No person shall have, keep, or harbor any animal which is known or believed by him or her to be infected with any dangerous or communicable disease, or which is in an incurable, crippled condition or which is afflicted with any painful disease which is believed by such person to be incurable, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(§ 1, Ord. 367, eff. January 14, 1994)
Whenever the owner or person in control of any animal is informed that such animal has bitten a human being, or suspects that the animal is infected with rabies, he or she shall immediately report the same to the local Health Department and to the Superintendent, and shall immediately confine such animal. At the discretion of the local Health Officer or Animal Control Officer, any animal which bites or otherwise exposes a person shall be isolated in strict confinement in a place and manner approved by the local Health Officer or Animal Control Officer and observed for at least 14 days (dog and cats, 10 days) after the date of infliction of the bite, with the exception that the following alternative to the 10 day isolation of dogs and cats is permitted:
Dogs or cats which have been isolated in strict confinement under proper care and under observation of a licensed veterinarian, in a pound, veterinary hospital or other adequate facility in a manner approved by the local Health Officer or Animal Control Officer, may be released from isolation by the local Health Officer or Animal Control Officer after five days of veterinary observation if, upon conducting a thorough physical examination on the fifth day or more after infliction of the bite, the observing veterinarian certifies that there are no clinical signs or symptoms of any systemic disease. If it appears at any time during such period that the animal has rabies, the Health Officer or Animal Control Officer shall cause the animal to be destroyed. If at the end of the 14 day period or such other period as may be prescribed by the State Department of Public Health, it appears that the animal does not have rabies, it shall be released upon payment to the Superintendent of a sum for its care during the period, together with an impounding fee as set forth in the Town's fee schedule; provided, however, that no impounding fee shall be charged to an owner or custodian of an animal who immediately transports such animal to the animal center.
The Health Officer or Animal Control Officer or his or her duly authorized representative is empowered to enter upon any public or private premises, in accordance with the procedures provided by law, within the Town for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this section and he or she is empowered to call upon the County Sheriff for assistance in enforcing such provisions. The owner of any animal which is reported to have bitten on two or more occasions may be required to obtain a permit for keeping a dangerous animal, pursuant to Section 6-1.604, following investigation of reported bites and recommendation by the Superintendent of the Animal Center.
(§ 1, Ord. 367, eff. January 14, 1994)
It shall be the duty of the Superintendent, and he or she is so authorized and empowered, to order the destruction by any employee of the animal center of any animal lawfully taken into the custody of the City which in the opinion of the Superintendent is incapacitated by senility or which is infected with any dangerous or communicable disease, or which is in an incurable, crippled condition, or for which there is no immediate cure.
(§ 1, Ord. 367, eff. January 14, 1994)
No person shall place the body of any dead animal in any street, park, or public place or in any refuse receptacle. The bodies of any dead animals shall be promptly removed as directed by the Superintendent. In case the owner of such dead animal is known and removal is accomplished by the Superintendent or any other representative of the City or Town, the owner shall pay the cost of removal of such animal as set forth in the Town's fee schedule.
(§ 1, Ord. 367, eff. January 14, 1994)