(a) When a domestic dog, cat or ferret bites or otherwise creates a condition which could reasonably expose or transmit rabies to any human being, the animal shall be immediately quarantined as provided in Texas Administrative Code Title 25, § 169.27 for a minimum period of ten days from the date that the bite or exposure occurred, or longer as the local rabies control authority may deem necessary.
(b) The owner shall submit the subject animal within 24 hours of notification by the local rabies control authority for quarantine in a Texas Department of Health approved facility or a licensed veterinarian's clinic in the city which has the facilities for isolation cages, or in a home quarantine as provided in subsection (c) below.
(c) Home quarantine. The owner or custodian of the dog, cat or ferret may request permission from the local rabies control authority to place the animal in home quarantine if the following criteria can be met:
(1) A secure enclosure approved by the local rabies control authority must be used to prevent escape;
(2) The animal has been vaccinated against rabies and the time elapsed since the most recent vaccination has not exceeded the manufacturer recommendations for the vaccine. If an unvaccinated animal is not over 16 weeks of age at the time of the potential exposure, it may be allowed home confinement;
(3) During the confinement period, the animal's custodian must monitor the animal's behavior and health status and immediately notify the local rabies control authority if any change is noted;
(4) The local rabies control authority or a veterinarian must observe the animal on the first and last days of the home confinement; and
(5) The animal must not be a stray, as defined in Tex. Health & Safety Code § 826.002, at the time of the potential exposure.
(d) High risk animal. If the animal, whether owned or unowned, is a high risk animal which bit, scratched or created a condition which may have exposed or transmitted the rabies virus to a human being or another animal, it shall be euthanized and a suitable sample submitted to the Texas Department of Health laboratory for rabies diagnosis.
(e) Low risk animal. If the animal is a cage-raised, low risk animal which bit, scratched or created a condition which may have exposed or transmitted the rabies virus to a human being, neither quarantine nor a rabies test will be required unless the local rabies control authority has cause to believe the animal is rabid, in which case it should be euthanized and tested for rabies.
(f) Human bitten. A domestic animal which has bitten a human and has been designated by the local rabies control authority as unclaimed or unowned may be humanely euthanized and a suitable sample shall be submitted to the Texas State Department of Health laboratory for rabies diagnosis.
(g) Multiple bite wounds. The local rabies control authority may require an animal which has inflicted multiple bite wounds, punctures or lacerations to a human being to be humanely euthanized and a suitable sample submitted to the Texas Department of Health laboratory for rabies diagnosis.
(h) Quarantine. Any animal required to be quarantined under this section which in the determination of the local rabies control authority cannot be or is not being maintained in a secure quarantine, shall be humanely euthanized and a suitable sample submitted to the Texas Department of Health laboratory for rabies diagnosis.
(i) Humanely killed or confinement. If the animal is not included in subsection (a), (d), (e), (f) or (g) of this section, the animal will be humanely euthanized and a suitable sample tested for rabies or the local rabies control authority may require the animal to be confined for a 30-day observation period at a licensed veterinarian's animal clinic or the animal care and control center. Home quarantine described in subsection (c) above does not apply in this subsection (i). Notwithstanding any other ordinance, the veterinarian or local rabies control authority may not destroy an animal following the final day of the quarantine period unless the veterinarian or local rabies control authority has notified the animal's owner, if available, of the animal's scheduled destruction.
(j) Owner. The owner of any animal that is reported to have rabies or symptoms thereof, or to have been exposed to rabies, or to have bitten, scratched or otherwise created a condition which may have exposed or transmitted the rabies virus to any human being or animal, or that the owner knows or suspects to be rabid or to have bitten, scratched or otherwise created a condition which may have exposed or transmitted the rabies virus to any human being or animal, shall submit such animal for quarantine to the local rabies control authority or to any police officer. If the animal dies prior to its quarantine, the owner shall submit the animal to the animal care and control center for rabies diagnosis.
(k) Knowledge. Any person who has knowledge of any animal that exhibits symptoms of, or has been exposed to rabies, or of any animal which has bitten, scratched or otherwise created a condition which may have exposed or transmitted the rabies virus to any human being or animal, shall immediately report the incident to the local rabies control authority. The report shall include the name and address of the victim and owner of the animal, if known, and any other information he or she has relating to the incident or animal.
(l) Veterinarian. Every veterinarian or other person who is called to examine or professionally attend any animal with rabies or any other reportable communicable disease shall within 24 hours thereafter, report the following in writing to the local rabies control authority:
(1) Species and description of the animal;
(2) Location of such animal;
(3) Name and address of the owner thereof; and
(4) Type and character of the disease.
(m) Investigation and record. The local rabies control authority shall investigate and record all cases of rabies and suspected rabies.
(n) Animal's body. The body of any animal that has died of rabies or that dies or is destroyed while in quarantine shall not be disposed of except as directed by the local rabies control authority.
(o) Owner of any animal quarantined. The owner of any animal quarantined under this section shall pay all reasonable costs of the quarantine and disposition of the animal, including charges for shipment of animal tissues, if required, to the Texas Department of Health laboratory for testing.
(p) Release of quarantined animal. An animal which has been quarantined may be released by the local rabies control authority at the end of the observation period upon a written release from a licensed veterinarian under the following conditions:
(1) Proof of vaccination or receipt of vaccination has been provided to the local rabies control authority prior to release from quarantine; and
(2) All applicable costs have been paid; and
(3) The animal is not being held for legal proceedings.
(q) Unlawful to expose others. It shall be unlawful for the owner of an animal that has rabies or symptoms which could reasonably indicate rabies, or that bites, scratches or otherwise creates a condition which may expose or transmit the rabies virus to any human being or other animal to fail or refuse to comply with any provisions of this article.
(r) Currently vaccinated guide dogs or police dogs. Currently vaccinated service animals or currently vaccinated police dogs shall not be required to be placed in quarantine when a bite is inflicted in the line of duty.
(Ord. 23295-06-2018, § 1, passed 6-26-2018, eff. 7-6-2018)