§ 6.05.080. Rabies control; destruction of animals.

A.

Bites From Animals.

1.

Dogs.

a.

An unlicensed or unvaccinated dog that bites any person shall be confined and quarantined in an authorized pound or, upon request of and at the expense of the owner, at a veterinary hospital, for a period of not less than 14 days.

b.

A dog properly licensed and vaccinated pursuant to this chapter that bites any person may be confined and quarantined at the home of the owner or wherever the dog is harbored and maintained with the consent of and in a manner prescribed by the enforcement agent.

c.

Any dog subject to licensing under this chapter found without a tag shall be deemed un-owned.

2.

Animals Other Than Dogs. An animal, other than a dog, that bites a person shall be confined and quarantined in an authorized pound or, upon the request of and at the expense of the owner, at a veterinary hospital, for a period of not less than 14 days; provided, that livestock shall be confined and quarantined for the 14-day period in a manner regulated by the Arizona Department of Agriculture. If the animal is a caged rodent, it may be confined and quarantined at the home of the owner or where it is harbored or maintained for the required period of time with the consent of and in a manner prescribed by the enforcement agent.

3.

Wild Animals. With the exception of a wild rodent or rabbit, any wild animal that bites any person or directly exposes any person to its saliva may be killed and submitted to the county/city enforcement agent for transmission to an appropriate diagnostic laboratory. A wild rodent or rabbit may be submitted for laboratory testing if the animal has bitten a person and either the animal's health or behavior indicates that the animal may have rabies or the bite occurred in an area that contains a rabies epizootic, as determine by the department of health services.

B.

Report Required. When an animal bites any person, the incident shall be reported to the enforcement agent immediately by any person having direct knowledge. A person who knowingly fails to report the incident is guilty of a petty offense.

C.

Destruction of Animals.

1.

The enforcement agent may destroy any animal confined and quarantined pursuant to this chapter prior to the termination of the minimum confinement period for laboratory examination for rabies if:

a.

The animal shows clear clinical signs of rabies.

b.

The owner of such animal consents to its destruction.

2.

The enforcement agent shall destroy a vicious animal, except a dog found to be vicious under section 6.05.100.A of this chapter, upon an order of the justice of the peace/city magistrate. The justice of the peace/city magistrate may issue such an order after notice to the owner, if any, and the person who was bitten, and a hearing. The justice of the peace/magistrate may impose additional procedures to protect all parties in the interest of justice, and any decision by the justice of the peace/magistrate may be appealed to the superior court.

(Ord. NS301, § 2(6-5-8), 2010)

State law reference

Handling; destruction, A.R.S. 11-1014; handling; classification, A.R.S. 1-1014(G).