(A) Every animal which has bitten any person or which shows symptoms of rabies shall be confined immediately and shall be promptly reported to the Animal Control Officer and Health Director. If currently vaccinated, all dogs and cats shall be securely quarantined, at the direction of the County Health Director, for a period of ten days, and shall not be released from the quarantine, except by written permission from the Animal Control Officer and/or County Health Director. If unvaccinated, the County Health Department or state officials may demand that the animal be euthanized and its head examined for rabies.
(B) Dogs and cats quarantined under this section shall be confined, at the expense of the owner, in a veterinary hospital, County Animal Shelter or suitable facility off the premises of the owner as designated by the County Health Director.
(C) In the case of stray dogs or cats whose ownership is not known, the dogs or cats may be euthanized upon consultation with the local Health Director by the Animal Control Officer or by a licensed veterinarian, and the head examined for rabies or kept for the supervised quarantined period required by this section at the County Animal Shelter.
(D) If symptoms of rabies do not develop within ten days after a dog or cat is quarantined under this section, the dog or cat may be released from quarantine with the written permission of the Animal Control Officer or County Health Director. If the dog or cat has been confined in the County Animal Shelter, the owner shall pay a fee determined by resolution of the Board of County Commissioners for each day of confinement to defray the cost of feeding, upon reclaiming the animal. The fee schedule shall be available for public inspection in the office of the Administrator to the Board of County Commissioners and the County Animal Shelter.
(E) Any animal other than dogs or cats may be euthanized and the head tested for rabies, at the discretion of the State Public Health Veterinarian.
(Prior Code, § 1.23) Penalty, see § 93.99
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see G.S. §§ 130A-196, 130A-198