§ 4-10. Biting animal

(a) An animal impounded for biting shall be confined at the contract facility for at least ten days. At the request of the owner and at the owner's expense, and with the consent of a veterinarian, the animal may be confined at facilities maintained by a licensed veterinarian.

(b) When the owner of an animal impounded for biting is known, or reasonably thought by the animal control officer to be identifiable, the animal control officer must attempt to personally contact the owner in order to determine if and when the animal has been vaccinated for rabies.

(c) In addition to all of the notice requirements listed in section 4-7(b), the notice must contain the following information for animals impounded for biting:

(1) That the animal will be confined for ten days.

(2) That, if the owner has not already done so, the owner should immediately contact the animal control officer to discuss if and when the impounded animal was vaccinated for rabies.

(3) That the owner may not take possession of the impounded animal until the animal control officer and the contract facility have received a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian certifying that the animal is free of transmittable rabies.

(d) No animal impounded for biting shall be released to its owner until the animal control officer and the contract facility have received either:

(1) A certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian certifying that the animal is free of transmittable rabies.

(2) If the animal is over the age of 16 weeks, evidence sufficient to satisfy the animal control officer that the animal has a current rabies vaccination or that the animal has received the required vaccination during its period of impoundment.

(Ord. No. 590, § XI, 7-10-2012)