As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Includes dogs and other mammals susceptible to rabies.
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 care
or allows it to remain on or about any premises owned or occupied
by him.
A graduate of a recognized school of veterinary medicine
licensed to practice in the State of Pennsylvania.
[1]
Editor's Note: Council, by Res. No. 121-87,
passed 10-28-1987, adopted "Procedure Guidelines for Suspect Rabid
Animal Complaints" as official City policy.
No owner of any dog shall allow such dog to
run at large in the City.
A.
Persons bitten by animals. It shall be the duty of
any person who has knowledge that an animal has bitten or injured
any person in the City to immediately report the facts and the whereabouts
of such animal to the Board, and it shall be the duty of the owner
of every such animal to immediately confine it in such manner as to
prevent it from escaping or running at large. Upon receipt of such
report, the Board shall advise the owner as to the procedure to be
followed with respect to the further confinement and examination of
the animal.
B.
Animal bitten by animal suspected of rabies. It shall
be the duty of any person who has knowledge that an animal 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
to the Board.
C.
Animals infected with rabies. It shall be the duty
of any person who has knowledge that an animal is infected with or
suspected of being infected with rabies to immediately report the
facts and the whereabouts of such animal to the Board. Any animal
suspected of being infected with rabies shall immediately be removed
to and confined in a veterinary hospital acceptable to the Board,
and such animal shall not be released therefrom without permission
of the Board. Any animal infected with rabies shall be disposed of
in such manner as the Board may direct.
A.
If the records of the Board do not disclose any occurrence
of rabies in the City or its environs 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 City 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 Board.
(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 Board and the animal shall immediately
be removed to a veterinary hospital acceptable to the Board.
(4)
If at any time during the ten-day observation period,
the animal should die, the owner shall immediately submit to the Board
the head of the animal for examination.
(5)
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 Board. If
the second report reveals no symptoms indicative of rabies, the animal
may then be released from confinement.
(6)
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 shall direct.
B.
If the records of the Board disclose any occurrence
of rabies within 100 days prior to the receipt of the report above
referred to, it shall be the duty of the owner of the animal which
has bitten or injured any person in this City 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 Board for an observation
period of 10 days from the date the bite occurred. The owner or the
hospital shall submit the receipt for the animal to the Board 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 the veterinarian within 24 hours to the Board.
(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 Board.
(4)
If at any time during the ten-day observation period
the animal should die, the veterinarian shall immediately submit to
the Board the head of the animal for examination.
(5)
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 Board. If
the second report reveals no symptoms indicative of rabies, the owner
may obtain from the Board the hospital receipt for the animal, and
it may then be released from confinement.
(6)
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 shall direct.
[Amended 6-27-2018 by Ord. No. 5646]
It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of a dog or
cat to keep, harbor or have in his custody or control a dog or cat
three months or older for longer than 14 days, unless such dog or
cat has compendium of animal rabies vaccine as approved by the National
Association of State Public Health Veterinarians. Proof of vaccination
shall be furnished at the request of the Chief Health Administrator
or Animal Control Officers.
