(a) Any
person having knowledge of an animal bite or scratch to an individual
that the person could reasonably foresee as capable of transmitting
rabies or of an animal that the person suspects is rabid shall immediately
report the incident or animal to the city animal control officer or
sheriff or his deputies. The report shall include the name and address
of any victim and the owner of the animal, if known, and any other
data which may aid in the locating of the victim or the animal.
(b) The
owner of any animal that is reported to be rabid or to have exposed
an individual shall submit the animal for quarantine with the city
veterinarian.
(c) The
city animal control officer shall investigate all reports filed under
this section.
(Ordinance 374, sec. 3.78, adopted 5/27/08)
(a) The
city animal control officer shall quarantine for at least ten days
any dog, cat or domestic ferret that he has probable cause to believe
is rabid or has exposed an individual. Other animals shall be quarantined
for thirty days.
(b) The state board of health rules adopted in section
2.01.003(b) shall govern the testing of quarantined animals, the procedure for and method of quarantine, and the types of facilities that may be used for quarantine.
(c) If
it is determined by the city veterinarian that a quarantined animal
shows the clinical signs of the disease rabies, the city veterinarian
shall humanely destroy the animal. If an animal dies or is destroyed
while in quarantine, the city veterinarian shall remove the head or
brain of the animal and submit it to the nearest department of state
health services laboratory for testing.
(d) If
the city veterinarian determines that a quarantined animal does not
show the clinical signs of rabies, he shall release it to the owner
following the quarantine period if:
(1) The owner has an unexpired or current rabies vaccination certificate
for the animal;
(2) The animal is vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian
at the owner’s expense; or
(3) The animal’s owner submits a receipt from the city secretary
showing that all costs of services and fees have been paid.
(e) The
owner of an animal that is quarantined shall pay to the city the reasonable
costs of the quarantine and disposition of the animal as provided
by this chapter. The city animal control officer may sell and retain
the proceeds or keep, grant, or destroy any animal that the owner
or custodian does not take possession of on or before the third day
following the final day of the quarantine.
(Ordinance 374, sec. 3.79, adopted 5/27/08; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a) If
rabies is known to exist within an area, the city council may declare
an area rabies quarantine.
(b) Upon
the declaration that a quarantine exists, the city council shall:
(1) Define the borders of the area quarantined; and
(2) Adopt permanent or emergency rules in accordance with the applicable
provisions of the administrative procedure and Texas Register Act,
as amended.
(c) The
area quarantine shall remain in effect for 180 days following the
last case of rabies diagnosed in a dog or cat or other animal species
responsible for declaration of the area quarantine, unless removed
prior to that date by declaration of the city council.
(d) Every
person owning or keeping a dog or cat shall confine it securely on
his premises during the quarantine period, unless such dog or cat
has a muzzle of sufficient strength to prevent its biting any person
or other animal.
(e) Any
unmuzzled dog or cat running at large during the quarantine period
shall be seized and impounded unless noticeably infected with rabies.
All dogs and cats noticeably infected with rabies and displaying vicious
propensities may be immediately and summarily destroyed by the city
animal control officer or sheriff or his deputies, without notice
to the owner.
(f) Dogs
and cats impounded during the period of such quarantine may be released
to their owners, if claimed within three days and after first having
paid all costs of impounding, keeping, and treating the animal, unless
such animal is determined to be infected with rabies. If the animal
is determined to be infected with rabies or if it is unclaimed after
three days, it shall be humanely destroyed.
(Ordinance 374, sec. 3.80, adopted 5/27/08)