§ 10-98. Treatment of animals which have bitten humans.

(a)

Any unvaccinated, healthy dog or cat, that has bitten a person or is suspected of having bitten a person shall be quarantined at the county public animal shelter or by a licensed veterinarian for ten days at the expense of the owner or custodian, unless the animal develops active signs of rabies, expires, or is euthanized before that time.

(b)

Any vaccinated, healthy dog or cat, that has bitten a person or is suspected of having bitten a person shall be quarantined for ten days at the owner's home by chaining or confining such animal in an enclosure or as provided in subsection (a) of this section.

(c)

When any suspected rabid animal, other than a dog or cat, exposes or may have exposed a person to rabies through a bite, or through saliva or central nervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound or mucous membrane, decisions regarding the disposition of that animal shall be at the discretion of the county health director and may include euthanasia as provided in Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6546, or as directed by the state agency with jurisdiction over that species. When any animal, other than a dog or cat, is exposed or may have been exposed to rabies through a bite, or through saliva or central nervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound or mucous membrane, by an animal suspected to be rabid, decisions regarding the disposition of that newly exposed animal shall be at the discretion of a local health director.

(d)

The quarantine required by this section is for the purpose of determining if the animal has rabies. The animal shall be evaluated by a veterinarian at the first sign of illness during quarantine. Any illness in the animal shall be reported immediately to the health department. The quarantine shall continue the entire ten days, unless the animal develops active symptoms of rabies or dies before the full quarantine expires. If the animal develops symptoms of rabies or if it is seriously injured or sick, it shall be humanely euthanized according to the guidelines provided by the state veterinarian, and its head sent to the division of consolidated laboratory services of the department of general services, or the local health department, for evaluation for rabies.

(e)

The animal control officer shall give written notice to owners of animals that have bitten a person that the animal is to be quarantined for ten days. The animal control officer shall inform the owners that the county health director or his agent will examine the biting animal at the end of the quarantine period and release the animal from quarantine. He will also inform the owners to call the county health department if the animal becomes sick, dies or escapes.

(f)

All animals that have been quarantined under any provision of this division shall be examined by the county health director or his agent before release from quarantine.

(Ord. No. O-2014-18, 7-7-14)

(Ord. No. O-2014-18, 7-7-14)