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Ordinance 2011-455 <br />Sec. 10-29 - Animal bites and animals exposed to rabies. <br />1) Pursuit of biting dog authorized. Any law enforcement officer or animal control officer <br />may enter upon the private property of any person while in pursuit of any dog under <br />probable cause to believe that such dog has bitten a person or animal, or that such dog <br />shows signs consistent with rabies. <br />2) Quarantine required. Subsection (1) of this section notwithstanding, whenever any <br />person who owns, possesses or harbors any dog within the city learns that the dog has <br />bitten any human being or domestic animal, such person shall immediately quarantine <br />such dog for a period of at least ten days, keeping it apart from other animals until it is <br />determined that the dog shows no signs of rabies. The quarantine may be by the person <br />owning the dog if such dog has a current rabies vaccination at the time the bite occurred. <br />If the dog does not have a current rabies vaccination at the time the bite occurred, the dog <br />must be impounded at a licensed pound or with a licensed veterinarian at the owner's <br />expense. Upon request, the owner of the dog must provide documentation of the location <br />of the dog to the Animal Control Authority. After the required ten-day quarantine, the <br />dog shall be examined by a licensed veterinarian to determine whether it shows signs <br />consistent with rabies. If the dog is found to show such signs, it shall be humanely <br />euthanized and sent to an appropriate facility for rabies testing. <br />3) Impoundment of biting dog. If the dog owner cannot be located or advised of the dog <br />bite within two hours of the occurrence, or if the owner fails to quarantine the dog as <br />required by this section, the animal control authority shall cause the dog to be impounded <br />and so quarantined. After the required ten-day quarantine, if the dog is still unclaimed, <br />the dog shall be humanely euthanized and tested for rabies; if claimed, the dog shall be <br />examined by a licensed veterinarian to ensure there are no clinical signs of rabies. If no <br />signs of rabies are observed, the dog can be released to the owner as specified in section <br />10-27. If the dog is found to show signs of rabies, it shall be humanely euthanized. <br />4) Verification of quarantine. The animal control authority, or other designate of the city, <br />shall have the authority to verify if the dog is properly quarantined. Any veterinarian <br />quarantining an animal shall notify the animal control authority before the release of such <br />animal. <br />5) Bitten dog to be impounded; proof of vaccination required. Any dog known to have <br />been bitten by a rabid dog or exposed to rabies shall be impounded. If, however, either <br />dog is at large and cannot be apprehended after reasonable effort, the dog may be <br />immediately destroyed. After impoundment, if proof of rabies immunization is furnished <br />and booster injections are given by a licensed veterinarian at the expense of the owner, <br />the dog may be released to the owner as specified in section 10-27. If it cannot be proven <br />that the animal has a current rabies immunization, the owner may, at his discretion, make <br />provision for a suitable quarantine for a period of not less than six months. <br />5 <br />