The animal control officer 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 the human
population, or other animals. All animal bite reports shall be investigated
by animal control. The animal control officer shall direct the disposition
of any animal suspected of being rabid or having any other zoonotic
disease considered to be hazardous to any other animal or human being.
[Ord. No. 810-97, § 7(A), 1-28-1997; Ord. No. 1440-21, § 1, 10-25-2021]
(a)
Every
animal that bites a human or attacks another animal in an unnatural
manner, shall be immediately confined by the owner, who shall promptly
notify the animal control officer of the place where such animal is
confined and the reason therefor. The owner shall not permit the animal
to come in contact with any other person or animal. The owner shall
surrender possession of such animal to the animal control officer
on demand for supervised quarantine. Supervised quarantine shall be
at the animal shelter or a veterinary hospital. The quarantine shall
not be for less than ten days, not including the day of the bite.
A release from quarantine may be issued if a veterinarian determines
that the quarantined animal does not show the clinical signs of rabies.
(b)
Any
veterinary hospital possessing any quarantined animal shall immediately
notify the animal control officer if such animal escapes, or becomes
or appears to become sick, or dies; and, in case of death of the animal
while under quarantine, shall immediately surrender the dead animal
to the animal control officer for diagnostic purposes.
(c)
If the owner of a quarantined animal does not reclaim the animal within four days after the expiration of the quarantine period, the animal may be disposed of as described in section 6-219 above.
(d)
Home
quarantine may be allowed, but only in the sole discretion of the
animal control officer. The animal control officer may allow home
quarantine if all criteria for home quarantine in any applicable state
laws and regulations are met, and if the animal control officer is
satisfied, in the officer's sole discretion, that the animal's owner
understands, and will abide by, both the applicable provisions of
state law and regulations and the current rules for home quarantine
as issued by the Richland Hills Animal Control Division.
(e)
If the
animal control officer authorizes home quarantine, the animal control
officer shall provide instructions to the owner that read as follows:
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__________
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INSTRUCTION SHEET FOR HOME QUARANTINE
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Rabies is a virus that is spread through the saliva of a contagious
animal. An infected animal is contagious for up to ten days before
its death. Infection occurs when the infected saliva comes in contact
with blood through a break in the skin. Bites, obviously, but even
scratches can be infected with the virus. Soap and water immediately
after a bite/scratch is the best prevention of infection, but quarantine
of the animal is the only way to know for sure if further steps are
needed. The virus spreads slowly from the injury, through the muscle
tissue to the nerves and eventually to the brain. The current post
exposure rabies vaccine has been 100 percent effective when given
before the virus enters the nerve. However, after the virus is in
the nerve, it cannot be stopped and is 100 percent fatal. This is
why quarantine is so important, and the reason that the rules of quarantine
must be strictly followed.
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The following rules must be strictly adhered to in order to
limit any potential spread of the virus:
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(1)
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The animal must be isolated from all persons except for the
person feeding or otherwise caring for the animal. The animal must
be kept in a separate room, garage or outside pen, and no access is
to be allowed to anyone other than the caregiver. Any people exposed
to the animal will most likely be required to receive the post exposure
shots if the animal tests positive for rabies.
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(2)
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The quarantined animal cannot be moved to any location other
than that approved in writing by the city. If the caregiver cannot
be available to tend the animal, or the animal must be moved, the
animal shall be taken to the animal services center or a veterinarian.
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(3)
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The quarantined animal shall not be allowed in the same room,
yard or pen with any other animal. Chain link fencing is not adequate
separation between the quarantined animal and other animals in the
yard or on adjacent property because chain link fencing allows nose-to-nose
contact.
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(4)
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The quarantined animal must not be allowed to escape, taken
for walks on a leash, or released for a nature call.
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(5)
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The quarantined animal must be checked by a veterinarian on
the first and last day of the quarantine confinement.
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[Ord. No. 810-97, § 7(B), 1-28-1997; Ord. No. 894-01, § I, 4-10-2001; Ord. No. 1440-21, § 1, 10-25-2021]
Without permission of the animal control officer, it shall be
unlawful for any person to kill or remove from the city limits any
animal that has bitten a person or other animal, or that is placed
under quarantine, except when it is necessary to kill such animal
to protect the life of any person or other animal. If any such animal
must be killed, the animal's body must be surrendered to the animal
control officer for proper testing.
[Ord. No. 810-97, § 7(C), 1-28-1997; Ord. No. 1440-21, § 1, 10-25-2021]
The carcass of any dead animal exposed to rabies, or suspected
of having been rabid, shall, upon demand, be surrendered to the animal
control officer for proper testing.
[Ord. No. 810-97, § 7(D), 1-28-1997; Ord. No. 1440-21, § 1, 10-25-2021]
(a)
Any
person having knowledge of the existence of any animal known to have
been, or suspected of being, exposed to rabies must immediately report
such knowledge to the animal control officer or city health inspector,
giving any information which may be required. For any animal known
to have been, or suspected of being, exposed to rabies, the animal
shall be handled in one of the following manners:
(b)
If the
animal control officer or a veterinarian determines that a quarantined
animal does not show the clinical signs of rabies, it may be released
to the owner upon the expiration of the quarantine period; provided
the owner has paid all of the reasonable cost of such quarantine and
any veterinarian bills. However, if the quarantined animal does show
clinical signs of rabies, the animal shall be humanely destroyed and
its head or brain submitted to the nearest laboratory, certified by
the state department of health for rabies testing.
(c)
No wild
animals suspected of being exposed to rabies will be placed in quarantine.
All wild animals will be humanely destroyed in such a manner that
the brain is not mutilated, and the brain will then be submitted to
a laboratory, certified for rabies diagnosis, in order to be tested.
[Ord. No. 810-97, § 7(E), 1-28-1997; Ord. No. 1440-21, § 1, 10-25-2021]
No person shall fail or refuse to surrender an animal for supervised
quarantine or humane destruction, as required herein for rabies control,
when demand therefor is made by an animal control officer.
[Ord. No. 810-97, § 7(F), 1-28-1997; Ord. No. 1440-21, § 1, 10-25-2021]
