A. When there is sufficient reason to believe that the risk of exposure torabies is elevated, the governing body of any locality may enact, and thelocal health director may recommend, an emergency ordinance that shall becomeeffective immediately upon passage, requiring owners of all dogs and catstherein to keep the same confined on their premises unless leashed underrestraint of the owner in such a manner that persons or animals will not besubject to the danger of being bitten by a rabid animal. Any such emergencyordinance enacted pursuant to the provisions of this section shall beoperative for a period not to exceed 30 days unless renewed by the governingbody of such locality in consultation with the local health director. Thegoverning body of any locality shall also have the power and authority topass ordinances restricting the running at large in their respectivejurisdiction of dogs and cats that have not been inoculated or vaccinatedagainst rabies and to provide penalties for the violation thereof.
B. Any dog or cat showing active signs of rabies or suspected of havingrabies that is not known to have exposed a person, companion animal, orlivestock to rabies shall be confined under competent observation for such atime as may be necessary to determine a diagnosis. If, in the discretion ofthe local health director, confinement is impossible or impracticable, suchdog or cat shall be euthanized by one of the methods approved by the StateVeterinarian as provided in § 3.2-6546. The disposition of other animalsshowing active signs of rabies shall be determined by the local healthdirector and may include euthanasia and testing.
C. Every person having knowledge of the existence of an animal that issuspected to be rabid and that may have exposed a person, companion animal,or livestock to rabies shall report immediately to the local healthdepartment the existence of such animal, the place where seen, the owner'sname, if known, and the signs suggesting rabies.
D. Any dog or cat, for which no proof of current rabies vaccination isavailable, and that may have been exposed to rabies through a bite, orthrough saliva or central nervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound ormucous membrane, by an animal suspected to be rabid, shall be isolated in apound, kennel, or enclosure approved by the local health department for aperiod not to exceed six months at the expense of the owner or custodian in amanner and by a date certain as determined by the local health director. Arabies vaccination shall be administered by a licensed veterinarian prior torelease. Inactivated rabies vaccine may be administered at the beginning ofisolation. Any dog or cat so bitten, or exposed to rabies through saliva orcentral nervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound or mucous membrane withproof of current vaccination, shall be revaccinated by a licensedveterinarian immediately following the exposure and shall be confined to thepremises of the owner or custodian, or other site as may be approved by thelocal health department at the expense of the owner or custodian, for aperiod of 45 days. If the local health director determines that isolation isnot feasible or maintained, such dog or cat shall be euthanized by one of themethods approved by the State Veterinarian as provided in § 3.2-6546. Thedisposition of such dogs or cats not so confined shall be at the discretionof the local health director.
E. At the discretion of the local health director, any animal that may haveexposed a person shall be confined under competent observation for 10 days atthe expense of the owner or custodian, unless the animal develops activesigns of rabies, expires, or is euthanized before that time. A seriouslyinjured or sick animal may be euthanized as provided in § 3.2-6546.
F. When any suspected rabid animal, other than a dog or cat, exposes or mayhave exposed a person to rabies through a bite, or through saliva or centralnervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound or mucous membrane, decisionsregarding the disposition of that animal shall be at the discretion of alocal health director and may include euthanasia as provided in § 3.2-6546,or as directed by the state agency with jurisdiction over that species. Whenany animal, other than a dog or cat, is exposed or may have been exposed torabies through a bite, or through saliva or central nervous system tissue, ina fresh open wound or mucous membrane, by an animal suspected to be rabid,decisions regarding the disposition of that newly exposed animal shall be atthe discretion of a local health director.
G. When any animal may have exposed a person to rabies and subsequentlyexpires due to illness or euthanasia, either within an observation period,where applicable, or as part of a public health investigation, its head orbrain shall be sent to the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services ofthe Department of General Services or be tested as directed by the localhealth department.
(1984, cc. 492, 527, § 29-213.68; 1987, c. 488, § 3.1-796.98; 1988, c. 538;1991, c. 380; 2003, c. 479; 2008, c. 860; 2010, c. 834.)
