§ 4-53. Rabid animals.

(a)

When there is sufficient reason to believe that a rabid animal is at large, the board of supervisors may pass an emergency ordinance which shall become effective immediately upon passage, requiring owners of all dogs or cats to keep them confined on their premises unless leashed under restraint of the owner so that persons or animals will not be bitten by the rabid animal. Any such emergency ordinance shall be valid for no more than 30 days, unless renewed by the board of supervisors.

(b)

Dogs or cats showing active signs of rabies or suspected of having rabies shall be confined under competent observation for as long as may be necessary to diagnose them. If confinement is impossible or impracticable, the dog or cat shall be euthanized by one of the methods approved by the state veterinarian.

(c)

Every person having knowledge of the existence of an animal apparently afflicted with rabies shall immediately report the animal to the director of the county health department and describe the location where the animal was seen, the owner's name, if known, and the animal's symptoms.

(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 immediately confined in a shelter, kennel or enclosure approved by the director of the county health department for a period not to exceed six months, at the expense of the owner, at a cost of $12.00 per day for dogs and $6.00 per day for cats, provided that prior to release a rabies vaccination shall be administered. Inactivated rabies vaccine may be administered at the beginning of confinement. If confinement is not feasible, the dog or cat shall be euthanized by one of the methods approved by the state veterinarian. If the dog or cat exposed to rabies through saliva or central nervous system tissue has proof of a valid rabies vaccination, the dog or cat shall be revaccinated and confined to the owner's premises for 90 days.

(e)

At the discretion of the director of the county health department, any animal which has bitten a person shall be confined under competent observation for ten days at the expense of the owner, at a cost of $12.00 per day for dogs and $6.00 per day for cats, unless the animal develops active symptoms of rabies or expires before that time; provided, however, that a seriously injured or sick animal may be euthanized by one of the methods approved by the state veterinarian. In the event the animal expires or is euthanized, its head shall be immediately sent to the state consolidated laboratory for evaluation.

(f)

When any potentially rabid animal, other than a dog or cat, exposes 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 director of the county health department in a manner approved by the health department or euthanized by one of the methods approved by the state veterinarian and its head sent to the state consolidated laboratory 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, the newly exposed animal shall be confined at the discretion of the director of the county health department in a manner approved by the health department or euthanized by one of the methods approved by the state veterinarian.

(Code 1978, § 5-26)

State Law reference— Rabid animals, Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.98.

(Code 1978, § 5-26)

State law reference

Rabid animals, Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.98.