(1) Every animal bite shall be reported to the Health Officer who shall investigate the case and may order the offending animal to be impounded at any time during the 10 days next following the date of the bite. If the animal is impounded and after 10 days next following the date of the bite no rabies is present or suspected, the animal may be released to the owner upon payment of any impounding, boarding and license fees, and compliance with the licensing and rabies vaccination provisions of this chapter. If rabies is present or suspected by the Health Officer, the animal shall be destroyed and the head preserved for laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis.

(2) If the Health Officer orders an animal impounded at any time during the 10 days next following the date of a bite, the owner of the animal may request the impounding to be at a licensed veterinarian’s establishment at his own expense. [Ord. 3326 § 1, 1998; Code 1970 § 8.02.290.]