[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Harrisburg
by Ord. No. 10-1992. Amendments noted where applicable.]
CROSS-REFERENCES
Animal bites: see § 3-505.4.
[Ord. No. 6-1995]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the regulation
and control of dogs, cats and/or any other mammal that has bitten
anyone in the City of Harrisburg. This chapter shall be administered
by the Director of the Department of Public Safety and is enacted
for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of City residents
and the general public.
A.
It shall be the duty of any person treating a patient or another
person who has received a bite or laceration caused by a mammal to
report such injury to the Bureau of Police within 48 hours from the
date of the initial treatment.
B.
The report shall give the name, age, sex, and address of the person
treated, the date of the biting incident, the date(s) of treatment
and, if available, the name and address of the animal's owner
and the animal's breed, sex, age, color and history of vaccination.
C.
The Bureau of Police or other authorized local agency is hereby authorized
to investigate a reported biting incident and to notify the mammal
owner by a quarantine notice that such animal is required to be quarantined
for a period not less then 10 days following the date of receipt of
the quarantine notice. If the bite was inflicted by a wild animal
or a stray, unlicensed dog or cat, said wild animal or stray, unlicensed
dog or cat may be impounded by the Bureau of Police. Any animal subject
to regulation under this chapter or any other ordinance of the City,
whether licensed or unlicensed, may be impounded or euthanized in
a humane manner if, in the discretion of the Chief of Police or authorized
designee, such animal is an immediate threat to public health, safety
or property.
D.
Following the investigation of each biting incident, a report of
the incident will be filed with the Bureau of Police by the individual
or agency conducting the investigation.
A.
Any dog, cat or mammal which has been exposed to rabies shall be
immediately destroyed unless otherwise treated as provided herein.
The destruction of any animal which has been exposed to the rabies
virus shall be performed in the most humane manner possible. The destruction
of animals which have been exposed to the rabies virus shall be conducted
only by police officers or those persons qualified and trained in
the handling and disposal of infected remains. Owners of animals which
have been exposed to the rabies virus shall not be permitted to destroy
such animals or handle the remains of such animals unless authorized
to do so by the Chief of Police or authorized designee.
B.
If the owner is unwilling to have such animal destroyed, the owner
shall deliver up and surrender the animal to the Bureau of Police
or other authorized agency, and said animal shall be kept in strict
isolation in a kennel or animal hospital for a period not less than
six months.
C.
The owner of any animal subject to the provisions of this section
shall, at all times, be responsible for the proper care and treatment
of his or her animal(s) hereunder and shall be responsible and reimburse
the City for any and all costs, fees and expenses incurred by the
City in the enforcement of this section, including, but not limited
to, boarding fees, transportation and handling fees, the costs of
medicine and treatment, and costs associated with the disposal of
the euthanized animal.
