§ 6.06.040. Quarantine and disposition.

A.

Animals involved in a LRCI incident for which an owner cannot be readily identified and or contacted expeditiously will be impounded. The animal shall be confined under positive control for ten consecutive days (240 hours) after the time of the bite. The animal will be isolated from other animals or possible victims.

B.

Every animal that has rabies or symptoms thereof, or every animal that a person could reasonably suspect as having rabies, or that bites any person within the city shall be impounded at once and held for observation and quarantined at an approved quarantine facility.

C.

The owner of any dog or cat that is reported to have attacked an individual shall submit such animal to the animal control officer or a licensed veterinarian for a quarantine period of ten consecutive days (240 hours) at the owner's expense. The ten-day observation period shall begin on the day of the bite incident. Any such animal must be immediately surrendered to the animal control officer or to a LRCA approved facility. The owner may choose to have the animal quarantined for the ten-day period at an approved quarantine facility within Uvalde County.

D.

In the event the owner of such animal described in subsection A. or B. refuses to surrender such animal on demand, such action shall constitute a misdemeanor and upon conviction be punishable by a fine.

E.

The owner of an animal quarantined under this section shall pay the quarantine facility the cost of the quarantine and any other fees associated with the animal's care, including the charges for preparation and shipment of the animal's head or brain, if required, to the nearest state department of health certified laboratory for rabies testing. If the owner chooses not to pay for quarantine, the animal shall be humanely euthanized and the brain submitted to the state department of health certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis, at the owner's expense. All quarantine related payment arrangements shall be at the discretion of the individual quarantine facility and the facility shall be responsible for the collection of money owed.

F.

The following quarantine procedures shall be observed:

1.

Biting animals and animals suspected of rabies that are placed in confinement for observation must be separated from all other animals in such a manner that there is no possibility of physical contact between animals.

2.

A responsible person will observe the quarantined animal twice a day and will notify the LRCA if clinical signs of rabies appear.

3.

At the discretion of the LRCA or his or her designee, an unowned animal may be humanely euthanized for rabies diagnosis prior to the end of the quarantine period.

4.

If the biting animal cannot be maintained in secure quarantine or if the owner chooses not to pay for quarantine, the animal shall be humanely euthanized and the brain submitted to a state department of health certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis, at the owner's expense.

G.

Any animal quarantined at a certified quarantine facility shall be observed, by a licensed veterinarian or animal control officer, or LRCA, at least on the first and last days of the quarantine period. If it is determined that the animal has clinical signs of the disease of rabies the animal shall be humanely euthanized and the head or brain submitted for testing. If the animal control officer, veterinarian, or LRCA determines that the animal does not exhibit the clinical signs of the disease of rabies, the LRCA shall provide a form to the veterinarian for his or her signature, certifying that the animal has been found to be free of the clinical signs of rabies at the end of the quarantine period. This form shall be returned to the LRCA at the end of the quarantine period.

H.

The owner of the animal may request permission from the animal control officer or LRCA for home quarantine in Uvalde County if the following criteria can be met:

1.

Secure facilities must be available at the home of the animal's owner, and must be approved by the animal control officer or the LRCA.

2.

The animal is currently vaccinated against rabies and the owner is in possession of a current rabies tag or certificate.

3.

The animal was not in violation of any laws or ordinance at the time of the incident.

4.

The bite incident was a provoked attack.

5.

A licensed veterinarian, animal control officer, or the LRCA must observe the animal at least on the first and last days of the quarantine period. If the animal becomes ill during the home quarantine period, the person having possession of the animal must notify the city veterinarian, animal control officer and LRCA. At the end of the quarantine period the owner shall transport the animal by direct route to the veterinarian for final observation. Both observations by the veterinarian, animal control officer or the LRCA may be made at the location of the home quarantine if requested by the owner or required by the animal control officer or the LRCA. The release from quarantine must be accomplished in writing.

6.

The owner shall be responsible for paying all rabies observation fees to the veterinarian.

7.

It shall be unlawful to violate the provisions and conditions of the home quarantine as required by the animal control officer. If the owner of the animal fails to abide by all provisions and conditions required by the animal control officer when the quarantine was granted and the animal is found in violation of these conditions the animal shall be immediately impounded and quarantined for the remainder of the observation period at an approved quarantine facility at the owner's expense.

I.

No dog or cat shall be released from quarantine unless:

1.

The owner has an unexpired rabies vaccination certificate and license for the animal; or

2.

The animal has been vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian and a license is obtained, at owner's expense.

J.

No wild animal will be placed in quarantine. All wild animals involved in biting incidents will be humanely euthanized in such a manner that the brain is not mutilated. The brain shall be submitted to a state department of health certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis.

K.

Animals that have not been vaccinated and which have been bitten or directly exposed by physical contact with a rabid animal or its fresh tissues shall be humanely euthanized or, if sufficient justification for preserving the animal exists, the exposed animal shall be immediately vaccinated against rabies, placed in strict isolation for 90 days and given a booster vaccination during the third and eighth week of isolation. If the animal is under three months of age at the time of the second vaccination, an additional booster should be given when the animal reaches three months of age.

L.

Currently vaccinated animals that have been bitten or otherwise significantly exposed to a rabid animal should be humanely euthanized, or if sufficient justification for preserving the animal exists, the exposed vaccinated animal should be given a booster rabies vaccination immediately and placed in strict isolation for 45 days. These provisions apply only to domestic animals for which an approved rabies vaccination is available.

(Ord. No. 2017-06 , § 2, 7-11-2017)