Code of Maine Rules
10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL
Chapter 251 - RULES GOVERNING RABIES MANAGEMENT
Section 144-251-4 - Control, capture, and transportation of suspected rabid animals

(1) Suspected rabid animals that are strays must be controlled or captured by the ACO.

(2) The ACO must coordinate with and transport sick stray animals directly to a veterinarian or, if a veterinarian is unavailable, to an animal shelter where it shall be placed under isolation quarantine until a veterinarian can examine the suspected rabid animal.

(3) A law enforcement officer or ACO qualified to shoot may shoot or otherwise humanely euthanize a suspected rabid animal if harm to humans or other animals is imminent. The animal must not be shot in the head, nor must the head be destroyed or disposed of, but instead must be submitted for testing if there is any chance that there was contact between the suspect animal and humans or domesticated animals.

(4) If testing of the suspected rabid animal is necessary, the ACO must arrange for decapitation of stray animals and assure transportation of the suspected rabid animal to the Health & Environmental Testing Laboratory. The carcass must be disposed of properly as per the "Animal Carcass Disposal" recommendations contained in the Appendix.

(1) Control and capture of owned domesticated animals is the responsibility of the owner or keeper.

(2) The owner must coordinate with and transport sick animals directly to a veterinarian.

(3) The municipality must be contacted by the owner.

(4) The municipality may capture and control owned domesticated animals if the municipality regards the animal as a threat to public health.

(5) A law enforcement officer or ACO qualified to shoot may shoot or otherwise humanely euthanize a suspect rabid animal if harm to humans or other animals is imminent. The animal must not be shot in the head, nor must the head be destroyed or disposed of but, instead, must be submitted for testing.

(6) If testing of the suspect rabid animal is necessary, the owner or keeper must arrange for decapitation of animals and assure transportation of the suspected rabid animal to the Health & Environmental Testing Laboratory. The carcass must be disposed of properly as per the Rabies Management Manual, Rabies Testing -Specimen Preparation Section. An ACO may assist in coordination if the municipality regards the animal as a threat to public health.

(1) Suspected rabid animals must be controlled or captured by the ACO or ADC agent. The game warden should be contacted prior to responding.

(2) If human or domesticated animal exposure has occurred, the undomesticated animal should be shot or otherwise humanly euthanized by a law enforcement officer, game warden, ADC agent or qualified ACO. The animal must not be shot in the head, nor must the head be destroyed or disposed of but, instead, must be submitted for testing.

(3) A game warden may arrange for decapitation and assure transportation of the suspected rabid animal. The carcass must be disposed of properly as per the "Animal Carcass Disposal" recommendations in the Appendix.