Laserfiche WebLink
keeping of any animal under such conditions of reasonable <br />security, confinement, or strict isolation as may be determined <br />by the director of public health to be necessary or desirable <br />in the interest of public health and safety. In the discretion <br />of the director of public health, such quarantine may be <br />effected on the premises of the owner or person having custody <br />of the animal to be quarantined or by delivery to an approved <br />veterinarian, kennel or pound, which shall be at the cost and <br />expense of the owner or person having custody of such animal. <br /> <br /> (b) Dogs or cats showing active signs of rabies or <br />suspected of having rabies shall be confined under competent <br />observation for such a time as may be necessary to determine a <br />diagnosis. If confinement is impossible or impracticable, such <br />dog or cat shall be euthanized by one of the methods approved <br />by the State Veterinarian as provided in Section 3.1-796.96 of <br />the Code of Virginia. <br /> <br /> Any dog or cat, for which no proof of current rabies <br />vaccination is available, and which is exposed to rabies <br />through a bite, or through saliva or central nervous system <br />tissue, in a fresh open wound or mucous membrane, by an animal <br />believed to be afflicted with rabies, shall be confined in a <br />pound, kennel or enclosure approved by the health department <br />for a period not to exceed six (6) months at the expense of the <br />owner; however, if this is not feasible, the dog or cat shall <br />be euthanized by one of the methods approved by the State <br />Veterinarian as provided in Section 3.1-796.96 of the Code of <br />Virginia. A rabies vaccination shall be administered prior to <br />release. Inactivated rabies vaccine may be administered at the <br />beginning of confinement. Any dog or cat so bitten, or exposed <br />to rabies through saliva or central nervous system tissue, in a <br />fresh open wound or mucous membrane with proof of a valid <br />rabies vaccination, shall be revaccinated immediately following <br />the bite and shall be confined to the premises of the owner, or <br />other site as may be approved by the local health department, <br />for a period of ninety (90) days. <br /> <br />Sec. 4-99. Confinement of animal whioh has bitten a person or <br /> another animal. <br /> <br /> (a) At the discretion of the director of public health, <br />any animal which has bitten a person shall be confined at the <br />expense of the owner, under competent observation in a pound, <br />kennel or enclosure approved by the director of public health, <br />or in such other place as may be required by the director, for <br />a period of ten (10) days, unless the animal develops active <br />symptoms of rabies or expiras before that time; provided, <br />however, that a seriously injured or sick animal may be <br /> <br /> <br />