§ 10-40. Rabid animals.  


Latest version.
  • (a)

    When there is sufficient reason to believe that a rabid animal is at large, the town council shall have the power to pass an emergency ordinance, which shall become effective immediately upon passage, requiring owners of all dogs and cats in the town to keep the dogs and cats confined on their premises unless leashed under restraint of the owner in such a manner that persons or animals will not be subject to the danger of being bitten by the rabid animal. Any such emergency ordinance enacted pursuant to this section shall be operative for a period not to exceed 30 days unless renewed by the town council.

    (b)

    Dogs or cats showing active signs of rabies or suspected of having rabies shall be confined under competent observation for such a time as may be necessary to determine a diagnosis. If confinement is impossible or impracticable, such dog or cat shall be euthanized by one of the methods approved by the state veterinarian as provided in Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.96.

    (c)

    Every person having knowledge of the existence of an animal apparently afflicted with rabies shall report immediately to the health department the existence of such animal; the place where seen; the owner's name, if known; and the symptoms suggesting rabies.

    (d)

    Any dog or cat, for which no proof of current rabies vaccination is available and which is 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 believed to be afflicted with rabies, shall be confined in a pound, kennel or enclosure approved by the health department for a period not to exceed six months at the expense of the owner; however, if this is not feasible, the dog or cat shall be euthanized by one of the methods approved by the state veterinarian as provided in Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.96. A rabies vaccination shall be administered prior to release. Inactivated rabies vaccine may be administered at the beginning of confinement. Any dog or cat so bitten or exposed to rabies through saliva or central nervous system tissue in a fresh open wound or mucous membrane with proof of a valid rabies vaccination shall be revaccinated immediately following the bite and shall be confined to the premises of the owner or other site as may be approved by the health department for a period of 90 days.

    (e)

    At the discretion of the health director, any animal which has bitten a person shall be confined under competent observation for ten days, unless the animal develops active symptoms of rabies or expires before that time. A seriously injured or sick animal may be humanely euthanized as provided in Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.96, and its head sent to the division of consolidated laboratory services of the state department of general services or the local health department for evaluation.

    (f)

    When any potentially 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, that animal shall be confined at the discretion of the health director in a manner approved by the health department or humanely euthanized as provided in Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.96 and its head sent to the division of consolidated laboratory services of the state department of general services or the health department for evaluation.

    (g)

    When any animal, other than a dog or cat, is 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 believed to be afflicted with rabies, that newly exposed animal shall be confined at the discretion of the health director in a manner approved by the health department or humanely euthanized as provided in Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.96.

    (Code 1992, § 3-29)

    State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.98; regulations to prevent the spread of rabies, Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.100.

(Code 1992, § 3-29)

State law reference

Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.98; regulations to prevent the spread of rabies, Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.100.