New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 8 - HEALTH
Chapter 23A - ANIMAL FACILITY OPERATION; ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER AND ANIMAL CRUELTY INVESTIGATOR CERTIFICATION; PILOT SPAYING AND NEUTERING CLINIC FEES; AND RABIES INOCULATION
Subchapter 1 - SANITARY OPERATION OF KENNELS, PET SHOPS, SHELTERS AND POUNDS
Section 8:23A-1.9 - Disease control

Universal Citation: NJ Admin Code 8:23A-1.9

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 6, March 18, 2024

(a) Facilities subject to this subchapter as provided in 8:23A-1.2 shall establish and maintain a program of disease control and adequate health care (program) under the supervision and assistance of a doctor of veterinary medicine.

1. The program shall address the physical and psychological well-being of animals at the facility, including stress-induced behaviors, such as repetitious behavior or vocalizations, from auditory, visual, and olfactory stimuli.

(b) The supervising veterinarian shall annually sign and date a form provided by the IZDP indicating that such a program is in effect at the facility.

1. The facility shall post this form in the facility in an area clearly visible to the public.

(c) The supervising veterinarian shall notify the local health department with jurisdiction over the licensed animal facility and the IZDP in the event that the program is not being followed.

(d) Each animal shall be observed daily by the animal caretaker in charge, or by someone under his or her direct supervision for clinical signs of communicable disease or stress.

1. Sick, diseased, injured or lame animals shall be provided with at least prompt, basic veterinary care (that is, to alleviate pain and suffering) or euthanized, unless such action is inconsistent with the purposes for which the animal was obtained and is being held; provided, however, that this provision shall not affect compliance with 4:19-15.1 6, which requires all stray animals to be held for seven days.

2. Animals displaying signs of stress shall be provided with relief pursuant to the disease control and health care program, as delineated in (a) above.

i. Environmental stress can be mediated through reducing the negative impact of excess noise, smells, visual stimuli, and perceived threats; socialization; exercise; increased privacy; and providing comfort, such as soft bedding.

(e) Euthanized animals that have bitten a human within 10 days previous to euthanasia shall be examined for rabies at the Public Health and Environmental Laboratories of the Department.

(f) Any animal under confinement for, or with signs of, a communicable disease shall be separated from other healthy animals and placed in an isolation area in order to minimize dissemination of such disease.

1. Caretakers shall wash their hands after handling these animals and follow procedures to control the dissemination of disease as recommended by the supervising veterinarian.

(g) In facilities constructed or renovated after January 17, 1995, the isolation area shall be a separate room (with ceiling to floor walls and door) from the holding area of the general animal population, not to be used for any purposes other than the segregation of animals with signs of communicable disease.

(h) In facilities constructed or renovated after January 17, 1995, the isolation area shall have an exhaust fan or system which creates air movement from the isolation area to an area outside the premises of the facility.

1. Removal of exhaust air from the isolation area may be accomplished by the use of existing heating and air conditioning ducts provided that no exhaust air from the isolation area is permitted to enter or mix with fresh air for use by the general animal population.

(i) Cleaning utensils for the isolation area shall be separate from those used for cleaning the general animal population area; such utensils shall either be washed separately from, or after, those used for the general population.

(j) The contracting veterinarian supervising the facility's disease control programs shall report the diagnosis of zoonotic diseases in animals at the facility to the Health Officer of the local health department.

(k) Any person operating or employed at a kennel, pet shop, shelter, or pound who observes an animal that he or she suspects of being rabid, shall at once notify by telephone the local health department or the IZDP at (609) 588-3121 and segregate such animal.

(l) Dogs, ferrets and cats suspected of having rabies shall be held for 10 days, unless examined by a veterinarian, or, shall be humanely euthanized and tested for rabies, provided that this does not affect compliance with 4:19-15.1 6.

1. Other animals shall be handled in accordance with recommendations of the IZDP.

(m) From time to time, the IZDP may issue fact sheets addressing specific zoonotic diseases to local health departments.

1. Each local health department shall provide copies of the fact sheets to persons operating kennels, pet shops, shelters and pounds within the local health department's jurisdiction.

2. Persons operating kennels, pet shops, shelters and pounds shall provide, and shall arrange for their employees to provide, these fact sheets to persons adopting or purchasing animals identified in the fact sheets.

3. Such operators may obtain additional copies of the fact sheets at no cost to them by writing to the IZDP.

(n) If the Department has confirmed or has reason to suspect the existence of a zoonotic or other communicable disease that would be harmful to human or animal health in any of the animals housed in a facility, the Department or the local health agency may order the quarantine of those animals and any other animals deemed susceptible or exposed to those animals, either at the facility or other site by the Health Officer, for as long as it is determined that a risk of transmission to humans or other animals exists.

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