Wild animals, such as raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes are the most common carriers. These animals may, however, infect household pets. Care should be taken to avoid situations where pets and wild animals come in contact. All dogs and cats in the City of Va Beach are required to be vaccinated against rabies at four months of age and at regular intervals thereafter.
Vaccination is one of the best preventions against rabies.
There are legal requirements concerning quarantine and other protective measures for animals having, or suspected of having, rabies. All animal bites must be reported and a summons will be issued for failure to do so. Animals that bite someone in Va Beach must be placed in quarantine in the city for 10 days and must remain there unless permission to remove them is granted by the Health Department. Enforcement of these regulations is the responsibility of the Va Beach Animal Control Bureau and the Va Beach Department of Public Health. To report an animal bite call the Va Beach Police Dispatcher at 427-5616.