Any person having knowledge of the existence of any animal known
to have been, or suspected of being, exposed to rabies or having knowledge
of an animal bite or scratch to an individual that the person could
reasonably foresee as capable of transmitting rabies must immediately
report such knowledge or incident to the animal control officer, city
health authority or any police officer, and in no case longer than
twenty-four (24) hours from the time of the incident.
(2014 Code, sec. 70.20)
The animal control officer, any police officer, or the city
health authority shall have the authority to order the quarantine
of animals responsible for bite incidents or suspected of having any
zoonotic disease considered to be a hazard to human population or
other animals.
(2014 Code, sec. 70.21)
(a) Domestic animals.
(1) Vaccinated animals which have been bitten or otherwise significantly
exposed to a rabid animal should be humanely destroyed or, if sufficient
justification for preserving the animal exists, the exposed vaccinated
animal should be immediately given a booster rabies vaccination and
placed in strict isolation for forty-five (45) days. Unvaccinated
animals shall be immediately given a rabies vaccination and placed
in strict isolation for ninety (90) days and given booster vaccinations
during the third and eighth weeks of isolation. If the unvaccinated
animal is under three (3) months of age at the time of the second
vaccination, an additional booster should be given when the animal
reaches three (3) months of age.
(2) If a veterinarian determines that a quarantined animal does not show
the clinical signs of rabies, it may be released to the owner prior
to or upon expiration of the quarantine period, provided the owner
has paid all of the reasonable costs of such quarantine and any veterinarian
bills.
(3) However, if the quarantined animal shows the clinical signs of the
disease of rabies, the animal shall be humanely destroyed and its
head or brain submitted to the nearest laboratory certified by the
department of state health services for rabies diagnosis.
(b) Wild or exotic animals.
No wild or exotic animal will
be placed in quarantine. All wild or exotic animals will be humanely
destroyed in such a manner that the brain is not mutilated. The brain
will then be submitted to a laboratory certified for rabies diagnosis
in order to be tested.
(c) Quarantine facilities.
(1) Any animal to be placed in quarantine must be placed in an animal
control facility approved by the department of state health services.
(2) If the biting animal cannot be maintained in secure quarantine, it
shall be humanely destroyed and the brain submitted to a laboratory
certified by the department of state health services for rabies diagnosis.
(2014 Code, sec. 70.23; Ordinance
adopting 2021 Code)