As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ANIMAL
Includes 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 care or allows it to remain on or about any premises owned or occupied by him.
VETERINARIAN
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.
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.