A. Whenever an animal susceptible to rabies bites any person, causing a break to the skin, the incident shall be reported to the Police Department immediately by a person having direct knowledge of the incident.

B. An Enforcement Officer shall order any animal susceptible to rabies that is not licensed, permitted, or vaccinated quarantined in a pound if the Officer has reason to believe that the animal that bit a person is showing signs or symptoms of rabies, or has been in contact with a rabid animal.

C. An animal properly licensed, permitted and vaccinated may be confined and quarantined at the home of the owner or wherever the animal is harbored and maintained with the consent of and in a manner prescribed by an Enforcement Officer.

D. Upon the request of and at the expense of the owner, an animal may be quarantined at a veterinary hospital for a period of not less than ten (10) days.

E. If quarantine cannot be imposed because the animal cannot be captured, and, in the Enforcement Officer’s opinion, the animal is a risk to public safety, the Enforcement Officer may destroy or order the animal destroyed. The Officer shall attempt to destroy the animal in a humane manner and in a manner which avoids damage to the animal’s head.

F. If an animal dies during the period of quarantine, or has been destroyed, its head shall be sent to the State Department of Health Services for examination. [Ordinance #315, 2008; prior code § 6-1-8.]