§ 18-329. Quarantine.

(a)

Any animal that an animal services officer has probable cause to believe was exposed to or is infected with rabies, or that the agent has probable cause to believe has been involved in a local rabies control incident, shall be placed under quarantine. Animals shall be quarantined according to state law and rules. Owners of animals being quarantined at the animal services facility shall pay an animal services quarantine fee.

(b)

Any animal that is required to be quarantined under subsection (a) herein that is concurrently required to take medication for any medical condition shall be quarantined at a licensed veterinarian facility or in a home quarantine in accordance with subsection (c) herein.

(c)

Upon request by the owner, a home quarantine may be allowed if the animal services officer determines all state requirements for a home quarantine are met and the owner complies with all of the following requirements:

(1)

Isolates the animal from all people and pets other than those that lived with the biting animal at the quarantining residence prior to the local rabies control incident;

(2)

Agrees to allow an animal services officer to inspect the animal and residence at any reasonable time during the quarantine period;

(3)

Agrees to contact the animal services manager immediately if the animal escapes from the residence, dies, attacks any other person or animal, exhibits any change in behavior, or exhibits any sign of illness;

(4)

Confines the animal inside a residence or dwelling at all times other than times for evacuation of waste material. During evacuation, the animal shall be kept on a tether not more than six feet in length and must remain under the direct physical control of an adult at all times;

(5)

Agrees to keep the animal at the approved residence or dwelling throughout the quarantine period unless prior written approval to move the animal is obtained from the animal services officer;

(6)

Agrees to keep the animal under quarantine until the animal is cleared by the animal services officer;

(7)

Implants a microchip in the animal in compliance with this chapter;

(8)

Agrees to immediately turn the animal over to a state-approved rabies quarantine facility for the duration of the quarantine period as ordered by the animal services manager if any section of this chapter is violated; and

(9)

Pays the home quarantine fee as set by this chapter.

(d)

Should a potential outbreak of rabies within the city be suspected and the danger to the public safety from rabid animals be reasonably imminent, the animal services manager is hereby authorized to issue a quarantine proclamation, ordering persons owning, keeping, or harboring dogs, cats or other warm-blooded animals to muzzle the same or confine them for the time as may be specified in the quarantine proclamation. Upon the publication of the proclamation by local newspapers, persons owning or harboring animals addressed by the proclamation shall confine them to premises unless they are effectively muzzled and under the control of an adult person by a tether not more than six feet in length. After publication of the proclamation, an animal found to be in violation of the order or at large may be impounded or destroyed by an animal services agent if such agent is unable, with reasonable effort, to apprehend the animal for impoundment.

(e)

A person commits an offense if the person fails or refuses to immediately comply with the animal services manager's order to quarantine an animal in response to a potential outbreak of rabies.

( Ord. No. 3518, § 1, 8-21-2018 )