§ 6-8. Animal bites/reporting, quarantine procedures.

(a)

It is and shall be the duty of a physician in attendance on every case of a human being bitten by an animal to make a report thereof to the LaPorte City Police Department; if no physician is in attendance, if an adult, it shall be that person's duty to make such report; if the person bitten is a minor, it shall be the duty of the parent or guardian to make such a report.

(b)

If any person is a victim of an animal bite, he shall immediately notify the County Health Department of the incident, and provide a description of the animals and the identification, if possible, of the owner. When an animal is determined to have bitten a person, the animal shall be confined in quarantine for a period of not less then ten days. The owner or person having had such custody shall immediately make a report to the County Health Department when and. if such animal dies and shall in addition have a licensed veterinarian preserve the head in ice for examination. If the animal lives beyond such period, this fact will also be reported to the County Health Department.

(c)

If the owner of an animal which has bitten a person has proof of current rabies vaccination, the animal may be left in the charge of the owner, under quarantine, unless, in the judgment of the animal control officer or police officer, and based upon consideration of public safety, the animal control officer determines it should be removed to an animal shelter or veterinary hospital for the period of observation.

(d)

In addition to any other legal obligations prescribed by law, the owner shall be liable for all costs incurred in the quarantine of the animal, including hospital or physician costs.

(e)

If the ownership of the biting animal cannot be determined, or if the owner does not furnish proof of current rabies vaccination, the animal shall be impounded under the authority of the city animal control agency and confined in the county's animal control facility for the period of observation of not less than ten days.

(f)

Animal control officers shall be empowered to enter onto private property for the purpose of impounding animal(s) which are known to have bitten a person and shall obtain legal process to do so if necessary.

(g)

Unless otherwise provided, the city and any of its agents shall comply with the standards set forth in I.C. 15-2.16.1 through I.C. 15-2.1-6-13 entitled "Rabies".

(Ord. No. 29-2003, § 8, 9-15-03)