Current through Vol. 41, No. 13, March 15, 2024
(a) Any person or entity owning, harboring,
or keeping a dog, cat or ferret which in the preceding ten (10) days has bitten
any person, shall upon receipt of written notice by the local animal control
authority or Department designee, place such animal in quarantine under the
supervision of a licensed veterinarian for a period of ten (10) days from the
date the person was bitten. The impoundment and observation of the dog, cat, or
ferret shall be conducted at the veterinarian's facility, or a recognized
animal control facility. Unvaccinated animals shall be vaccinated against
rabies on the final day of the ten (10) day observation period prior to
discharge from the veterinarian's supervision.
(b) Exceptions to this rule include the
following circumstances:
(1) Dogs, cats, or
ferrets involved in a first party ownership may be allowed to be placed in a
home quarantine for a ten (10) day period immediately following the
bite.
(2) Dogs, cats, and ferrets
meeting the criteria of currently vaccinated against rabies, and not inflicting
a severe injury, shall be placed in a home quarantine until the end of a 10 day
period from the bite. In some instances, a certification of animal health
obtained after examination by a licensed veterinarian on the tenth day may be
required by the Department or local animal control authority.
(3) Animals in service to the blind or
hearing-impaired, and search and rescue dogs or other animals used for police
enforcement duties shall be exempt from the quarantine when a bite exposure
occurs and proper record of immunization against rabies is presented. A
certification of animal health obtained after examination by a licensed
veterinarian at the end of 10 days may be required by the Department.
(4) Stray or unwanted dogs, cats, or ferrets
that have bitten any person may either be quarantined for ten (10) days at a
veterinary facility or a recognized animal control facility; or immediately
euthanized and the brain tissue submitted to the Oklahoma State Department of
Health Public Health Laboratory for rabies testing. Upon successful completion
of the ten (10) day period, a stray animal may be placed for adoption at the
discretion of the animal control authority.
(5) Dogs, cats, and ferrets that bite a
veterinarian or staff member under their supervision during a routine
examination or elective procedure may be considered eligible for home
quarantine if the bite victim and owner agree the animal will be examined by a
licensed veterinarian at the end of the ten (10) day period from the bite to
confirm the animal's health status.
(6) In rare instances, other good and valid
health reasons of the owner or animal may be considered for justification to
home quarantine (e.g., a bitch with a litter of very young puppies, an animal
with a contagious disease, etc.). Approval for home quarantine will be
determined by the Department or its designee.
Added at 14 Ok Reg 3581,
eff 7-18-97 (emergency); Added at 15 Ok Reg 2367, eff 6-11-98; Amended at 17 Ok
Reg 2945, eff 7-13-00
