Md. Code Regs. 10.06.02.04 - Animal Rabies

A. Reporting. An individual shall report immediately by telephone or in person to the local police, sheriff's department, or local animal control authority if they know of an animal that:

(1) Has rabies;

(2) Is suspected of having rabies; or

(3) Has had a bite from or non-bite contact with an animal known to have or suspected of having rabies.

B. Disposition of a Suspected Rabid Animal - No Bite or Non-Bite Human Contact.

(1) Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets.

(a) Except as provided in §B(3) of this regulation, the director of a Department-approved facility shall hold in strict quarantine, in a manner and place as established by the local health officer or the Public Health Veterinarian, any dog, cat, or ferret suspected of having rabies that has not had bite or non-bite contact with an individual in the preceding 10 days.

(b) Except as provided in §B(3) of this regulation, unless otherwise specified by the Public Health Veterinarian, the director of a Department-approved facility shall continue the strict quarantine of the suspected rabid animal for at least 10 days and maintain proper, humane care of the animal during the period of strict quarantine, after which the animal may be humanely killed or released to its owner or custodian or for adoption.

(c) At any time during the strict quarantine period, the local health officer, the Public Health Veterinarian, the owner, or the custodian of the animal may direct that the animal suspected of having rabies be humanely killed for the purpose of rabies testing.

(d) At any time during the strict quarantine period, the owner or custodian of the animal may direct that the animal be humanely killed.

(e) Rabies testing is not required if there is no human contact or contact with another animal.

(2) Livestock.

(a) Except as provided in §B(3) of this regulation, the Public Health Veterinarian shall direct the owner or custodian of livestock that has not had bite or non-bite contact with an individual and is suspected of having rabies to hold the livestock in strict quarantine for at least 10 days and shall designate the place and manner in which the strict quarantine is to be carried out, after which the livestock may be humanely killed or released to the owner or custodian.

(b) At any time during the strict quarantine period, the local health officer, the Public Health Veterinarian, the owner, or the custodian of the animal may direct that the animal be humanely killed for the purpose of rabies testing.

(c) At any time during the strict quarantine period, the owner or custodian of the animal may direct that the animal be humanely killed.

(d) Rabies testing is not required if there is no human contact or contact with another animal.

(3) Wild Animals.

(a) The local health officer or Public Health Veterinarian may order a wild animal that is suspected of having rabies to be humanely killed if there is no evidence that the animal has an individual owner.

(b) If there is evidence of ownership, the Public Health Veterinarian, local health officer, or local animal control authority may order the humane killing of the animal if the owner or custodian does not appear within 24 hours to claim the animal or if there is imminent threat to human health or safety. For unclaimed stray animals, the 24-hour period is included within the period required under Regulation .02B(29) of this chapter.

(c) If an owner or custodian of the wild animal claims the animal within 24 hours, the Public Health Veterinarian may order the owner to hold the animal in strict quarantine in a place and manner determined by the Public Health Veterinarian for at least 30 days, after which it may be released to the owner or custodian if the animal has not developed rabies.

(d) At any time during the strict quarantine period, the local health officer, the Public Health Veterinarian, or the owner or custodian of the animal may direct that the animal be humanely killed for the purpose of rabies testing.

C. Examination of Animals Suspected of Having Rabies.

(1) The Public Health Veterinarian or the local health officer may order a veterinary examination at any time of an animal suspected of having rabies.

(2) The examining veterinarian shall report the results of the examination to the local health officer immediately.

(3) The owner or custodian of the animal shall bear the expense of the examination.

D. Disposition of an Animal Exposed to a Rabid Animal or to an Animal Suspected of Having Rabies.

(1) If the owner or custodian of a domestic animal that has been exposed to a rabid animal, or to an animal suspected of having rabies, is able to provide a current or expired rabies vaccination certificate for the animal, the owner or custodian shall:

(a) Have the animal re-vaccinated against rabies immediately; and

(b) Keep the animal under the owner or custodian's control and observed for 45 calendar days or for such time as specified by the Public Health Veterinarian.

(2) If the owner or custodian of a domestic animal that has been exposed to a rabid animal, or to an animal suspected of having rabies, is unable to provide a current or expired rabies vaccination certificate

(a) The owner or custodian shall:

(i) Have the animal humanely killed; or

(b) (ii) Have the animal vaccinated against rabies immediately, and hold dogs and cats in strict quarantine for a minimum of 4 months and other animals in strict quarantine for a minimum of 6 months in a facility and a manner approved by the Public Health Veterinarian; or

(b) The local health officer or animal control authority may consult with the Public Health Veterinarian to determine if serologic monitoring can be used to keep a dog or cat under the owner or custodian's control and observed for 45 calendar days rather than under strict quarantine for 4 months if the owner or custodian of a dog or cat states that the dog or cat was previously vaccinated.

(4) (3) The owner or custodian of a domestic animal that is being held in strict quarantine is responsible for all costs related to strict quarantine of the animal.

(5) (4) The local health officer, the Public Health Veterinarian, or the local animal control authority may make inspections of the site where an animal is being held in strict quarantine to assure that the animal is being held in strict quarantine under the terms specified in this chapter.

(5) The local health officer or the Public Health Veterinarian may order the humane killing for rabies testing of an animal exposed to a rabid animal or to an animal suspected of having rabies if:

(a) The strict quarantine agreement defined in Regulation .02B(28) of this chapter is violated;

(b) The animal shows signs of having developed rabies;

(c) A bite or non-bite contact to a human occurs;

(d) A bite or non-bite contact to another animal occurs;

(e) The animal is a wild animal; or

(f) The exposed animal poses an imminent threat to human health or safety.

Notes

Md. Code Regs. 10.06.02.04

Regulations .04 adopted effective November 16, 1998 (25:23 Md. R. 1696)
Regulation .04 amended effective 42:18 Md. R. 1174, eff.9/14/2015; amended effective 44:4 Md. R. 253, eff. 2/27/2017