(1) It is unlawful for the owner or owners or custodian of a “biting dog(s)” as defined in SMC 8.02.020(5) to harbor or keep such dog without permitting an examination or inspection of such dog after due demand therefor by the chief of police or his designee (animal control authority). The owner of a dog alleged to have bitten a person must produce valid certification of a current rabies vaccination or the dog must be quarantined by either securing the dog on the owner’s premises with the approval and supervision of the animal control authority and not allowing the dog to be at large or to come into contact with any person or animal for 10 days or placing the dog in a veterinary hospital or approved shelter for at least 10 days beginning when notification is received. The dog may not be transported outside the city limits without the written permission of the police department/animal control authority.

(2) Quarantine – Location. The place of quarantine shall be established by the chief of police, or the chief’s designee (the animal control authority) may, in its discretion, allow the owner and/or keeper of the animal to maintain the quarantine. No animal under confinement shall be released from confinement without approval of the police department. If the owner and/or keeper is unable or unwilling to confine the animal, or if the chief police, or the animal control authority, determines from the prior history of the animal that confinement is not likely, the animal may be quarantined by the animal control authority, or at a veterinarian and/or boarding kennel of the owner’s choice; provided, that the costs to board the animal shall be borne by the owner if in a location other than the owner’s residence.

(3) Boarding or kennel fees, if any, for the quarantine period shall be paid by the animal’s owner and the release of the animal shall be conditioned upon payment of the fees.

(4) Produce for Examination. It is unlawful for the owner or custodian of any animal that has been reported as having bitten a person to refuse to produce such animal for examination and quarantine upon demand of the police department or animal control authority.

(5) Penalty. If the owner or custodian of any such animal refuses to produce the animal, he or she shall be subject to immediate arrest by a police officer if probable cause exists to believe that the animal has bitten a person and the owner or custodian willfully refuses to produce the animal on demand. Any person who willfully fails or refuses to produce an animal that has bitten a human being, or who destroys an animal that has bitten a human being, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of up to 90 days in jail and/or $1,000 or both plus costs.

(6) Quarantine – Illness. Should the animal during the observation period manifest any unusual behavior or develop symptoms of illness or die, the owner or veterinarian shall immediately notify the police department of that condition. The police department shall take immediate action to obtain a pathological and inoculation examination of the animal. If the animal is found to be rabid, the police department shall notify the county public health officer of any reports of human contact with the animal. Any animal that has not been inoculated against rabies and is known to have been bitten by a rabid animal shall immediately be humanely destroyed.

(7) Any dog impounded under this section may be redeemed at the expiration of such period or prior thereto, upon the determination of the county health department that it is free from such disease, and upon the payment to the impounding authority of the maintenance charge for each day of confinement, as hereinbefore set forth.

(8) It shall be the duty of every medical doctor, hospital, or other applicable health official to report all animal bites that break the skin, regardless of provocation factors or previous inoculations record of the animal. Such report shall be made to the police department, as promptly as possible, so that quarantine procedures can be instituted in a timely fashion. (Ord. 1389 § 2, 2015; Ord. 1033, 1998).