(A) Dogs or cats which have not been vaccinated for rabies and which come into contact with a known or suspected rabid animal shall be quarantined by the owner in accordance with standards and requirements established by the Northampton County Health Department or shall be euthanized at the discretion of the District Health Director. If the owner is allowed and elects to quarantine the animal, the animal shall be held at the Eastern Shore Regional Animal Control Facility for a period not to exceed ten calendar days while the owner constructs an approved quarantine enclosure. The animal shall then be transported by an Animal Control Officer and a representative from the Health Department directly to the quarantine enclosure constructed by the owner. While being held in the Eastern Shore Regional Animal Control Facility, the animal shall be maintained in a special quarantine area and the owner shall pay all fees incurred during the quarantine period. If the owner has not constructed the quarantine enclosure by the end of the ten-day quarantine period in the Eastern Shore Regional Animal Control Facility, the animal shall be euthanized at the discretion of the District Health Director. Any animal which is so quarantined which breaks quarantine shall be euthanized at the direction of the District Health Director.
(B) Dogs or cats which are currently vaccinated for rabies and which come in contact with a known or suspected rabid animal shall be re- vaccinated immediately and shall be confined by the owner in accordance with a quarantine agreement with the Northampton County Health Department for a period of 45 days, pursuant to VA Code § 3.2-6522.
(C) Animals other than dogs or cats which come in contact with a known or suspected rabid animal shall be quarantined by the owner in accordance with standards and requirements established by the Northampton County Health Department or shall be euthanized at the discretion of the District Health Director.
(D) Any animal which is required to be quarantined by the Northampton County Health Department, which begins to exhibit symptoms suggestive of rabies during the quarantine period, shall be:
(1) Euthanized; or
(2) Euthanized and tested at the discretion of the District Health Director.
(E) All expenses in connection with the provisions of this section shall be borne by the owner of the animal in question.
(Ord. passed 10-14-1997; Am. Ord. passed 11-19-2013; Am. Ord. passed 5-9-2017)