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SECTION 16. ANIMAL BITES AND QUARANTINING. A. A rabies control program, including the investigation of all reported animal bites, may be carried out through a mutual agreement with the health unit using the requirements of Florida Department of Health Rules and Regulation, Chapter 10 D-3, Florida Administrative Code; Laws of Florida, Chapter 69-1432 and this Ordinance as a basis for enforcement and program implementation. B. Any dog or cat without a current rabies vaccination and which has bitten a person or is suspected of rabies as defined in Florida Department of Health Rules and Regulation, Chapter 10 D-3, Florida Administrative Code, shall be quarantined for rabies observation. The owner of such dog or cat shall relinquish control of the dog or cat for the purpose of quarantine. The animal shall be quarantined at the owner's expense for a period of ten (10) days from the date of the bite at the Division or at an approved holding facility of a local veterinarian. It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to surrender any such dog or cat for rabies quarantine. Additionally, it shall be unlawful for any person to fail to inform the Division of any such animal's whereabouts if the owner has relinquished possession of said animal or caused said animal to be taken from the owner's premises. C. Any dog or cat with a current rabies vaccination and which has bitten a person as defined in Florida Department of Health Rules and Regulation, Chapter 10 D-3, Florida Administrative Code, may be quarantined at home. The Division and/or the county health unit shall have the authority to grant or deny permission for home quarantine privilege. If at any time during the quarantine period the Division determines that the owner of the animal is not able to sufficiently confine the animal, the owner shall relinquish control of the animal to the Division. The animal will be confined in the custody of the Division or at an approved holding facility of a local veterinarian for the remainder of the quarantine period at the owner's expense. D. Any animal other than a dog or cat which has bitten a person or is suspected of rabies shall be relinquished into the custody of the Division by the owner pending a determination of final disposition by the county health unit. E. If it is determined that a dog has bitten a person, the Division shall have the authority to require the owner to visibly display a sign(s) at the owner's expense on the property at all entry points warning that there is a ABad@ dog on the premises. The owner shall comply with the sign requirement within forty-eight (48) hours of notification by the Division. F. It shall be unlawful for any dog to bite a human being while off the owner's property or in violation of Section 4.A.1 herein, unless the injury or damage is sustained by a person who, at the time, was unlawfully on the property or was tormenting, abusing or assaulting the dog, its owner or a family member. G. It shall be unlawful for any person to feed or fail to take appropriate precautions to prevent unintentional feeding of animals which have been declared by the Board to be a high risk species for rabies. H. The following fees shall be imposed, in amounts set forth by resolution of the Board, for carrying out the rabies control program: 1. Animal bite coordinator fee. Owners whose animals have been reported to have bitten any person, shall be charged a fee when the animal bite coordinator is able to obtain all necessary information by telephone, correspondence or records at the Division, to determine the vaccination status and quarantine requirements for the animal. Such fee shall not be assessed in those instances where the owner and the victim are the same, or within the immediate family or living in the same household and the animal has a current rabies vaccination. 2. Field officer fee. Owners whose animals have been reported to have bitten any person, shall be charged a fee when the animal bite coordinator is not able to obtain all necessary information pursuant to Section 16.H.1 herein and an animal control officer is dispatched to secure or obtain the required bite information. 3. Transportation fee. Owners whose animals have been reported to have bitten any person and who are required to have such animal quarantined at an approved quarantine facility, shall be charged a transportation fee when the owner has failed to transport said animal to a quarantine facility within twenty-four (24) hours after notification, requiring transportation by the Division. 4. Quarantine release fee. At the end of each quarantine period for rabies observation, owners whose animals have been reported to have bitten any person are required to call the Division to verify that said animal is alive and healthy to assure that it is free of rabies infection. A quarantine release fee shall be charged when the owner fails to call or the Division is unsuccessful at reaching the owner by phone within forty-eight (48) hours following the expiration of the quarantine period, requiring an animal control officer to observe the animal. I. An invoice reflecting fees imposed pursuant to this section shall be sent to the owner of the animal. Payment shall be made by the owner within thirty (30) days of receipt of said invoice. Failure to pay within such time shall constitute a violation of this Ordinance, punishable as provided in Section 30 - VIOLATIONS, CIVIL INFRACTIONS, CIVIL PENALTIES.
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