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A dog, cat, or ferret that is not currently vaccinated against rabies, that bites or reportedly bites a human will be considered a rabies suspect and will be seized by the Rabies Control Authority and quarantined under such conditions as are outlined in an official quarantine order issued by the Rabies Control Authority or Public Health Official. The quarantine shall be conducted under the supervision of a veterinarian, for a period of not less than 10 days from the date of the bite. Alternatively, at the discretion of the Rabies Control Authority or Public Health Official the animal may be humanely euthanatized and tested for rabies in an approved laboratory. Quarantined animals may be treated by a veterinarian, but rabies vaccine should not be administered to the animal until the quarantine period is complete.
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The rabies suspect dog, cat, or ferret will be examined by a licensed veterinarian at the beginning and at the end of the quarantine period, to determine its health status. The results of the examination will be recorded and communicated to the Rabies Control Authority, the Public Health Official, and the owner.
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If at any point during the quarantine period or upon examination, the dog, cat, or ferret shows signs of illness compatible with rabies, the Rabies Control Authority or the Public Health Official will order the immediate humane euthanasia and rabies testing of the quarantined animal in an approved laboratory after conferring with the examining veterinarian.
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If at the end of the quarantine period the dog, cat, or ferret shows no signs of illness compatible with rabies, it may be released from quarantine with the approval of the Rabies Control Authority or the Public Health Official. Prior to its release, the dog, cat, or ferret will be vaccinated against rabies at the owner's expense. Alternatively, the dog, cat, or ferret will be vaccinated within 72 hours of release. The owner will pay to the Rabies Control Authority a prescribed rabies vaccination deposit that will be reimbursed upon the presentation of proof of rabies vaccination by a private veterinarian.
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Other Animals
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Animals, other than dogs, cats, or ferrets, that bite or reportedly bite a human will, at the discretion of the Public Health Official, be treated according to the circumstances of exposure, the species, and the presence of rabies in the area. The pathogenesis and length of incubation and virus shedding periods of rabies in those other animals is unknown.
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The animal may at the discretion of the Public Health Official, be seized by the Rabies Control Authority and immediately euthanatized for rabies testing in an approved laboratory. Reports of the laboratory test will be provided to the Rabies Control Authority, the Public Health Official, the bite victim and the submitting veterinarian.
Section VI - Animals that are Bitten by or Potentially Exposed to Rabid or Suspect Rabid Animals
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Dogs, Cats, or Ferrets Currently Vaccinated Against Rabies
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A currently vaccinated dog, cat, or ferret that is bitten by, or otherwise potentially exposed to a rabid or suspect rabid animal will be revaccinated immediately and placed in isolation under observation for 45 days or euthanatized.
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At the end of the isolation period, the dog, cat, or ferret will be examined by a veterinarian who will report the results of the examination to the Rabies Control Authority or Public Health Official.
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If the examination determines that the dog, cat, or ferret is free of signs of illness compatible with rabies, it may be released from isolation with the approval of the Rabies Control Authority or the Public Health Official.
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If at any point during the isolation period or upon examination, the dog, cat or ferret shows signs of illness compatible with rabies, the Rabies Control Authority or the Public Health Official will order the immediate humane euthanasia and rabies testing in an approved laboratory of the animal after conferring with the examining veterinarian.
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Dogs, Cats, or Ferrets that are Unvaccinated or Not Currently Vaccinated Against Rabies.
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A dog, cat, or ferret that is not currently vaccinated against rabies and is bitten by or otherwise potentially exposed to a rabid or suspect rabid animal shall be euthanatized immediately.
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If the owner is unwilling to consent to euthanasia, the animal shall be seized by the Rabies Control Authority and impounded at the owner's expense for six months in strict isolation, under such conditions as are outlined in an official isolation order issued by the Rabies Control Authority. If the animal shows no signs of rabies at the end of five months, it will be vaccinated against rabies at that time.
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At the end of the six- month impoundment, the dog, cat, or ferret will be examined by a licensed veterinarian who will report the results of the examination to the Rabies Control Authority or Public Health Official.
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If the examination determines that the dog or cat is free of signs of illness compatible with rabies, it may be released from impoundment with the approval of the Public Health Official.
