§ 6-36. Quarantine; impoundment and treatment of sick and injured animals; disposal of dead animals.

(a)

When an animal has bitten a person or another animal or is believed to have bitten a person or another animal or is suspected by the department head to have rabies, it shall be quarantined by the owner under the supervision of the department head, or

(b)

At the discretion of the department head, the animal may be held in quarantine at a county-specified facility. The quarantine shall be for a reasonable period of time as determined by the department head, but in no case less than ten days.

(c)

The department head may impound any animal believed to be carrying an infectious or contagious disease, or any injured animal and may retain the services of a licensed veterinarian to treat it.

(d)

The department head may accept a sick or injured animal upon delivery by a licensed veterinarian or other person.

(e)

When a sick or injured animal is owned and the owner is identified, such owner shall be liable for payment of veterinary expenses or reimbursement of the county's expense in treating the animal.

(f)

At the discretion of the department head, a sick or injured animal may be destroyed and its remains disposed of or otherwise disposed of without compensation to the owner or keeper, provided that the department head shall make a reasonable effort to notify the owner or keeper that the animal is impounded.

(g)

A dog, cat or ferret which is not inoculated against rabies shall not be released until provisions have been made to inoculate the animal properly.

(h)

When an impounded animal is not claimed within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the department head, the department head may transfer custody or ownership of the animal to a humane agency, animal rescue organization or a new owner, or, as a last resort, may destroy the animal and dispose of its remains. In any event, the owner or keeper will not be entitled to compensation.

(i)

When an animal dies, the owner or keeper of the animal shall dispose of the remains immediately.

(j)

When the department head discovers a dead animal, he shall notify the owner or keeper, if known, and shall order the owner or keeper to dispose of the remains immediately.

(k)

If the owner or keeper is unknown, the department head shall notify the owner of the property upon which the remains are located, and shall order him to dispose of the remains immediately.

(l)

If the party notified fails to comply within 24 hours, the department head shall cause the remains to be disposed of and shall bill the animal owner or keeper or property owner as appropriate for the cost of disposal.

(m)

Such animal owner or keeper or property owner may be further held in violation of this article and punished as provided in section 6-42.

(n)

The department head may dispose of the remains of an animal which is found dead on public property, but only where an owner or keeper cannot be notified and if found and notified the owner or keeper does not dispose of the animal within 24 hours of receipt of notice. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to limit or contravene the provisions of F.S. § 823.041.

(Ord. No. 2018-09 , 6-12-2018)