(a) Officers will approach seriously wounded or dangerous animals in a safe manner in accordance with Department of Public Safety policy.

(b) The dangerous or seriously wounded animal will be euthanized in a manner to ensure a quick and painless kill if possible.

(c) Euthanasia shall be achieved, when necessary, via discharge of nonlead ammunition by Public Safety Officers. Discharge should be through the head and brain tissue if possible to ensure a quick and painless process except as in subsection (d) of this section.

(d) Officers should use extreme caution in cases of a suspected rabid animal. Officers should attempt to aim so as to avoid disrupting the brain and spinal column of a suspected rabid animal. Leaving these structures intact preserves them for testing the tissues for rabies should the procedure be necessary. Officers will note: Rabies is transmissible through brain tissue, spinal cord tissue, and the clear fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (cerebral spinal fluid).

(e) Once the euthanasia procedure has been performed, officers shall check to make sure the animal’s death is certain. If the animal is not dead within one minute, repeat the emergency euthanasia procedure. Any handling of the animal, before or after death, should be done with thick impermeable gloves to protect from blood-borne disease or animal defense mechanisms such as use of horns, hooves, teeth or talons.

(f) It will not be Public Safety’s responsibility to remove the animal. Public Safety will attempt to contact other agencies to procure removal.

(g) Officers will complete a report concerning the discharge of a firearm as per departmental policy. A copy of the report will be made available to the wildlife program upon request when a seriously wounded or dangerous animal has been euthanized. [Ord. 25 § IV, adopted, 9/22/2011.]