Chapter 02. Communicable Diseases — Rabies
Regulation .01 Scope.LinkCopy Citation
This chapter provides for cooperative rabies control efforts by the Department, local health officers, physicians, veterinarians, and other Maryland government agencies as guided by policy statements such as the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, issued annually by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians.
Regulation .02 Definitions.LinkCopy Citation
A.
In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B.
Terms Defined.
(1)
“Adequately vaccinated” means a graduate veterinarian at a public antirabies clinic or a licensed veterinarian has:
(a)
Immunized an animal against rabies in accordance with the current year's recommendations as circulated by the Department; and
(b)
Documented the rabies immunization by issuing a valid rabies certificate.
(2)
“Animal” means a nonhuman species of mammal.
(3)
“Animal exposed to a rabid animal” means an animal that is known or is suspected to have had a bite from or non-bite contact with another animal that is known or suspected to be infected with rabies.
(4)
“Apparently healthy” means an:
(a)
Animal shows no signs of illness suggestive of rabies; and
(b)
Investigation by the local health officer or the health officer’s designee shows that:
(i)
The animal has not had a change in health or behavior in the past 30 calendar days, including but not limited to lethargy, lameness, weakness, slowness of movement or gait, paralysis, or loss of appetite; or
(ii)
A licensed veterinarian, having examined the animal more than 30 days before the bite or non-bite contact, has identified and documented that behavior or health changes were caused by a condition unrelated to rabies.
(5)
“Area quarantine” means a geographic region designated by the Public Health Veterinarian within which animals of a species designated by the Public Health Veterinarian are subject to the restrictions specified in this chapter.
(6)
“Bite contact” means penetration of the skin by the teeth of an animal, regardless of whether blood is visible.
(7)
“Cat” means Felis catus.
(8)
“Custodian” means a caretaker or keeper of an animal, or the local animal control authority who has responsibility for an unclaimed animal.
(9)
“Department” means the Department of Health.
(10)
“Department-approved facility” means a facility that has prior written approval of the Department to quarantine rabies suspect animals.
(11)
“Dog” means Canis familiaris, not including canine hybrids.
(12)
“Domestic animal” means a species of mammal that is accustomed to living in or about the habitation of man and is dependent on man for food or shelter, including but not limited to dogs, cats, ferrets, and livestock.
(13)
“Feral dog or cat” means a dog or cat that:
(a)
Shows no evidence, such as a collar, tag, or grooming, of being owned; and
(b)
Exhibits savage or wild behavior or is living in the wild.
(14)
“Ferret” means Mustela putorius furo.
(15)
“Livestock” means domestic farm animals, including but not limited to cattle, horses and other equines, swine, sheep, and goats.
(16)
“Local animal control authority” means that agency or individual appointed by the governing body of a county or the city of Baltimore to oversee animal control.
(17)
“Local health department” means a county health department under the direction of a local health officer or the Baltimore City Health Department under the direction of the Baltimore City Commissioner of Health.
(18)
“Local health officer” means the local health officer of a county or the Baltimore City Commissioner of Health, or the designee of the local health officer or the Commissioner of Health.
(19)
Non-Bite Contact.
(a)
“Non-bite contact” means a scratch or contamination of an abrasion, open wound, or mucous membrane with saliva or other potentially infectious material from an animal.
(b)
“Non-bite contact” does not include exposure to non-infectious material such as dried saliva.
(20)
“Person” means an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, or representative of any kind, and any partnership, firm, association, corporation, or other entity.
(21)
“Provoked” means that bite or non-bite contact from an animal resulted from human activity, such as an individual attempting to play with, pet, feed, handle, hold, harm, or redirect an animal’s actions.
(22)
“Public Health Veterinarian” means the veterinarian designated by the Secretary as responsible for the Veterinary Public Health Program of the Department or the designee of the Public Health Veterinarian.
(23)
“Quarantine” means, pursuant to an order of the Public Health Veterinarian or local health officer and on the private premises of the owner or custodian of the animal or at a Department-approved facility, confinement of an animal by leash, an escape-proof enclosure, or another manner, approved in writing by the Public Health Veterinarian or local health officer, that ensures protection of the public health.
