The following words and terms when used in this Article shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

1. Animal shall mean any live or dead mammal, domesticated or wild, excluding homo sapiens.

2. Bite or scratch shall mean a bite or scratch that breaks the skin and is capable of transmitting rabies.

3. High Risk Animal shall mean any animal that has a high probability of transmitting rabies (including foxes, bats, skunks, coyotes, and raccoons).

4. Low Risk Animal shall mean any animal that has a low probability of transmitting rabies (including animals of the orders Marsupialia, Insectivora, Rodentia, Lagomorpha and Xenarthra).

A. A person commits an offense if he has knowledge of an animal bite or scratch of a human and fails to report said bite or scratch to the Animal Services Manager within twenty-four (24) hours from the time of the incident.

B. A person commits an offense if he knows of an animal that he suspects is rabid and fails to report such animal to the Animal Services Manager.

C. A report shall be written or oral and include if known, the name and address of the victim and of the animal's owner, and any information which could lead to locating the victim, the animal, and the animal's owner.

D. The Animal Services Manager shall investigate all reports made under this Section.

A. The owner of an animal that has bitten or scratched a human commits an offense if he fails to submit the animal to the Manager for quarantine immediately upon notification by the Manager of a biting or scratching incident .

B. The owner of an animal that is suspected of being rabid commits an offense if he fails to submit the animal to the Manager for quarantine immediately when ordered by the Manager to do so.

C. The Animal Services Manager shall follow these procedures for quarantining and testing:

1. When a dog or cat has bitten or scratched a human, the dog or cat shall be placed in quarantine, in a facility specified by the Animal Services Manager and approved by the Texas Department of Health.

2. When an animal that has not bitten or scratched a human is suspected of having rabies, it shall be placed in quarantine for ten (10) days, in a facility specified by the Animal Services Manager and approved by the Texas Department of Health.

3. Upon the request of the owner of a dog or cat which has bitten or scratched a human, and at the sole discretion of the Animal Services Manager, the Animal Services Manager may permit home quarantine for the animal if the following criteria can be met:

a. The animal was currently vaccinated against rabies at the time of the bite or scratch;

b. The animal was currently licensed with the City of Arlington at the time of the bite or scratch;

c. The animal was not at large at the time of the bite or scratch;

d. The animal's owner has secure facilities at his home for the animal which have been approved by the Animal Services Manager;

e. The Animal Services Manager or a licensed veterinarian must observe the animal on at least the first and eighth days of the quarantine period;

f. If the animal becomes ill during the observation period, the person with possession of the animal must notify the Animal Services Manager;

g. The owner must sign an agreement to abide by the quarantine rules; and

h. At the end of the quarantine period, the animal shall be observed by a licensed veterinarian and the veterinarian will generate a letter authorizing the release of the animal from quarantine.

4. If the Animal Services Manager is in possession of a dog or cat which has bitten or scratched a human, and such animal is designated as unowned, the Animal Services Manager may cause such animal to be euthanized, and shall submit the animal's brain to a Texas Department of Health certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis.

5. If the animal which has bitten or scratched a human is a high risk animal, the Animal Services Manager shall cause such animal to be euthanized, and shall submit the animal's brain to a Texas Department of Health certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis.

6. If the animal which has bitten or scratched a human is a low risk animal, the Animal Services Manager shall cause the animal to be euthanized, and shall submit its brain for rabies diagnosis by a Texas Department of Health certified laboratory if the Animal Services Manager has cause to believe the animal is rabid. If the Animal Services Manager has no cause to believe the animal is rabid, then neither quarantining nor testing will be required.

7. If the animal, including a dog or cat, which has bitten or scratched a human inflicted multiple bite wounds, lacerations or punctures to a person, the Animal Services Manager may cause the animal to be euthanized, and shall submit the animal's brain to a Texas Department of Health certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis.

8. If the animal which has bitten or scratched a human is not included in (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) or (7) of this subsection, the Animal Services Manager shall cause the animal to be euthanized, and shall submit the animal's brain to a Texas Department of Health certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis.