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If at any point during the impoundment period or upon examination, the dog, cat or ferret shows signs of illness compatible with rabies, the Rabies Control Authority or the Public Health Official will order the immediate humane euthanasia and testing of the impounded animal after conferring with the examining veterinarian.
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Livestock
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Currently vaccinated livestock bitten by or otherwise potentially exposed to rabid or suspect rabid animal will be revaccinated immediately and isolated under observation for 45 days or be euthanatized.
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Unvaccinated livestock should be slaughtered immediately. If the owner is unwilling to have this done, the animal will be kept in strict isolation for six months under such conditions as are outlined in an official isolation order issued by the Rabies Control Authority.
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Other Animals
Any animal, other than a dog, cat, ferret, or livestock that is bitten by or otherwise potentially exposed to a rabid or suspect rabid animal should be euthanatized immediately. Animals maintained in USDA-licensed research facilities or accredited zoological parks that are exposed or potentially exposed to rabies shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Rabies Control Authority or the Public Health Official.
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Testing of Suspect Rabid Animals
If a suspect rabid animal is available for testing, an animal that was bitten by or otherwise potentially exposed to the suspect rabid animal will be isolated pending the rabies testing result on the suspect animal. If the testing results are negative, the bitten or otherwise potentially exposed animal shall be released with the approval of the Rabies Control Authority or Public Health Official.
Section VII - Impoundment of Animals found in violation of this code.
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The Rabies Control Authority shall operate a shelter or shelters, or the Rabies Control Authority may enter into a cooperative agreement with a licensed veterinarian or other organization for the establishment and operation of a quarantine facility.
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Any animal that is found off the owner's premises running at large or without a valid rabies vaccination tag shall be impounded. All impounded animals shall be given proper care and maintenance. Each impounded animal shall be kept and maintained at the shelter for a minimum of 5 days (120 hours), unless it is reclaimed earlier by the owner.
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Notice of impoundment of all animals, including any significant identification marks, shall be posted at the shelter as public notification of impoundment.
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An owner may reclaim a vaccinated animal that is impounded for lack of a rabies vaccination tag by furnishing proof of rabies vaccination and paying all impoundment and licensing fees prior to release.
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An owner may reclaim an unvaccinated animal during the period of impoundment by paying the prescribed shelter and rabies vaccination fees of $____. A rabies vaccination must be administered prior to or within 72 hours of release. If rabies vaccination is not performed prior to or at the time of release, arrangements will be made by the local government to reimburse the rabies vaccination fee to a veterinarian designated by the owner after receipt of proof of vaccination.
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Any animal that is unclaimed at the end of 5 days becomes the property of the Rabies Control Authority in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Section VIII - Penalties for Violation of Ordinance
Any animal owner who fails to comply with any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be guilty of an infraction and subject to a fine of not less than $ _______ nor more than $ ______
Section IX - Shelter Fees
Impoundment fees shall be paid by the owner.
Section X - Enforcement
It shall be the responsibility of the __________________ to administer this ordinance, and to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for its implementation. Enforcement shall be the responsibility of ________________
Effective ____________ in the (city, town, village, or county) of ____________ all regulations pertaining to rabies control (and licensing) will be enforced by the (local, county, or state) enforcement officers, or others with regulatory authority specified by the governing unit.
Explanatory Notes
Communities that require licensure of dogs or cats may insert the following sections in the model ordinance:
Licensing
Effective (date) __________ in the (city, town, village, or county) of ________________ every dog or cat 4 months of age and older shall be licensed. On proof of rabies vaccination in accordance with Section II of this ordinance, and upon application for licensure and payment of the required fee to the clerk (city, town, village, or county) of _______________ , a license shall be issued.
All licenses will expire_________________________________, and each year thereafter.
Fees
The license fees shall be as follows:
Male (sexually intact)
Male (neutered)
Female (sexually intact)
Female (neutered)
NOTE: Rabies vaccinations may be recommended for animals other than dogs, cats, and ferrets for which a USDA licensed vaccine is available; however a current vaccination history may not eliminate the need for euthanasia and rabies testing if the animal bites a human. |