§ 7-107. Human exposure to zoonotic diseases by animals other than dogs or cats.

(a)

Any bite wound by an animal other than a dog or cat exposing an individual to the possibility of rabies or other zoonotic disease (hereinafter referred to as "incident") shall be immediately reported to the director of animal control by the victim and by the owner, keeper or harborer of the animal if the incident is known to such person. Any animal bite that requires medical treatment shall be reported within 24 hours to the director of health or the director of animal control by the treating physician or hospital caring for the patient. It is the duty of the health department to promptly notify the director of animal control of any such bite reported to the police.

(b)

It is unlawful for the owner, keeper or person harboring the animal involved in such incident to release it from custody, to hide or conceal such animal, or to take or allow such animal to be taken beyond the limits of the city, unless so authorized by the director of animal control, until an observation period stipulated by the state department of agriculture for the particular species of animal is over or such period is ruled unnecessary by the director of animal control.

(c)

It is the duty of such owner or keeper, upon receiving notice of such incident, to immediately place the animal involved in a duly licensed veterinary medical facility, the address of which must be furnished to the director of animal control at once, or in the unified government animal shelter where such animal shall be isolated and confined for observation. The owner or keeper of an animal involved in a biting incident is liable for the cost of confinement and observation (K.A.R. 28-1-13).

(d)

The death or any suspicious change in health or behavior of any such animal undergoing observation shall be reported immediately by the observing authority to the director of health or the director's designated representative. In the event that a proper period of observation is undetermined or undeterminable for the species of animal involved in an incident, the director of health may order whatever laboratory examination of the animal or the animal's tissues is required by prudent medical practice for the protection of the victim, and no liability for damages shall arise from any injury to or the death of the animal occasioned by the laboratory examination.

(e)

When an animal involved in an incident is outside the city, the director of health or the director of animal control shall forward information concerning the incident to the appropriate authority of the jurisdiction of residence of the owner, keeper or harborer or the appropriate state health department for coordinated disease prevention.

(Code 1988, § 7-61; Ord. No. O-22-03, § 1, 6-5-2003; Ord. No. O-8-15 , § 1, 1-29-2015)