Chapter 6.16
ANIMAL BITES AND RABIES

Sections:

6.16.010    Bites – Rabies reports.

6.16.020    Rabies control – Ten-day quarantine.

6.16.030    Violation.

6.16.010 Bites – Rabies reports.

A. It is unlawful for an owner of an animal which bites a person or domestic animal to not promptly report such bite incident to the animal control authority and/or police department.

B. It is unlawful for an owner of an animal which has been exposed to rabies to not promptly report such exposure to rabies to the animal control authority and/or police department. (Ord. 433 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2016)

6.16.020 Rabies control – Ten-day quarantine.

A. Every animal which bites a person, or every animal believed to have rabies or believed to have been bitten by an animal suspected of having rabies shall be quarantined for ten calendar days from the date the animal is seized, removed and impounded under this chapter or from the date the owner is served with a quarantine notice, if the animal is quarantined on the owner’s premises.

B. At the discretion of the animal control authority, such quarantine may be on the premises of the owner, at the shelter designated as the city’s animal shelter, or, at the owner’s option and expense, in a veterinary hospital of the owner’s choice. In the cases of animals whose ownership is not known, such quarantine shall be at the shelter designated as the city animal shelter or veterinary hospital. Animals so confined shall be subject to examination and observation of a veterinarian at the expense of the owner for a period of ten days. The animal control authority is authorized to have such animal removed from the owner’s premises to a veterinary hospital for observation for a period up to ten days at the owner’s expense.

C. Service of the quarantine notice on the animal’s owner shall be as set forth in subsection D of this section. If the animal’s owner is known, then the quarantine notice shall also be posted at the owner’s residence on the front door of the residence or other conspicuous location on the owner’s premises during the period of the quarantine.

D. A quarantine notice shall contain at least:

1. The name and address, if known, of the owner of the animal;

2. The license number, if available, and description of the animal;

3. A statement that it has been reported that the animal has bitten a person, or has been exposed to rabies, indicating the date of the reported bite or exposure to rabies;

4. The expiration date of the quarantine period; and

5. The signature of the person issuing the quarantine notice and the date the quarantine notice is signed.

E. The animal control authority should issue a quarantine notice promptly. No quarantine notice should be issued more than ten calendar days after the date of a reported bite or after the date of a reported exposure to rabies.

F. It is unlawful for any person knowing or suspecting an animal has rabies to allow such animal to be taken off its premises or beyond the limits of the city without the written permission of the animal control authority, unless the animal has been impounded by the animal control authority under this chapter, or removed to a veterinary hospital by direction of the animal control authority or a veterinarian. (Ord. 433 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2016)

6.16.030 Violation.

A. Unless otherwise specifically provided, any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter upon conviction shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as set forth in BMC 1.28.030.

B. In addition to any civil penalty or criminal sentence as provided by this chapter, the owner of the animal, whether licensed or not, shall be liable for actual expenses for boarding the animal, including reasonable charges by the contracted or approved shelter or approved facility used by the city police department, and if necessary, for the cost of its medical care if needed, and/or destruction. (Ord. 433 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2016)