§ 4-44. Control of a rabid or potentially rabid animals (LA R.S. 51:105)

(a) A domestic animal of a species which may transmit disease through its bite, which bites and breaks the skin of any person, shall be quarantined for a ten-day period to determine if the animal is infected with the disease, or said animal shall be killed and the head submitted immediately to a laboratory of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals for examination for rabies in compliance with Public Health and Sanitation Code. Should said animal be quarantined, the place of quarantine shall be established by the animal control agency, and the animal control agency may, in its discretion, allow the owner and/or keeper of the animal to maintain the quarantine.

(b) Quarantine procedure:

(1) Any animal that has bitten a human and has broken the skin, regardless of provocation or previous inoculation for disease, shall be confined for a period of not less than ten (10) days in such manner that it is segregated from any other animals so as to prevent contact with other animals and humans except for the caretaker.

(2) If the owner and/or keeper is unable or unwilling to confine the animal, or if the animal control agency determines from the prior history of the animal that confinement is not likely the animal may be quarantined at the animal shelter or a veterinarian and/or boarding kennel of the owner's choice provided that the cost to board the animal shall be borne by the owner if in a location other than the owner's residence.

(3) Should the animal, during the observation period, manifest any unusual behavior or develop symptoms of illness or die, the owner or veterinarian shall immediately notify the animal control agency and health department of the condition.

(c) In all cases where any animal which has bitten a person or caused an abrasion or puncture of the skin is slain by any person or dies by other means, and a period of ten (10) days has not elapsed since the day of the bite, it shall be the duty of the person slaying such animal or the owner to forthwith deliver intact the head of such animal to the parish health officer. The animal control agency shall be notified in such cases.

(d) It shall be the duty of every medical doctor, hospital, or other applicable health official to report all dog bites that break the skin, regardless of provocation factors or previous inoculations records of the animal. Such report shall be made to the animal control agency, as promptly as possible so that quarantine procedures can be instituted in a timely fashion.

(Ord. of 3-15-10)