(24)
“Rabies” means an acute viral disease in humans and animals produced by a rhabdovirus belonging to the genus Lyssavirus.
(25)
“Risk assessment” means the evaluation of the circumstances surrounding a bite or non-bite contact to determine the likelihood that an individual has been exposed to material potentially infectious with rabies.
(26)
“Secretary” means the Secretary of Health.
(27)
“Serologic monitoring” means monitoring of a dog or cat that was previously vaccinated against rabies to see if the animal demonstrates sufficient evidence of an immune response within seven days of being vaccinated against rabies.
(28)
“State Epidemiologist” means the person designated as the State Epidemiologist by the Secretary or the designee of the State Epidemiologist.
(29)
“Strict quarantine” means that:
(a)
An animal is confined in an escape-proof enclosure that precludes direct contact with people and other animals;
(b)
The animal is not removed from the enclosure at any time except for transport in a manner, approved in writing by the local health officer, that will safeguard the public health;
(c)
Human contact with the animal is restricted to one adult caring for the animal or not allowed at all by the local health officer or Public Health Veterinarian; and
(d)
The owner or custodian of the animal has signed an agreement with the local health department or animal control authority that the owner or custodian has met and agrees to meet the requirements specified in §B(28)(a)—(c) of this regulation.
(30)
“Unclaimed stray animal” means a domestic animal that is:
(a)
Not a feral dog or cat; and
(b)
Unclaimed by an owner after being held by the local animal control authority at least 72 hours for an owner to claim it.
(31)
“Wild animal” means a member of a mammalian species that is:
(a)
Not a domestic animal;
(b)
A feral dog or cat; or
(c)
An unclaimed stray animal.
Regulation .03 Human Rabies.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Reporting.
(1)
A physician, medical authority, or another person having knowledge of or suspicion of a case of human rabies shall immediately report the facts to the local health officer.
(2)
A local health officer who has received a report of a case or suspected case of human rabies shall immediately notify, by telephone or other immediate communication medium, the State Epidemiologist or the Public Health Veterinarian of the case or suspected case.
B.
Isolation. A physician or administrator of a health care facility providing medical care to an individual who is suspected of having been infected with rabies shall isolate the individual in accordance with the order of a local health officer or the State Epidemiologist.
C.
Immunization; Preexposure.
(1)
The Department shall provide rabies vaccine free of charge and the local health officer shall provide for the administration of preexposure immunization against rabies for any employee of the Department, a local health department, or another individual who provides rabies control services at the request of the Department.
(2)
The local health officer may provide rabies preexposure immunization to other individuals who are determined by the Public Health Veterinarian to have a high risk of exposure to rabies infection.
(3)
The local health officer shall:
(a)
Report to the Public Health Veterinarian at least every 3 months, the number of preexposure immunizations administered; and
(b)
Maintain records of the name, address, age, sex, county of residence, occupation, and the results of any blood tests administered in conjunction with rabies preexposure immunization for each individual immunized.
(4)
The Public Health Veterinarian and the State Epidemiologist shall make and distribute to local health officers recommendations on the dose and schedule of administration of rabies vaccine for the purpose of preexposure immunization of individuals.
(5)
The local health officer shall administer rabies preexposure immunizations according to the recommendations developed by the Public Health Veterinarian and the State Epidemiologist.
D.
Treatment; Postexposure.
(1)
The Public Health Veterinarian and the State Epidemiologist shall jointly issue and distribute to local health departments, physicians, hospitals, and other medical authorities, rabies postexposure treatment guidelines.
(2)
A local health officer shall report to the Public Health Veterinarian:
(a)
At least every 3 months, the number of postexposure treatments administered;
(b)
At the completion of treatment, for each individual administered treatment, the individual’s:
(i)
Name;
(ii)
Address;
(iii)
Age;
(iv)
Sex;
(v)
County of residence; and
(vi)
Occupation; and
(c)
Other information as directed by the Public Health Veterinarian.
(3)
The Department shall ensure no one is denied rabies postexposure treatment due to the inability to pay when the treatment is provided in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Public Health Veterinarian and the State Epidemiologist and recommended by a licensed health care provider.
