As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ANIMAL
Dogs and other mammals susceptible to rabies.
OWNER
Includes any person having a right of property in any animal
and any person who keeps or harbors an animal or has it in his or
her care or allows it to remain on or about any premises occupied
by him or her.
VETERINARIAN
A graduate of a recognized school of veterinary medicine
licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog
to allow such dog to run at large upon the public streets of the municipality
or upon the property of others unless accompanied by the owner.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any cat
to allow such cat to run at large upon the public streets of this
municipality or upon the property of others unless accompanied by
the owner.
It shall be the duty of the owner of any animal
which has been bitten or injured by a rabid animal or which has been
bitten or injured by a skunk, fox, raccoon or bat that is unavailable
for testing to follow the following procedures set forth below:
A. Dogs and cats that are currently vaccinated against
rabies shall be revaccinated immediately and shall be kept by the
owner for an observation period of 90 days from the date the bite
occurred at the home of the owner or at some other location acceptable
to the Board of Health and in such a manner as will prevent it from
escaping or running at large.
B. Unvaccinated dogs and cats shall be destroyed immediately.
If the owner is unwilling to have this done, the unvaccinated animal
shall be placed in strict isolation at a veterinary hospital or other
location acceptable to the Board of Health for a period of six months.
The animal shall be vaccinated one month before being released. Any
other species of animal that is bitten by a high-risk animal shall
be destroyed immediately. The owner of the animal may file an appeal
to the Board of Health within 10 days of the bite or injury for the
purpose of holding a hearing. The animal shall be held in strict isolation
at a veterinary hospital pending a decision by the Board of Health
following such hearing.
C. At the end of said observation period, the animal
shall be examined by a veterinarian employed by the owner and a written
report of the results of such examination shall be submitted to the
Board of Health by the owner within 24 hours. If the report reveals
no symptoms indicative of rabies, the animal may then be released
from confinement.
D. If at any time during said observation period the
animal develops symptoms indicative of rabies, such fact shall be
communicated at once to the Board of Health, and the animal shall
immediately be removed to a veterinary hospital acceptable to the
Board.
E. If at any time during said observation period the
animal should die, the owner shall immediately submit to the Board
of Health the head of the animal for examination.