§ 6-33. Rabies control.

(a)

General provisions:

(1)

Impoundment—By the animal control officer. Except as provided in subsection (a)(2) below, every animal that has rabies or exhibits symptoms thereof, and every animal that bites, scratches or otherwise attacks any person or another animal within the city shall be impounded summarily and held under observation by the animal control officer for ten (10) days. If the owner desires, such animal may be confined for observation in a veterinary clinic approved by the animal control officer, at the owner's sole expense, for the required ten-day period. The veterinarian in charge of such clinic shall, prior to such approval, certify to the animal control officer that he is willing and able to care for and confine the animal as required herein.

(2)

Same—At home. Any animal with a current rabies vaccination, as evidenced by a veterinarian's certification, that bites, scratches or otherwise attacks any person or another animal within the city limits may, upon approval by the animal control officer, be confined and quarantined on the owner's premises for the requisite ten-day period for rabies observation, provided that the animal is examined by a veterinarian at the beginning of the quarantine period and again ten (10) days later, and provided further that his written findings are submitted to the animal control officer within three (3) days after such examinations.

(3)

Penalty. Any owner or keeper of any animal subject to impoundment under this section, who fails to keep the animal confined, fails to have the animal examined by a veterinarian or refuses to surrender the animal for required confinement shall, upon conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction, be subject to a minimum fine of two hundred dollars ($200.00).

(b)

No animal which has rabies shall be allowed at any time on the public streets or ways of the city. No animal suspected of having rabies shall be allowed at any time on the public streets or ways of the city unless such animal has been released from observation by the animal control officer.

(c)

The owner, keeper or person in charge of any animal that has rabies or has exhibited symptoms thereof, or that has been exposed to rabies, or that has bitten, scratched or otherwise attacked any person or another animal within the city shall, on demand, surrender such animal to the animal control officer or his designee.

(d)

The body of any animal that has died of rabies shall not be disposed of except as directed by the animal control officer.

(e)

The animal control officer shall check and record all cases of rabies and suspected rabies. Such records shall not be destroyed for five (5) years without permission of the city manager.

(f)

In accordance with V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code, Title 10, Rabies, Section 826.041, any person who knows of an animal bite or scratch to an individual that the person could reasonably foresee as capable of transmitting rabies, or who knows of an animal that the person suspects to be rabid, shall report the incident or animal to the local rabies control authority of the county or municipality in which the person lives, in which the animal is located, or in which the exposure occurs.

(Ord. No. 528-8, § 1, 11-11-13)