§ 5-14. Quarantine provisions; impoundment and treatment of sick and injured animals; disposal of dead animals.

(a)

When a domesticated animal has bitten a person or another animal, or is believed to have bitten a person or another animal, or is suspected by the Department Manager to have rabies, it shall be quarantined by a licensed veterinarian under the supervision of the Department Manager, or the animal may be held in quarantine at a City facility. The quarantine shall be for a reasonable period of time, as determined by the Department Manager.

(b)

The Department Manager may impound any animal believed to be carrying an infectious or contagious disease, or any injured animal, and may retain the services of a licensed veterinarian to treat it. The Department Manager may accept a sick or injured animal upon delivery. When a sick or injured animal is owned and the owner is identified, such owner shall be liable for payment of veterinary expenses or reimbursement of the City's expenses in treating the animal. At the discretion of the Department Manager, a sick or injured animal may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of, and its remains disposed of without compensation to the owner or keeper, provided that the Department Manager shall make a reasonable effort to notify the owner or keeper that the animal is impounded. A dog or cat which is not inoculated against rabies or which is not licensed shall not be released until provisions have been made to inoculate and license the animal properly. The Department Manager shall charge the owner the applicable fee for vaccination or licensing. When an impounded animal is not claimed within a reasonable period of time, as determined by City Council resolution, the Department Manager may transfer custody or ownership of the animal to a humane agency or a new owner, or may destroy the animal and dispose of its remains. In either event, the owner or keeper will not be entitled to compensation.

(c)

When an animal dies, the owner or keeper of the animal shall dispose of the remains immediately. When the Department Manager or his assistant discovers a dead animal, he shall notify the owner or keeper, if known, and shall order the owner or keeper to dispose of the remains immediately. If the party notified fails to comply within 24 hours, the Department Manager shall cause the remains to be disposed of and shall bill the animal owner or keeper, as appropriate, for the costs of disposal. Such animal owner or keeper may further be held in violation of this chapter and punished as provided herein. The Department Manager shall dispose of the remains of an animal which has died on public property, but only where an owner or keeper cannot be notified. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to limit or contravene the provisions of Fla. Stat. § 823.041.

(d)

Any wild animal that bites or otherwise exposes a human to rabies shall be immediately killed and tested for rabies unless the City Health Officer determines the circumstances warrant an exception.

(Code 1999, § 3-14)