9. The Animal Services Manager shall cause to be euthanized any animal required to be quarantined under this subsection which cannot be maintained in a secure quarantine, and shall submit the animal's brain to a Texas Department of Health certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis.

10. The Animal Services Manager shall follow the rules promulgated by the Texas Department of Health when submitting an animal brain for testing.

11. The Animal Services Manager may euthanize an unowned animal prior to the end of the quarantine, and have the brain tested for rabies.

12. All quarantined animals shall be separated from all other animals in such a manner that there is no possibility of physical contact between animals.

D. The owner of an animal under home quarantine commits an offense if he fails to comply with any requirement contained in the home quarantine agreement.

A. At the conclusion of the quarantine, the Animal Services Manager shall release the quarantined animal to its owner if a veterinarian has determined that a quarantined animal shows no clinical signs of rabies, and

1. If the owner presents an unexpired rabies vaccination certificate for the animal to the Animal Services Manager; or

2. If the animal is vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's expense, and the owner presents a rabies vaccination certificate for the animal to the Animal Services Manager; and

3. If the animal is not the subject of a dangerous animal complaint.

B. The Animal Services Manager shall euthanize any animal which at the end of the quarantine period is determined by a veterinarian to show clinical signs of rabies.

C. If an animal dies, is killed or euthanized while in quarantine, the Animal Services Manager shall submit the head or brain of the animal to a Texas Department of Health certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis.

D. The owner of a quarantined animal shall pay to the Animal Services Manager all costs of quarantine and disposition of the animal, by fee set by resolution of the Council. No quarantined animal shall be released until all fees have been paid.

E. If the owner of an animal fails to take possession of the animal before the fourth day following the final day of the quarantine period, the Animal Services Manager shall at his option place the animal for adoption or cause it to be euthanized.

A. Rabies vaccine for animals shall be administered only by or under the direct supervision of a veterinarian.

B. A veterinarian shall not administer or directly supervise the administration of rabies vaccine in this State unless he is:

1. Licensed by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to practice veterinary medicine; or

2. Practicing veterinary medicine on an installation of the armed forces or National Guard.

C. A person commits an offense if he administers or attempts to administer rabies vaccine in a manner not authorized by this Section.

D. A person commits an offense if he dispenses or attempts to dispense rabies vaccine in a manner not authorized by this Section.

E. A person commits an offense if he sells or distributes rabies vaccine for animals to any person except a licensed veterinarian or to a person working in a veterinarian clinic who accepts the vaccine on behalf of the veterinarian.

A. The owner of an animal which has been bitten by a rabid animal or exposed by physical contact to its fresh tissues commits an offense if he fails to report such bite or exposure to the Animal Services Manager within twenty-four hours of the incident.

B. The owner of an animal which has been bitten by a rabid animal or exposed by physical contact to its fresh tissues commits an offense if he fails to submit his animal to the Animal Services Manager for quarantine or euthanization immediately when requested to do so by the Animal Services Manager.

C. If the animal which has been bitten or exposed has not been vaccinated against rabies and is an animal for which an approved vaccine exists, the Animal Services Manager:

1. Shall cause such animal to be euthanized; or

2. Shall, if sufficient justification for preserving the animal exists, cause the animal to be immediately vaccinated against rabies, placed in strict isolation for ninety (90) days, and given booster vaccinations during the third and eighth weeks of isolation. If the animal is under three (3) months of age at the time of the second vaccination, an additional booster shall be given when the animal reaches three (3) months of age.

D. If the animal which has been bitten or exposed was currently vaccinated against rabies at the time of the bite or exposure, and is an animal for which an approved vaccine exists, the Animal Services Manager:

1. Shall cause such animal to be euthanized; or

2. Shall, if sufficient justification for preserving the animal exists, cause the animal to be given an immediate booster rabies vaccination and placed in strict isolation for forty-five (45) days.

E. If the animal which has been bitten or exposed is an animal for which no approved rabies vaccine exists, the Animal Services Manager shall cause such animal to be euthanized.

F. The procedures for disposition or release of the animal following isolation shall be the same as those for disposition of an animal following quarantine set forth in Section 6.04 of this Article.