HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 92-51 ORDINANCE NO. ,a=te 1
ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
CHAPTER 5 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES
OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT TO PROVIDE
FOR HOME QUARANTINE OF DOGS;
EXEMPTING POLICE DOGS FROM THE
QUARANTINE REQUIREMENT; PROVIDING
FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR
REPEAL AND PROVIDING A PENALTY.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT:
Section 1.
That Chapter 5, Section 5-30(a) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Beaumont be, and
the same is hereby, amended to read as follows:
Sec. 5-30. Taking up and observing.
(a) The owner of a dog or cat which has bitten, scratched or attacked a person, dog
or other animal shall be notified of the incident and shall cause such animal to be immediately
quarantined at the owner's expense for a period of not less than ten (10) days in the city animal
shelter or a veterinary hospital in this city operated by a duly licensed veterinarian. A fee shall
be charged for each day of confinement at the animal shelter when an animal is under
observation in bite cases. This boarding fee shall be assessed in accordance with section 13-
16 of the Code of Ordinances. Refusal or failure to produce said dog or other animal
constitutes a violation of this section and each day of such refusal or failure shall constitute a
separate individual violation.
(1) The animal control supervisor may authorize a dog or cat owner's request for
home quarantine subject to the following requirements:
i. Secure facilities are available at the owner's home.
ii. The animal has a current vaccination against rabies.
iii. The animal was not a stray or otherwise wandering loose or at large when
the bite occurred.
iv. A licensed veterinarian must examine the dog on the first day and last day
of the ten day quarantine period, and,
V. The Animal Control Division must be advised immediately if the dog
becomes sick or a change in its condition develops.
(2) If the above requirements are met, home quarantine may only be allowed under
the following circumstances:
1. The owner or owner's spouse or child is the bite victim.
2. The bite victim is an animal, or
3. The bite victim or parent or guardian of a minor bite victim agrees to and
signs an agreement form allowing home quarantine.
(3) Dogs owned by the City of Beaumont and used actively by the Beaumont Police
Department in police work are exempt from the confinement requirements of this ordinance if
the bite incident occurs while the dog is actively involved in police work. However, such
animals will be subject to examination on the day of the bite and ten days after the day of the
bite by a veterinarian licensed to practice in the State of Texas and chosen by the City of
Beaumont. Should the police dog become sick or noticeably different in behavior, the police
officer responsible for the dog shall report such change in behavior to his immediate superior
who shall have the dog examined immediately by a veterinarian. The veterinarian will notify
the Animal Control Division of his findings concerning the dog. Should the dog become
mortally injured or die during the ten day period after a bite it shall be delivered to the Animal
Control Division.
(4) The Animal Control Supervisor is responsible for developing forms and
procedures necessary to accomplish the provisions of this ordinance.
(5) Any person who is the keeper or has custody and control of an animal shall be
deemed the owner for purposes of this ordinance. If it is determined by a veterinarian that an
animal shows the clinical signs of the disease of rabies, the local health authority shall
humanely destroy the animal.
Section 2.
That if any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance, or the
application of same to a particular set of persons or circumstances should for any reason be
held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions of this ordinance, and
to such end the various portions and provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable.
Section 3.
That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are repealed to the extent
of the conflict only.
Section 4.
That any person who violated any provision of this ordinance shall, upon conviction, be
punished as provided in Section 1-8 of the Code of Ordinances of Beaumont, Texas.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this theZC' day
of aj_' , 1992.
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