§ 106. Rabies suspect.

A.

Any rabies-suspected animal shall be securely and separately confined for observation for a period of ten (10) days. The confinement and observation shall be at the Tulsa City Animal Shelter or, at the discretion of the owner, the animal may be confined in a veterinary hospital at the owner's expense. Boarding kennels shall not be considered proper confinement facilities. The owner must immediately surrender the rabies-suspect animal to WIN or to the Chief of Police or his designee. In the event the owner wishes to have the animal held for observation at a veterinary hospital, the animal will be transported to the veterinary hospital of the owner's choice (provided the hospital is within the City limits of the City of Tulsa) by a representative of the City of Tulsa Animal Welfare. Any person failing to surrender a rabies-suspect animal, or any person removing the rabies-suspect animal from the City limits of Tulsa, is guilty of an offense. If, upon examination by a veterinarian, the animal has no signs of rabies at the end of the impoundment period, it may be released to the owner or, in case of a stray, it shall be disposed of in accordance with applicable laws. In either event, the veterinarian shall make a written report of the disposition of the animal to WIN and to the Director. At the end of the ten-day observation period, WIN shall notify any person bitten by a rabies-suspect animal whether such animal exhibited symptoms or indications of rabies; such notice shall be in the same manner as provided for service of notice under Section 109 of this chapter.

If within the period of impoundment the animal dies or exhibits symptoms or indications of rabies, it shall be examined by a veterinarian for clinical diagnosis and then properly euthanized by a veterinarian. The head of any rabies-suspected animal which dies shall be submitted to the State Health Department Laboratory for confirmation of diagnosis. In this event, WIN shall immediately notify any person bitten of the diagnosis; such notice shall be in the same manner as provided for service of notice under Section 109 of this chapter.

1.

Dogs owned and used by the Police Department that bite a person during the course of duty shall be under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The type and amount of supervision is left to the professional opinion of the supervising veterinarian who assumes responsibility for the biting animal.

2.

The veterinarian must regularly examine the biting animal and immediately report any changes in condition of the animal to the Tulsa City-County Health Department.

3.

The dog must be under the control of an authorized agent of the Police Department or the veterinarian at all times during the observation period.

In the case of a bite inflicted by a nonimmunized animal upon the head, face, neck or upper extremities, resulting in deep lacerations or multiple wounds, the Director may require immediate euthanasia of the animal in order to perform tests for diagnosis of rabies.

B.

Any domestic dog or cat which is not effectively immunized against rabies virus encephalitis and is exposed to rabies through a rabid animal shall be euthanized immediately by the veterinarian in charge, animal control officer or a designated agent in a manner which will preserve the head for analysis; or such nonimmunized, rabies-exposed dog or cat shall be strictly quarantined and observed in a veterinary hospital for a period of not less than six (6) months, and such animal shall be immunized against rabies at least thirty (30) days prior to release. Expenses for quarantine and immunization shall be borne by the owner or other person responsible for the animal.

C.

If the owner of a nonimmunized animal bitten by a rabid animal is unwilling to euthanize the bitten animal, then at the expense of the owner the animal shall be confined in isolation in a veterinary hospital for a period of not less than six (6) months, as specified by the Director.

The owner of any nonimmunized domestic animal other than a dog or cat which has been exposed to a rabid animal shall immediately report with such domestic animal to the Director for instruction concerning the disposition of that animal.

Any effectively immunized domestic animal which is exposed to a rabid animal shall be immediately reimmunized and restrained by leashing and/or confined on the premises of its owner or in a veterinary hospital for a period of forty-five (45) days.

(Ord. Nos. 19038, 19143; Ord. No. 21979, § 1, 12-18-2008)