A. When there is sufficient reason to believe that the risk of exposure torabies is elevated, the governing body of any locality may enact, and thelocal health director may recommend, an emergency ordinance that shall becomeeffective immediately upon passage, requiring owners of all dogs and catstherein to keep the same confined on their premises unless leashed underrestraint of the owner in such a manner that persons or animals will not besubject to the danger of being bitten by a rabid animal. Any such emergencyordinance enacted pursuant to the provisions of this section shall beoperative for a period not to exceed 30 days unless renewed by the governingbody of such locality in consultation with the local health director. Thegoverning body of any locality shall also have the power and authority topass ordinances restricting the running at large in their respectivejurisdiction of dogs and cats that have not been inoculated or vaccinatedagainst rabies and to provide penalties for the violation thereof.
B. Any dog or cat showing active signs of rabies or suspected of havingrabies that is not known to have exposed a person, companion animal, orlivestock to rabies shall be confined under competent observation for such atime as may be necessary to determine a diagnosis. If, in the discretion ofthe local health director, confinement is impossible or impracticable, suchdog or cat shall be euthanized by one of the methods approved by the StateVeterinarian as provided in § 3.2-6546. The disposition of other animalsshowing active signs of rabies shall be determined by the local healthdirector and may include euthanasia and testing.
C. Every person having knowledge of the existence of an animal that issuspected to be rabid and that may have exposed a person, companion animal,or livestock to rabies shall report immediately to the local healthdepartment the existence of such animal, the place where seen, the owner'sname, if known, and the signs suggesting rabies.
D. Any dog or cat, for which no proof of current rabies vaccination isavailable, and that may have been exposed to rabies through a bite, orthrough saliva or central nervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound ormucous membrane, by an animal suspected to be rabid, shall be isolated in apound, kennel, or enclosure approved by the local health department for aperiod not to exceed six months at the expense of the owner or custodian in amanner and by a date certain as determined by the local health director. Arabies vaccination shall be administered by a licensed veterinarian prior torelease. Inactivated rabies vaccine may be administered at the beginning ofisolation. Any dog or cat so bitten, or exposed to rabies through saliva orcentral nervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound or mucous membrane withproof of current vaccination, shall be revaccinated by a licensedveterinarian immediately following the exposure and shall be confined to thepremises of the owner or custodian, or other site as may be approved by thelocal health department at the expense of the owner or custodian, for aperiod of 45 days. If the local health director determines that isolation isnot feasible or maintained, such dog or cat shall be euthanized by one of themethods approved by the State Veterinarian as provided in § 3.2-6546. Thedisposition of such dogs or cats not so confined shall be at the discretionof the local health director.
E. At the discretion of the local health director, any animal that may haveexposed a person shall be confined under competent observation for 10 days atthe expense of the owner or custodian, unless the animal develops activesigns of rabies, expires, or is euthanized before that time. A seriouslyinjured or sick animal may be euthanized as provided in § 3.2-6546.
F. When any suspected rabid animal, other than a dog or cat, exposes or mayhave exposed a person to rabies through a bite, or through saliva or centralnervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound or mucous membrane, decisionsregarding the disposition of that animal shall be at the discretion of alocal health director and may include euthanasia as provided in § 3.2-6546,or as directed by the state agency with jurisdiction over that species. Whenany animal, other than a dog or cat, is exposed or may have been exposed torabies through a bite, or through saliva or central nervous system tissue, ina fresh open wound or mucous membrane, by an animal suspected to be rabid,decisions regarding the disposition of that newly exposed animal shall be atthe discretion of a local health director.
G. When any animal may have exposed a person to rabies and subsequentlyexpires due to illness or euthanasia, either within an observation period,where applicable, or as part of a public health investigation, its head orbrain shall be sent to the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services ofthe Department of General Services or be tested as directed by the localhealth department.
(1984, cc. 492, 527, § 29-213.68; 1987, c. 488, § 3.1-796.98; 1988, c. 538;1991, c. 380; 2003, c. 479; 2008, c. 860; 2010, c. 834.)