(4)
The local health officer of the jurisdiction where the resident resides shall ensure access to rabies postexposure treatment provided in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Public Health Veterinarian and the State Epidemiologist.
(5)
When rabies postexposure treatment is provided in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Public Health Veterinarian and the State Epidemiologist, the Department shall pay the charge of the rabies biologics for persons unable to pay for them:
(a)
Based on the current ability-to-pay schedule of the Department; and
(b)
Only after all available benefits and discounts are applied.
Regulation .04 Animal Rabies.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Reporting. An individual shall report immediately by telephone or in person to the local police, sheriff’s department, or local animal control authority if they know of an animal that:
(1)
Has rabies;
(2)
Is suspected of having rabies; or
(3)
Has had a bite from or non-bite contact with an animal known to have or suspected of having rabies.
B.
Disposition of a Suspected Rabid Animal — No Bite or Non-Bite Human Contact.
(1)
Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets.
(a)
Except as provided in §B(3) of this regulation, the director of a Department-approved facility shall hold in strict quarantine, in a manner and place as established by the local health officer or the Public Health Veterinarian, any dog, cat, or ferret suspected of having rabies that has not had bite or non-bite contact with an individual in the preceding 10 days.
(b)
Except as provided in §B(3) of this regulation, unless otherwise specified by the Public Health Veterinarian, the director of a Department-approved facility shall continue the strict quarantine of the suspected rabid animal for at least 10 days and maintain proper, humane care of the animal during the period of strict quarantine, after which the animal may be humanely killed or released to its owner or custodian or for adoption.
(c)
At any time during the strict quarantine period, the local health officer, the Public Health Veterinarian, the owner, or the custodian of the animal may direct that the animal suspected of having rabies be humanely killed for the purpose of rabies testing.
(d)
At any time during the strict quarantine period, the owner or custodian of the animal may direct that the animal be humanely killed.
(e)
Rabies testing is not required if there is no human contact or contact with another animal.
(2)
Livestock.
(a)
Except as provided in §B(3) of this regulation, the Public Health Veterinarian shall direct the owner or custodian of livestock that has not had bite or non-bite contact with an individual and is suspected of having rabies to hold the livestock in strict quarantine for at least 10 days and shall designate the place and manner in which the strict quarantine is to be carried out, after which the livestock may be humanely killed or released to the owner or custodian.
(b)
At any time during the strict quarantine period, the local health officer, the Public Health Veterinarian, the owner, or the custodian of the animal may direct that the animal be humanely killed for the purpose of rabies testing.
(c)
At any time during the strict quarantine period, the owner or custodian of the animal may direct that the animal be humanely killed.
(d)
Rabies testing is not required if there is no human contact or contact with another animal.
(3)
Wild Animals.
(a)
The local health officer or Public Health Veterinarian may order a wild animal that is suspected of having rabies to be humanely killed if there is no evidence that the animal has an individual owner.
(b)
If there is evidence of ownership, the Public Health Veterinarian, local health officer, or local animal control authority may order the humane killing of the animal if the owner or custodian does not appear within 24 hours to claim the animal or if there is imminent threat to human health or safety. For unclaimed stray animals, the 24-hour period is included within the period required under Regulation .02B(29) of this chapter.
(c)
If an owner or custodian of the wild animal claims the animal within 24 hours, the Public Health Veterinarian may order the owner to hold the animal in strict quarantine in a place and manner determined by the Public Health Veterinarian for at least 30 days, after which it may be released to the owner or custodian if the animal has not developed rabies.
(d)
At any time during the strict quarantine period, the local health officer, the Public Health Veterinarian, or the owner or custodian of the animal may direct that the animal be humanely killed for the purpose of rabies testing.
C.
Examination of Animals Suspected of Having Rabies.
(1)
The Public Health Veterinarian or the local health officer may order a veterinary examination at any time of an animal suspected of having rabies.
(2)
The examining veterinarian shall report the results of the examination to the local health officer immediately.
(3)
The owner or custodian of the animal shall bear the expense of the examination.
