having been exposed to rabies, or having bitten a person or other animal.
B. 
No person shall refuse to deliver up to the Animal Control Officer any animal subject to rabies which such person owns, when requested to do so under the provisions of this Article.