§ 20-19-307 - Confinement of animal when person bitten.
20-19-307. Confinement of animal when person bitten.
(a) (1) Whenever the health authorities, county sheriff's office, or municipal police officers in cooperation with health authorities receive information that any person has been bitten by a dog or cat or other animal, these local public officials acting in cooperation shall have the dog or other animal confined and observed.
(2) If there is no local facility available for confining the dog or cat or other animal, it shall be the owner's responsibility to make satisfactory arrangements or to prepare a facility for the purpose of confinement.
(b) (1) The offending dog or cat shall be confined for a period of ten (10) days by a veterinarian or owner or public pound.
(2) (A) All other species of animals are to be confined and observed for rabies in the same manner, except the time element will vary so as to compensate for the difference in the incubation period of the disease.
(B) This adjusted time element is to be determined by consultation with the Department of Health.
(C) If there is no known incubation period, the animal may be euthanized and tested at the discretion of the department.
(3) The veterinarian, owner, or public pound management personnel shall notify the local public health authorities of the disposition of the dog or animal at the termination of the confinement.
(c) (1) Any confinement and observation expense incurred in the handling of any dog or cat or other animal under this subchapter shall be borne by the owner.
(2) If the dog or cat or other animal is a stray and has no owner, the confinement and observation expense shall be borne by the person bitten or, if a minor, by the head of the family.