A. When there is sufficient reason to believe that the risk of exposure torabies is elevated, the governing body of any locality may enact, and thelocal health director may recommend, an emergency ordinance that shall becomeeffective immediately upon passage, requiring owners of all dogs and catstherein to keep the same confined on their premises unless leashed underrestraint of the owner in such a manner that persons or animals will not besubject to the danger of being bitten by a rabid animal. Any such emergencyordinance enacted pursuant to the provisions of this section shall beoperative for a period not to exceed 30 days unless renewed by the governingbody of such locality in consultation with the local health director. Thegoverning body of any locality shall also have the power and authority topass ordinances restricting the running at large in their respectivejurisdiction of dogs and cats that have not been inoculated or vaccinatedagainst rabies and to provide penalties for the violation thereof.
B. Any dog or cat showing active signs of rabies or suspected of havingrabies that is not known to have exposed a person, companion animal, orlivestock to rabies shall be confined under competent observation for such atime as may be necessary to determine a diagnosis. If, in the discretion ofthe local health director, confinement is impossible or impracticable, suchdog or cat shall be euthanized by one of the methods approved by the StateVeterinarian as provided in § 3.2-6546. The disposition of other animalsshowing active signs of rabies shall be determined by the local healthdirector and may include euthanasia and testing.
C. Every person having knowledge of the existence of an animal that issuspected to be rabid and that may have exposed a person, companion animal,or livestock to rabies shall report immediately to the local healthdepartment the existence of such animal, the place where seen, the owner'sname, if known, and the signs suggesting rabies.
D. Any dog or cat, for which no proof of current rabies vaccination isavailable, and that may have been exposed to rabies through a bite, orthrough saliva or central nervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound ormucous membrane, by an animal suspected to be rabid, shall be isolated in apound, kennel, or enclosure approved by the local health department for aperiod not to exceed six months at the expense of the owner or custodian in amanner and by a date certain as determined by the local health director. Arabies vaccination shall be administered by a licensed veterinarian prior torelease. Inactivated rabies vaccine may be administered at the beginning ofisolation. Any dog or cat so bitten, or exposed to rabies through saliva orcentral nervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound or mucous membrane withproof of current vaccination, shall be revaccinated by a licensedveterinarian immediately following the exposure and shall be confined to thepremises of the owner or custodian, or other site as may be approved by thelocal health department at the expense of the owner or custodian, for aperiod of 45 days. If the local health director determines that isolation isnot feasible or maintained, such dog or cat shall be euthanized by one of themethods approved by the State Veterinarian as provided in § 3.2-6546. Thedisposition of such dogs or cats not so confined shall be at the discretionof the local health director.
E. At the discretion of the local health director, any animal that may haveexposed a person shall be confined under competent observation for 10 days atthe expense of the owner or custodian, unless the animal develops activesigns of rabies, expires, or is euthanized before that time. A seriouslyinjured or sick animal may be euthanized as provided in § 3.2-6546.
F. When any suspected rabid animal, other than a dog or cat, exposes or mayhave exposed a person to rabies through a bite, or through saliva or centralnervous system tissue, in a fresh open wound or mucous membrane, decisionsregarding the disposition of that animal shall be at the discretion of alocal health director and may include euthanasia as provided in § 3.2-6546,or as directed by the state agency with jurisdiction over that species. Whenany animal, other than a dog or cat, is exposed or may have been exposed torabies through a bite, or through saliva or central nervous system tissue, ina fresh open wound or mucous membrane, by an animal suspected to be rabid,decisions regarding the disposition of that newly exposed animal shall be atthe discretion of a local health director.
G. When any animal may have exposed a person to rabies and subsequentlyexpires due to illness or euthanasia, either within an observation period,where applicable, or as part of a public health investigation, its head orbrain shall be sent to the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services ofthe Department of General Services or be tested as directed by the localhealth department.
(1984, cc. 492, 527, § 29-213.68; 1987, c. 488, § 3.1-796.98; 1988, c. 538;1991, c. 380; 2003, c. 479; 2008, c. 860; 2010, c. 834.)
