§ 5-126. Reporting, bites, scratches; zoonotic diseases.

(a)

Any veterinarian or person having knowledge of an animal having bitten, scratched or injured a person, within the city shall report the incident to the director who is also the local rabies control authority immediately.

(b)

Any veterinarian or other person having knowledge of an animal diagnosed as having any reportable zoonotic disease shall report same to the director within five (5) days.

(c)

The owner of such diseased or biting or scratching animal who learns of such incident shall immediately give his name and address together with the animal's registered microchip information and date of last rabies vaccination to the person bitten or injured or to a parent or guardian of such person who is under the age of eighteen (18) years. The owner shall notify the director within twenty-four (24) hours of his name; the animal's registered microchip information; the name of the injured person; and other information requested by the director related to the animal and injured party.

(d)

If the animal care services officer is present, the owner/keeper shall immediately surrender the animal. If an animal care services officer is not present and the owner/keeper does not surrender the animal to the animal care services facility within twenty-four (24) hours of the incident occurring, the director or any appointed animal care officer shall seize and impound any animal for rabies observation upon the sworn affidavit of any person with knowledge that the animal has bitten a person. An administrative search warrant shall be obtained from any municipal court judge or other magistrate to enter onto private property to search for the biting animal if permission to enter is not given.

(Ord. No. 2010-06-17-0555, § 1, 6-17-10; Ord. No. 2015-04-30-0354 , § 2, 4-30-15; Ord. No. 2017-10-05-0755 , § 1, 10-5-17)