§ 72-3. Confinement for observation.

A. 

The animal shall be confined by the owner for an observation period of 10 days from the date the bite or injury occurred at the home of the owner or at some other location selected by him under the supervision of a veterinarian in such manner as will prevent it from escaping or running at large.

B. 

Immediately upon being placed in confinement, the animal shall be examined by a veterinarian employed by the owner. A written report of the results of such examination shall be submitted in duplicate by the owner or the veterinarian to the Lower Moreland Police Department within 24 hours from the time of the bite or injury. Such report must be signed and dated by the veterinarian.

C. 

If at any time during said ten-day observation period the animal develops symptoms indicative of rabies, such fact shall be communicated at once to the Lower Moreland Department of Health. Removal or relocation of the animal under such conditions shall be at the discretion of the Lower Moreland Department of Health but at the expense of the owner.

D. 

If at any time during said ten-day observation period the animal should die, the owner shall immediately so notify the veterinarian concerned and also the Lower Moreland Health Department. Disposition of the body under such conditions shall be under the instructions of the Lower Moreland Health Department. The term "immediately" shall be construed to mean within the hour of the time of death.

E. 

At the end of said ten-day observation period, the animal shall be subject to further examination by a veterinarian at the discretion of the Lower Moreland Health Department. Such examination, if required, shall be at the expense of the owner. At this time, at the discretion of the Lower Moreland Health Department, the animal may be released from confinement.

F. 

Any animal that has bitten or injured a person or another animal shall be made available for inspection by the Lower Moreland Health Department at the discretion of said Department.

G. 

In the event of an emergency or an increase of rabies in Lower Moreland Township or as declared by the Pennsylvania State Department of Health or any other authorized Pennsylvania state or federal agency, the Lower Moreland Health Officer is hereby authorized, in order to further protect the health and welfare of the public, to issue such temporary regulations that are considered necessary under the conditions of such emergency. Any temporary regulations thus issued shall be in writing and a certified copy filed with the Township Secretary and are to be available for inspection by the public upon request.

H. 

Any animal suspected of having rabies or having bitten a person or another animal must not be killed but allowed to die a natural death under precautionary confinement. When absolutely necessary to destroy any animal suspected of having rabies, care must be taken to avoid inflicting any head wound. The head of any animal so destroyed must be examined by a laboratory before any decomposition takes place.