2008-07-23 CC Agenda & Work Session

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(A) The state health laws and regulations are hereby adopted in cases of animals which have bitten persons and the animal is rabid or is suspected of being rabid. (B) It shall be the duty of the owner of any animal immediately, but in all cases no later than 24 hours, to report to the Police Department all bites inflicted by the owner's animal to any person. The owner of the animal shall also be required to provide the police written proof of vaccination and pertinent information when warranted or requested by the Police Department. (C) The police are hereby authorized to take into possession any animal suspected of having rabies following a bite inflicted to any person. (0) (1) Whenever the prevalence of rabies renders such action necessary to protect the public health and safety, the Police Department/City Council shall issue a proclamation ordering every person owning or keeping a dog, cat or ferret to confine it securely on its premises unless it is muzzled so that it cannot bite. (2) No person shall violate this proclamation, and any domestic animal running at large during the time fixed in the proclamation may be destroyed by the police without notice to the owner. (E) Whenever an animal has bitten a person or whenever a suspected or known rabid is picked up by an animal control officer or police officer, the animal may be confined for a minimum period of ten days as follows. (1) Upon proof of current rabies vaccination, the animal control officer or police officer may authorize the confinement of the animal at the owner's place of residence, provided that the animal shall not be permitted to come in contact with other animals or persons, and provided further that the animal be muzzled and on a leash not exceeding six feet when removed from the place of confinement. (2) If no proof of current vaccination is provided, or if the animal control officer or police do not consent to confinement at the owner's place of residence, the animal shall be confined at the animal control facility for the entire ten-day period at the owner's expense. (3) An animal under confinement may not be removed from the confinement prior to the expiration of the ten-day period without written permission of the animal control officer or the Chief of Police. (4) The owner of any animal confined at the owner's residence shall, at all times, permit the inspection of the animal during the confinement period upon oral request of animal control officers or the police. The owner shall further be responsible for immediately reporting any change in the animal's health or behavior to the appropriate animal control officer during the confinement period. (5) A quarantined animal shall be confined to an enclosure in a manner so as to prevent the animal from escaping. All openings to the enclosure shall be locked with a secure locking device, and the animal shall not be removed from the enclosure unless muzzled and on a leash not exceeding six feet in length, and under the control of a competent person. I OR /7 /17 P10o;