[Adopted 10-21-1969 by Ord. No. 874]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Dogs and other mammals susceptible to rabies.
The Board of Health of the Borough of Lansdowne.
Every person having a right of proprietorship in such animal,
and every person who keeps or harbors such animal or has it in his
care, and every person who permits such animal to remain on or about
any premises occupied by him.
The Police Department of the Borough of Lansdowne.
A graduate of a recognized school of veterinary medicine
licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A.
It shall be the duty of any person who has knowledge that an animal
has bitten or injured any person in the Borough of Lansdowne to immediately
report the facts and the whereabouts of such animal, if known, to
the Police Department, and it shall be the duty of the owner of every
such animal to immediately confine it in such manner as will prevent
it from escaping or running at large. Upon receipt of such report,
the Police Department shall advise the owner as to the procedure to
be followed with respect to the further confinement and examination
of the animal.
B.
It shall be the duty of any person who has knowledge that an animal
in the Borough of Lansdowne has been bitten or otherwise injured by
or been exposed to or been in contact with an animal infected with
or suspected of being infected with rabies to immediately report the
facts and the whereabouts of such animal, if known, to the Police
Department.
C.
It shall be the duty of any person who has knowledge that an animal
in the Borough of Lansdowne is infected with or suspected of being
infected with rabies to immediately report the facts and the whereabouts
of such animal to the Police Department. Any animal suspected of being
infected with rabies shall immediately be removed to and confined
in a veterinary hospital acceptable to the Board of Health. Any animal
infected with rabies shall be disposed of in such manner as the Board
of Health may direct.
A.
If the records of the Board of Health do not disclose any occurrence
of rabies in the Borough of Lansdowne within a period of 100 days
prior to the receipt of such report, it shall be the duty of the owner
of any animal which has bitten or injured any person in the Borough
to follow the procedure set forth below:
(1)
The animal shall be confined by the owner for an observation period
of 10 days from the date the bite occurred, at the home of the owner
or at some other location selected by him, under the supervision of
a veterinarian in such manner as will prevent it from escaping or
running at large.
(2)
Immediately upon being placed in confinement, the animal shall be
examined by a veterinarian employed by the owner. A written report
of the results of such examination shall be submitted by the owner
or the veterinarian within 24 hours to the Police Department.
(3)
If at any time during the ten-day observation period the animal develops
symptoms indicative of rabies, such fact shall be communicated at
once to the Police Department and the animal shall immediately be
removed to a veterinary hospital acceptable to the Police Department.
(4)
At the end of the ten-day observation period, the animal shall again
be examined by a veterinarian employed by the owner and a written
report of the results of such examination shall be submitted by the
owner or the veterinarian within 24 hours to the Police Department.
If the second report reveals no symptoms indicative of rabies, the
animal may then be released from confinement.
(5)
If at any time after the animal is placed in confinement it develops
rabies, it shall be disposed of in such manner as the Board of Health
shall direct.
B.
If the records of the Board of Health disclose any occurrence of
rabies in the Borough of Lansdowne within 100 days prior to the receipt
of such report, it shall be the duty of the owner of any animal which
has bitten or injured any person in the Borough to follow the procedure
set forth below:
(1)
The animal shall be removed to and confined by the owner in a veterinary
hospital acceptable to the Police Department for an observation period
of 10 days from the date the bite occurred. The owner or hospital
shall submit the receipt for the animal to the Police Department upon
the same day that it is placed in the hospital.
(2)
Immediately upon being placed in the hospital, the animal shall be
examined by a veterinarian employed by the owner. A written report
of the results of such examination shall be submitted by the owner
or veterinarian within 24 hours to the Police Department.
(3)
If at any time during the ten-day observation period the animal develops
symptoms indicative of rabies, such fact shall be communicated at
once to the Police Department.
(4)
At the end of the ten-day observation period the animal shall again
be examined by a veterinarian employed by the owner and a written
report of the results of such examination shall be submitted by the
owner or the veterinarian within 24 hours to the Police Department.
If the second report reveals no symptoms indicative of rabies, the
owner may obtain from the Police Department the hospital receipt for
the animal and it may then be released from confinement.
(5)
If at any time after the animal is placed in the hospital it develops
rabies, it shall be disposed of in such manner as the Board of Health
shall direct.
[Amended 9-21-1988 by Ord. No. 1080; 6-16-1999 by Ord. No. 1155]
Any person violating any provision of this article shall, upon
conviction before a Magisterial District Judge, be subject to a fine
of not more than $600, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default
of payment of said fine and costs, to imprisonment for a term not
to exceed 30 days.
