8-6-3. Control of rabies and rabid animals.

(1) Unvaccinated Bitten Animals.

(a) In the case of an unvaccinated animal species subject to rabies which is known to have been bitten by a known rabid animal, said bitten or exposed animal shall be immediately destroyed.

(b) If the owner is unwilling to destroy the bitten or exposed animal, the animal shall be immediately isolated and quarantined for 6 months under veterinary supervision, the cost of such confinement to be paid in advance by the owner. The animal shall be destroyed if the owner does not comply herewith.

(2) Vaccinated Bitten Animals.

(a) If the bitten or exposed animal has been vaccinated, the animal shall be revaccinated within 24 hours and quarantined for a period of 90 days following revaccination, the cost of such confinement to be paid in advance by the owner.

(b) If the animal is not revaccinated within 24 hours, the animal shall be isolated and quarantined under veterinary supervision for 6 months, the cost of such confinement to be paid in advance by the owner.

(c) The animal shall be destroyed if the owner does not comply with items (a) or (b) of this subsection (2).

(3) Removal of Quarantined Animal. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove any such animal from the place of quarantine without written permission of the Animal Control Officer.

(4) Management of Animals that Bite Humans. Any healthy animal of a species subject to rabies that bites a person or animal or is suspected of having rabies may be seized and quarantined for observation for a period of not less than 10 days by the animal control officer and/or the Health Department. The owner of the animal shall bear the cost of confinement. The animal shelter shall be the normal place for quarantine, but other arrangements, including confinement by the owner, may be made by the animal control officer if the animal had a current rabies vaccination at the time the bite was inflicted or if there are other special circumstances justifying an exception. A person who has custody of an animal under quarantine shall immediately notify the animal control officer if the animal shows any signs of sickness or abnormal behavior, or if the animal escapes confinement. It shall be unlawful for any person who has custody of a quarantined animal to fail or refuse to allow a Health or animal control officer, or a veterinarian to make an inspection or examination during the period of quarantine. If the animal dies within 10 days from the date of bite or if signs suggestive of rabies develop, the animal shall be humanely killed and the person having custody shall immediately notify the Health Department and animal control officer who shall immediately remove and deliver the animals head to the State Health Laboratory to be examined for rabies. If, at the end of the 10 day period, the animal control officer or a veterinarian examines the animal and finds no sign of rabies, the animal may be released to the owner or in the case of a stray, it shall be disposed of as provided in Section 8-7-3.

(5) Vicious Animals. If any animal bites or attacks a person or animal 2 times or more, such animal may be immediately impounded by the animal control officer without court order and held at owner expense pending court action. Any such animal shall be deemed a vicious animal, and the animal control officer may seek a court order as provided in Section 8-5-5 for authority to destroy said animal. Parties owning such animals shall, if possible, be notified immediately of the animal's location by the animal control officer. (Ord. 95-19, 9/12/95; Ord. 92-5, 9/1/ 1992)