§ 10-72. Quarantine of dogs and cats.

(a)

Any owned dog or cat which has bitten or scratched a person shall be observed for a period of ten (10) days from the date of the bite. The procedure and place of observation shall be designated by the investigating officer or responsible agency, in compliance with state law. If the dog or cat is not confined on the owner's premises, confinement shall be by impoundment in the animal care and adoption center, or at a veterinary hospital of the owner's choice, within a ten (10) mile radius of Haltom City. Such confinement shall be at the owner's expense. Stray dogs and cats or those animals whose owner's cannot be located shall be confined in the animal care and adoption center for a period of four (4) days and if unclaimed may be destroyed and the brain of such animal immediately submitted to a qualified laboratory for rabies examination at the victim's expense. The owner of any dog or cat that has been reported to have inflicted a bite on any person shall, on demand, produce said dog or cat for impoundment, as prescribed in this article. Quarantine by owner may be allowed only in those incidents where permitted by state law and agreed to by the animal services officer. Refusal to produce said dog or cat constitutes a violation of this section and each day of such refusal shall constitute a separate and individual violation.

(b)

Any wild, exotic or dangerous animal considered "high risk" according to state law, which has bitten or scratched a person shall be caught and humanely killed and the brain submitted for rabies examination. Those wild animals which are classified as "low risk" animals shall be handled as dictated by state law.

(Ord. No. O-2013-004-04, § 1, 3-25-13)