D.
Disposition of an Animal Exposed to a Rabid Animal or to an Animal Suspected of Having Rabies.
(1)
If the owner or custodian of a domestic animal that has been exposed to a rabid animal, or to an animal suspected of having rabies, is able to provide a current or expired rabies vaccination certificate for the animal, the owner or custodian shall:
(a)
Have the animal re-vaccinated against rabies immediately; and
(b)
Keep the animal under the owner or custodian’s control and observed for 45 calendar days or for such time as specified by the Public Health Veterinarian.
(2)
If the owner or custodian of a domestic animal that has been exposed to a rabid animal, or to an animal suspected of having rabies, is unable to provide a current or expired rabies vaccination certificate:
(a)
The owner or custodian shall:
(i)
Have the animal humanely killed; or
(ii)
Have the animal vaccinated against rabies immediately, and hold dogs and cats in strict quarantine for a minimum of 4 months and other animals in strict quarantine for a minimum of 6 months in a facility and a manner approved by the Public Health Veterinarian; or
(b)
The local health officer or animal control authority may consult with the Public Health Veterinarian to determine if serologic monitoring can be used to keep a dog or cat under the owner or custodian’s control and observed for 45 calendar days rather than under strict quarantine for 4 months if the owner or custodian of a dog or cat states that the dog or cat was previously vaccinated.
(3)
The owner or custodian of a domestic animal that is being held in strict quarantine is responsible for all costs related to strict quarantine of the animal.
(4)
The local health officer, the Public Health Veterinarian, or the local animal control authority may make inspections of the site where an animal is being held in strict quarantine to assure that the animal is being held in strict quarantine under the terms specified in this chapter.
(5)
The local health officer or the Public Health Veterinarian may order the humane killing for rabies testing of an animal exposed to a rabid animal or to an animal suspected of having rabies if:
(a)
The strict quarantine agreement defined in Regulation .02B(28) of this chapter is violated;
(b)
The animal shows signs of having developed rabies;
(c)
A bite or non-bite contact to a human occurs;
(d)
A bite or non-bite contact to another animal occurs;
(e)
The animal is a wild animal; or
(f)
The exposed animal poses an imminent threat to human health or safety.
Regulation .05 Reporting Bite or Non-Bite Contacts to Humans.LinkCopy Citation
A.
A person having knowledge of an individual's having a bite from or non-bite contact with an animal shall report the facts of the contact immediately by telephone or in person to the local police or sheriff's department, except in Frederick County, where the person shall report the facts to the animal control center of Frederick County.
B.
Except as provided at §C of this regulation, upon receipt of a report, the local police or sheriff's department or animal control personnel shall:
(1)
Complete the Maryland Animal-Bite Report and Rabies Quarantine Agreement Form supplied by the Department, or an equivalent form developed by the local health department;
(2)
Make the report available within 24 hours to the local health officer and, on request, to the Public Health Veterinarian; and
(3)
Enforce all orders of the local health officer and the Public Health Veterinarian pursuant to this regulation.
C.
The local health officer shall report the number of animal bite and non-bite contacts to the Public Health Veterinarian monthly as specified in COMAR 10.06.01.
Regulation .06 Risk Assessment Following Bite or Non-Bite Contact to Humans.LinkCopy Citation
Following the report of a bite or non-bite contact to a human, the local health officer shall conduct a risk assessment that includes a determination of:
A.
The species of animal that made the contact;
B.
Whether the animal is apparently healthy;
C.
Whether the animal is adequately vaccinated appropriate to its age;
D.
The type of contact;
E.
Whether the bite or non-bite contact was provoked and what human activity may have provoked the bite or non-bite; and
F.
The reasonable likelihood that the contact animal may have rabies or may have been exposed to rabies within the past 6 months, including information about unsupervised out-of-doors escape episodes, injuries, and other potential contacts of the animal to wild animals or bats.
Regulation .07 Disposition of Animals Following Bite or Non-Bite Contact to Humans.LinkCopy Citation
A.
When the local health officer has determined that quarantine of the exposing animal is allowable based on the findings of the risk assessment, the animal shall be quarantined.
