§ 4-31. Handling of biting animals; responsibility for reporting animal bites.

(a)

An unlicensed dog or unvaccinated animal that bites any person shall be confined and quarantined in a county shelter or veterinary hospital at the owners expense for a period of not less than ten days. The quarantine period shall start on the day of the bite incident. If the day of the bite is not known, the quarantine period shall start on the first day of impoundment. A dog properly licensed and vaccinated pursuant to this article may be confined and quarantined at the home of its owner or wherever the animal is harbored or maintained with the consent of and in a manner prescribed by the county enforcement agent.

(b)

Any domestic animal other than a dog or cat that bites any person shall be confined and quarantined in a county pound or veterinary hospital at owners expense for a period of not less than 14 days. Livestock shall be confined and quarantined for the 14-day period in a manner regulated by the state department of agriculture. If the animal is a caged rodent or rabbit, it may be confined and quarantined at the home of its owner, or where it is harbored or maintained, for the required time, with the consent of and in a manner prescribed by the county enforcement agent.

(c)

With the exception of a wild rodent or rabbit, any wild animal which bites any person may be killed and submitted to the county enforcement agent or his deputies for transmission to an appropriate diagnostic laboratory. A wild rodent or rabbit may be submitted for laboratory testing if the animal has bitten a person and either the animal's health or behavior indicates that the animal may have rabies or the bite occurred in an area that contains a rabies epizootic, as determined by the state department of health services.

(d)

Whenever any animal bites a person, the incident shall be reported to the county enforcement agent immediately by any person having direct knowledge.

(e)

Any animal confined and quarantined pursuant to this section may be destroyed prior to the termination of the minimum confinement period for laboratory examination for rabies if:

(1)

Such animal shows clear clinical signs of rabies.

(2)

The owner of such animal consents to its destruction.

(f)

Any animal subject to licensing under this chapter found without a valid license tag identifying its owner shall be deemed unowned.

(g)

Presence of any disease dangerous to humans shall immediately be reported to the county health department. The county enforcement agent shall cooperate fully with the health department in investigating and taking necessary action to contain the disease.

( Ord. No. 1994-01 , art. III, § 2, 11-15-1994)