§ 6-21. Animals suspected of rabies to be held for observation.

(a)

The animal services manager may impound any animal that has rabies symptoms or any animal that bites, scratches, or otherwise attacks any person within the city and hold it in strict isolation for ten (10) calendar days for observation in the city animal shelter.

(b)

The owner or harborer of any animal that has rabies, that has been exposed to rabies, that has rabies symptoms, or that has bitten, scratched, or otherwise attacked any person within the city, shall, on demand, surrender the animal to the animal services manager.

(c)

The animal services manager may order the owner or harborer of an animal that has rabies, is suspected of having rabies, or has rabies symptoms to hold it in strict isolation for ten (10) calendar days for observation in the city animal shelter, any licensed veterinary hospital of the owner or harborer's choosing within the city limits, or at the owner or harborer's home when approved by the animal services manager.

(d)

No person shall release an animal held for observation of rabies to the owner or harborer until a licensed veterinarian or the animal services manager certifies that the animal has been held for the specific time and is demonstrating no clinical symptoms of rabies.

(e)

No person shall dispose of any animal that has died of rabies except as directed by the animal services manager.

(f)

All examinations by a veterinarian shall be at the owner or harborer's expense.

(g)

Notwithstanding any provision in this chapter, if an animal that has not received a current rabies vaccination attacks a person or animal, and the animal services manager decides the animal must be destroyed in order to determine whether rabies inoculation of the victim should begin, the animal services manager may destroy the animal immediately.

(h)

The animal services manager may dispose of dogs, cats, or other animals which are not removed from the city animal shelter within twenty-four (24) hours after the expiration of the ten-day observation period in the manner permitted by this chapter.

(Ord. No. 8597, § 1, 1-26-06; Ord. No. 8934, § 2, 4-4-08)

State law reference

Rabies Control Act of 1981, V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code ch. 826.