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If warm-blooded animal bites, scratches, or attacks a human being or exposes a human being to a possible rabies infection, or if the animal is suspected of having rabies, an individual having knowledge of the facts, including a veterinarian, shall immediately report those facts to the County police or, in the City of Annapolis, to the City police. The police officer who receives such a report shall immediately notify the Health Officer, the authorized and trained representative of the Health Officer, or the Agency. The individual or agency notified shall inform the animal owner in writing that it is the responsibility of the animal owner to take the animal to a licensed veterinarian to have the animal examined for rabies within 24 hours of the bite or scratch.
(1985 Code, Art. 12, § 6-102) (Bill No. 41-01)
A veterinarian shall immediately report any animal the veterinarian considers to be rabid or to be a rabies suspect, by telephone or in person, to the County police or, in the City of Annapolis, to the City police.
(1985 Code, Art. 12, § 6-103) (Bill No. 41-01)
If rabies has been diagnosed in an animal confined for clinical observation or if rabies is suspected by a veterinarian or Agency officer and the animal dies, the Agency officer shall immediately have the head sent to a laboratory recognized by the State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for rabies examination. Within 24 hours of the laboratory findings indicating a presence of rabies, the laboratory shall notify the State Veterinarian and the Health Officer or the authorized and trained representative of the Health Officer of the finding and report human and animal contacts with the infected animal.
(1985 Code, Art. 12, § 6-104) (Bill No. 41-01; Bill No. 89-20)
(a) Requirement for confinement. The Health Officer or the authorized representative of the Health Officer assigned to the Agency shall confine an animal that has bitten a human being for clinical observation for a period of 10 consecutive days from the date of the bite.
(b) Where confinement occurs. At the discretion of the Health Officer or the authorized representative of the Health Officer, the confinement may occur:
(1) at an animal shelter, veterinary hospital, or humane shelter at the animal owner's option and expense; or
(2) on the premises of the animal owner if the owner signs an agreement that the animal will be quarantined as specified in the animal bite report, the animal will not leave the structure in which it is confined unless on a leash and under the immediate control of an adult, and the animal will not be in contact with other animals.
(c) Fenced yard. The animal may be secured in the owner's fenced yard if the fence has locking gates that are kept locked and the animal is chained inside the fence at least 15 feet from the nearest fence line.
(d) Prohibition. A person may not allow an animal confined under this section to escape or be sold or given away and may not euthanize the animal before the expiration of the 10-day confinement and observation period.
(1985 Code, Art. 12, § 6-105) (Bill No. 29-91; Bill No. 41-01)
An animal exposed to rabies shall be destroyed immediately under the supervision of the Health Officer or the authorized and trained representative of the County Health Department or, at the owner's request, shall be placed in strict isolation for six months in a control shelter or a veterinary hospital approved by the State Veterinarian. The cost of isolation shall be borne by the owner.
(1985 Code, Art. 12, § 6-106) (Bill No. 41-01)
A person may not fail or refuse to surrender an animal for destruction or quarantine as required in this title when demand is made by the order of the Health Officer, the authorized and trained representative of the Health Officer, or the State Veterinarian.
(1985 Code, Art. 12, § 6-107) (Bill No. 41-01)
After confirmation by a licensed veterinarian, a warm-blooded animal suspected of being an animal exposed to rabies shall be surrendered by the owner to a veterinarian or the Agency for supervised confinement completely isolated from other animals in a manner approved by the Health Officer or the Agency. The animal may be destroyed or confined in such a way and for such period, at the expense of the owner of the animal, as the Health Officer shall direct. Payment of boarding, hospital, and confinement fees and compliance with the licensing and animal management provisions of this subtitle shall be prerequisite to the release of a confined animal to the owner.
(1985 Code, Art. 12, § 6-108) (Bill No. 41-01)
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