eLaws | eCases | Tennessee Courts | Counties & Cities of Tennessee | Code of Federal Regulations | United States Code |
 Knox County
 Code of Ordinances
 Chapter 6. ANIMALS
 Article II. ANIMAL CONTROL
 Division 1. GENERALLY

  § 6-40. Animal bite investigations and quarantine.  

Latest version.

  • (a)

    Any animal which has bitten a person or shows symptoms of rabies shall be penned up immediately by its owners, or by the person having charge of the animal, or by the person sheltering, feeding, harboring or taking care of the animal, and the county sheriff's office animal control division shall be notified immediately. The animal shall be confined by the animal shelter, a veterinarian or in a place approved by the sheriff's office representative for not less than ten days.

    (b)

    If the animal which has bitten a person is running at large and/or is not current on its rabies vaccination at the time the bite occurs, it must be quarantined at a veterinary hospital within the county or at the animal shelter.

    (c)

    If the animal which has bitten a person is not running at large and is current on its rabies vaccination at the time the bite occurs, the sheriff's office representative has the option of requiring the animal be taken to a licensed boarding facility or to quarantine the animal at the residence if adequate facilities are available. The animal shall be subject to observation by the sheriff's office representative at all times during the quarantined period.

    (d)

    If rabies does not develop during the quarantine period, then the animal shall be released to the owner after current rabies vaccination and payment of all applicable fees, but if rabies does develop, the animal shall be destroyed by a veterinarian and the animal head submitted for rabies testing.

    (e)

    The owner will be responsible for payment of all boarding costs and other fees as may be required to humanely and safely keep the animal during the quarantine period.

    (f)

    A dog used by a law enforcement agency in the performance of functions or duties of the agency which has bitten a person, has received vaccinations against rabies and does not show the symptoms of rabies may continue to be utilized by the law enforcement agency; however, the dog shall be subject to observation by the sheriff's office representative.

(Ord. No. O-96-5-101, § 1(14), 6-24-96; Ord. No. O-15-4-101 , § 4, 5-26-15)