§ 3-194. Disposition of an animal exposed to a rabid animal or to an animal suspected of having rabies.

(a)

If the owner or custodian of a ferret, dog, cat, cow, horse, sheep, or goat exposed to a rabid or suspected rabid animal can provide proof of a currently valid rabies vaccination as determined by the State Public Health Veterinarian, the Health Officer, or the Health Officer's designee, the animal shall be revaccinated and kept under restraint for forty-five (45) days or for such time as specified by the Public Health Veterinarian, the Health Officer, or the Health Officer's designee. 'Under restraint' means confined to a house, garage, escape-proof enclosure or building. An animal kept outside on a chain and/or in a fenced yard shall not constitute 'under restraint'.

(b)

If the owner or custodian of any animal cannot provide proof of current vaccination against rabies, the animal shall be either humanely destroyed or immediately surrendered to the Animal Management Division of the Prince George's County Department of the Environment which will hold the animal for up to fifteen (15) days while quarantine arrangements are being made. Said animal must be held in strict isolation in a facility and in a manner approved by the State Public Health Veterinarian, the Health Officer, or the Health Officer's designee for a total of six (6) months following the exposure. The animal must be vaccinated one (1) month prior to release from isolation. All costs relating to this holding or isolation shall be borne by the owner or custodian of the animal. If the owner requests that the animal be held in strict isolation, then the Health Officer, the Health Officer's designee, or State Public Health Veterinarian may make inspections deemed necessary to assure that the animal is in strict isolation. If the isolation agreement is violated, the animal shall be humanely destroyed and tested for rabies unless an exception is made by the Health Officer, the Health Officer's designee, or the State Public Health Veterinarian based on special circumstances.

(c)

No person shall fail or refuse to surrender any animal for quarantine, destruction or disposal as required in this Division when demand is made by the Administrator, the Health Officer, the Health Officer's designee, or the State Public Health Veterinarian.

(CB-36-1985; CB-109-1997; CB-26-2001; CB-30-2014)