Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 310 - Oklahoma State Department of Health › Chapter 599 - Zoonotic Disease Control › Subchapter 3 - Rabies Control › Section 310:599-3-1 - Management of dogs, cats, or ferrets that bite a person

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 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.