B.
Quarantine Period.
(1)
Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets, Including Unclaimed Stray Animals. Except as provided in §B(3) and (4) of this regulation, the owner or custodian of a dog, cat, or ferret that was involved in bite or non-bite contact with a human shall quarantine the animal in a place and manner approved by the local health officer or the Public Health Veterinarian for at least 10 days after the date of the bite or contact.
(2)
Livestock Including Unclaimed Stray Animals. Except as provided in §B(3) and (4) of this regulation, the owner or custodian of livestock that has been involved in bite or non-bite contact with an individual shall quarantine the livestock in a place and manner approved by the Public Health Veterinarian in consultation with the Maryland Department of Agriculture for at least 10 days after the date of the bite or contact or a time period specified by the Public Health Veterinarian.
(3)
Wild Animals.
(a)
Except in situations in which the local health officer or the Public Health Veterinarian determines that an animal poses an imminent threat to public health or safety and must be killed immediately, the Public Health Veterinarian may order a wild animal involved in bite or non-bite contact with an individual to be placed in quarantine for at least 24 hours.
(b)
If the animal is not claimed by an owner or custodian within that 24-hour period, the Public Health Veterinarian may order the animal to be humanely killed and its head submitted to the laboratory designated by the Department for rabies testing.
(c)
For unclaimed stray animals, the 24-hour period is included within the period required under Regulation .02B(29) of this chapter.
(4)
Wild Animal with a Legal Owner. When a legally owned wild animal has been involved in bite or a non-bite contact with a human, the local health officer, in consultation with the Public Health Veterinarian, shall determine the disposition of the wild animal based on its individual risk assessment.
C.
Conditions of Quarantine.
(1)
The Public Health Veterinarian or the local health officer may order the owner or custodian of an animal under quarantine that has had bite or non-bite contact with a human to have the animal examined by a Maryland-licensed veterinarian at any time during the quarantine period.
(2)
The owner or custodian of an animal under quarantine shall pay for the cost of the veterinary examination and other associated costs.
(3)
If a Maryland-licensed veterinarian determines that a quarantined animal has possible rabies manifestations, the veterinarian may humanely kill the animal and submit its head promptly through the local health officer or local animal control authority to the laboratory designated by the Department for testing for rabies.
D.
Limitation on Movement During Quarantine. A person may not move an animal under quarantine from the place of quarantine without the written permission of the local health officer or the Public Health Veterinarian.
E.
Humane Killing of an Animal for Rabies Testing. The local health officer or the Public Health Veterinarian may order in writing the humane killing of an animal that has had bite or non-bite contact with a human for the purpose of rabies testing if:
(1)
The local health officer has determined that the contact animal is reasonably likely to have rabies based on the risk assessment;
(2)
The owner or custodian requests humane destruction during the quarantine;
(3)
The animal is a wild animal unclaimed for at least 24 hours by an owner or custodian, with, for unclaimed stray animals, the 24-hour period included within the period required under Regulation .02B(29) of this chapter; or
(4)
The animal is inhumanely suffering.
F.
Surrender of Animals. A person may not fail or refuse to surrender a dead or live animal for quarantine, humane killing, or rabies testing as required in this chapter when demand is made by written order of the local health officer or the Public Health Veterinarian.
G.
The police, sheriff, or animal control authority staff shall enforce all written orders of the local health officer or Public Health Veterinarian issued pursuant to this regulation.
Regulation .08 Area Quarantine.LinkCopy Citation
A.
If rabies is known to exist within an area, the Public Health Veterinarian, in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, may establish an area quarantine for rabies, define the boundaries of the quarantine area, and specify the species of animal or animals subject to the quarantine.
B.
The owner or custodian of an animal subject to the area quarantine shall keep the animal in quarantine on the premises of the owner or custodian at all times until the area quarantine is terminated in writing by the Public Health Veterinarian, in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
C.
A person may not bring an animal subject to an area quarantine into or out of the quarantine area without the written permission of the Public Health Veterinarian and the Department of Agriculture.
Regulation .09 Laboratory Testing.LinkCopy Citation
A.
