Stray Animals Stray dogs, cats or ferrets should be removed from the community. Local health departments and animal control officials can enforce the removal of strays more effectively if owned animals are confined or kept on a leash. Strays should be impounded for at least 3 days to give owners sufficient time to reclaim animals and to determine if human exposure has occured. Registration or licensure of all dogs, cats and ferrets may be used to aid in rabies control. A fee is frequently charged for such licensure and revenues collected are used to maintain rabies and animal control programs.
Vaccination is an essential prerequisite to licensure.
If the owner is unwilling to have this done, the animal should be placed in strict isolation for 6 months and vaccinated 1 month before being released. Animals with expired vaccinations need to be evaluated on a case by case basis. Dogs, cats and ferrets that are currently vaccinated should be revaccinated immediately, kept under the owner's control, and observed for 45 days. Such animals should be evaluated by a veterinarian at the first sign of illness during confinement. Any illness in the animal should be reported immediately to the local health department.