Sec. 10.06.02.07. Disposition of Animals Following Bite or Non-Bite Contact to Humans

A. When the local health officer has determined that quarantine of the exposing animal is allowable based on the findings of the risk assessment, the animal shall be quarantined.

B. Quarantine Period.

(1) Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets, Including Unclaimed Stray Animals. Except as provided in §B(3) and (4) of this regulation, the owner or custodian of a dog, cat, or ferret that was involved in bite or non-bite contact with a human shall quarantine the animal in a place and manner approved by the local health officer or the Public Health Veterinarian for at least 10 days after the date of the bite or contact.

(2) Livestock Including Unclaimed Stray Animals. Except as provided in §B(3) and (4) of this regulation, the owner or custodian of livestock that has been involved in bite or non-bite contact with an individual shall quarantine the livestock in a place and manner approved by the Public Health Veterinarian in consultation with the Maryland Department of Agriculture for at least 10 days after the date of the bite or contact or a time period specified by the Public Health Veterinarian.

(3) Wild Animals.

(a) Except in situations in which the local health officer or the Public Health Veterinarian determines that an animal poses an imminent threat to public health or safety and must be killed immediately, the Public Health Veterinarian may order a wild animal involved in bite or non-bite contact with an individual to be placed in quarantine for at least 24 hours.

(b) If the animal is not claimed by an owner or custodian within that 24-hour period, the Public Health Veterinarian may order the animal to be humanely killed and its head submitted to the laboratory designated by the Department for rabies testing.

(c) For unclaimed stray animals, the 24-hour period is included within the period required under Regulation .02B(29) of this chapter.

(4) Wild Animal with a Legal Owner. When a legally owned wild animal has been involved in bite or a non-bite contact with a human, the local health officer, in consultation with the Public Health Veterinarian, shall determine the disposition of the wild animal based on its individual risk assessment.

C. Conditions of Quarantine.

(1) The Public Health Veterinarian or the local health officer may order the owner or custodian of an animal under quarantine that has had bite or non-bite contact with a human to have the animal examined by a Maryland-licensed veterinarian at any time during the quarantine period.

(2) The owner or custodian of an animal under quarantine shall pay for the cost of the veterinary examination and other associated costs.

(3) If a Maryland-licensed veterinarian determines that a quarantined animal has possible rabies manifestations, the veterinarian may humanely kill the animal and submit its head promptly through the local health officer or local animal control authority to the laboratory designated by the Department for testing for rabies.

D. Limitation on Movement During Quarantine. A person may not move an animal under quarantine from the place of quarantine without the written permission of the local health officer or the Public Health Veterinarian.

E. Humane Killing of an Animal for Rabies Testing. The local health officer or the Public Health Veterinarian may order in writing the humane killing of an animal that has had bite or non-bite contact with a human for the purpose of rabies testing if:

(1) The local health officer has determined that the contact animal is reasonably likely to have rabies based on the risk assessment;

(2) The owner or custodian requests humane destruction during the quarantine;

(3) The animal is a wild animal unclaimed for at least 24 hours by an owner or custodian, with, for unclaimed stray animals, the 24-hour period included within the period required under Regulation .02B(29) of this chapter; or

(4) The animal is inhumanely suffering.

F. Surrender of Animals. A person may not fail or refuse to surrender a dead or live animal for quarantine, humane killing, or rabies testing as required in this chapter when demand is made by written order of the local health officer or the Public Health Veterinarian.

G. The police, sheriff, or animal control authority staff shall enforce all written orders of the local health officer or Public Health Veterinarian issued pursuant to this regulation.