§ 7-81. Treatment of animals which have bitten persons.

(a)

Should an animal bite a person, or be reported to have bitten a person within the limits of the parish, it shall be the duty of the owner, alleged victim or the person having the alleged animal in his possession or under his control to: (1) immediately notify the animal shelter department, and surrender the animal to any animal control officer, animal shelter director or designee of the parish animal shelter department, who is herewith authorized and empowered to enter the premises in order to make any inspection or examination of the animal as may be deemed necessary by the animal shelter department and (2) provide evidence of the bite including but not limited to a written statement of the incident, photographs, and/or a doctor's report. It shall be the duty of the parish animal shelter department to impound or cause to be impounded any such animal that has bitten a human for a period of ten (10) days for observation either in the hospital facilities of a licensed veterinarian in Jefferson Parish or at the parish animal shelter and in rare cases, quarantined at the owner's home pursuant to subsection (b). The animal shelter veterinarian, parish health unit, or other designated and qualified person may order the destruction of such animal upon displaying symptoms of illness and send the specimen to the bureau of laboratories of the state department of health for a rabies laboratory test. Destruction of such animal is considered an emergency and such destruction shall be done without notice to the owner, keeper and/or harborer or a hearing. Such destruction without a right to notice or a hearing is due to the imminent nature of the disease as such presents an imminent danger to the life, safety and welfare of the victim(s) and others exposed to the animal.

(b)

A home quarantine of the dog or cat, with the approval of the animal shelter director or designee may be allowed if the following conditions are met:

(1)

The animal must be current on its rabies vaccination;

(2)

The bite does not result in severe injury;

(3)

There was only one (1) victim;

(4)

There is no previous bite, attack or running at large history for the animal;

(5)

The owner, caregiver, or person that has custody or possession of said animal is willing to sign the appropriate home quarantine agreement understanding that any violation of the agreement will result in impoundment of the animal at the animal shelter or a veterinary clinic in Jefferson Parish;

(6)

The owner, caregiver, or person having custody or possession of the animal must agree to not have said animal vaccinated for rabies until completion of the ten-day quarantine, and release by the parish animal shelter;

(7)

An animal control officer must verify that the owner, caretaker, or person having custody or possession of the animal has the ability to securely, safely, and humanely confine such animal for the ten-day quarantine period;

(8)

The animal must appear to be healthy at the time the home quarantine begins.

(c)

If the director of the animal shelter or designee determines that such animal may be confined under the control or custody of the owner or person having control over it, the owner or person shall notify the animal shelter department immediately if the animal shows any symptoms of sickness or abnormal behavior, or escapes, and if such animal dies during confinement, such person having custody thereof shall notify the animal shelter and surrender the body to the animal shelter department for rabies testing for preparation and submission to the parish health department. Failure to notify as provided herein shall result in penalties in section 7-84 and/or other provisions of this Code.

(d)

If a home quarantine is allowed, an animal control officer shall conduct a visual examination of the animal and photograph it at the outset of and upon conclusion of the ten-day period take additional photographs of the animal prior to releasing it from such home quarantine if the animal appears to be healthy.

(e)

If the animal control officer finds any signs of illness or change in behavior of the home quarantined animal, the officer must immediately notify the shelter veterinarian or director or other designee, to determine a proper course of action.

(Ord. No. 24102, § 2, 8-31-11)