§ 4-15. Procedure re biting animals.

If any animal has bitten any person or is suspected of having bitten any person, or is for any reason suspected of having or being infected with rabies, then such animal shall be apprehended and retained by the animal control officer, securely penned and separated from other animals, for such period as may be necessary to ascertain whether or not the animal is infected with rabies. If, after sufficient observation, the animal, in the opinion of the animal control officer or director of public health, is not infected, the animal, if claimed, shall be returned to the owner. If, in the opinion of the animal control officer, or director of public health, after consultation with a licensed veterinarian, symptoms develop justifying a micro-scopic examination, then the animal shall be killed and the head sent to the state board of health in Austin for further examination. Any animal desired for observation by the animal control officer under this section shall be delivered to the animal control officer upon demand and shall not be withheld, hidden, or harbored. Persons violating this provision shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon refusal of any person to deliver such animal, any officer of the county sheriff's department shall cause a warrant to be issued for the arrest of such person, which warrant shall also provide for the surrender of the animal and shall be lawful authority for the apprehension and forceful taking of such animal.

(Ord. No. 7721-1, § 6(O-1), 9-1-77; Ord. No. 8004, § 1, 3-6-80)