A local health officer or local animal control authority shall submit rabies specimens for laboratory testing.
B.
The director of the rabies testing laboratory shall promptly forward a copy of the results of a rabies examination to the:
(1)
Local health officer;
(2)
Individual that originally submitted the specimen to the laboratory from the local animal control authority; and
(3)
Public Health Veterinarian.
C.
The director of the rabies testing laboratory shall promptly report by telephone to the local health officer a positive rabies finding on a specimen from an animal that has been involved in bite or non-bite contact with an individual.
D.
After receiving results of a positive finding of rabies, the local health officer shall notify the attending physician or attending veterinarian by telephone.
Regulation .10 Vaccination of Animals.LinkCopy Citation
A.
An owner or custodian of a dog, cat, or ferret shall have that animal adequately vaccinated against rabies by the time the dog, cat, or ferret is 4 months old.
B.
Vaccination Documentation.
(1)
Except for a local animal control authority, an owner or custodian of an animal required to be licensed or registered shall have the animal adequately vaccinated and shall obtain a valid rabies vaccination certificate on the form specified by the Department. The certificate shall be completed and signed by a Maryland-licensed veterinarian or, in the case of public antirabies clinics, the certificate may be issued under the authority of the Public Health Veterinarian, documenting that the animal has been adequately vaccinated against rabies for the period of time covered by the rabies vaccination.
(2)
Except for a kennel licensed by the local animal control authority as a boarding kennel, an owner or operator of a kennel shall present, upon the request of the local health officer, Public Health Veterinarian, or local animal control authority, a valid rabies vaccination certificate for each dog, cat, or ferret:
(a)
Owned or kept by the kennel; and
(b)
That is 4 months old or older.
(3)
The Public Health Veterinarian may delay temporarily or indefinitely the rabies vaccination requirement for certain dogs, cats, or ferrets in the interest of public safety or for medical determinations or research.
C.
Unless the Public Health Veterinarian has authorized a delay in vaccination, a local animal control authority may not license or register a dog, cat, or ferret without verifying the rabies vaccination status as documented by a current rabies vaccination certificate.
D.
Vaccination Certificates.
(1)
A vaccine manufacturer shall issue the official National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) Form 51, Rabies Vaccination Certificate, or an equivalent form.
(2)
A veterinarian shall administer rabies vaccine to an animal in accordance with the specifications on the vaccine and recommendations for immunization procedures, such as the current Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control.
(3)
The veterinarian administering rabies vaccine to an animal shall:
(a)
Complete the NASPHV Form 51, or an equivalent form, containing the:
(i)
Vaccine manufacturer and lot or serial number;
(ii)
Date the vaccine was given;
(iii)
Date the next vaccination is due by;
(iv)
Signature of the veterinarian and the date the rabies certificate was signed;
(v)
Veterinarian’s name, address, telephone number, and veterinary license number legibly stamped, typed, or printed;
(vi)
Owner’s name, address, and telephone number;
(vii)
Rabies tag number; and
(viii)
Animal’s species, age, weight, predominant breed, and color; and
(4)
When vaccine is administered at public antirabies clinics, the local clinic staff shall complete the NASPHV Form 51, or an equivalent form, as directed by the Public Health Veterinarian and provide a copy to the local health officer and the animal owner.
(5)
A veterinarian administering rabies vaccine shall maintain copies of vaccination certificates by tag number for a minimum of 5 years following the vaccination of an animal.
(6)
An owner or custodian may use the vaccination certificate as proof of vaccination and shall provide it to police, the animal control authority, or health officials upon request.
E.
Vaccination Procedures.
(1)
A licensed veterinarian may select a rabies vaccine of the veterinarian’s choice and use procedures for administering it that are consistent with the recommendations of NASPHV, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control.
(2)
The Public Health Veterinarian shall select the vaccine or vaccines to be used in public clinics according to Department procedures.
(3)
The Public Health Veterinarian may require specified lots of vaccine to be tested for potency, safety, and contamination as a prerequisite to their use.
(4)
Except for veterinary staffing, the public antirabies clinics and the local health officer shall determine all administrative procedures for public antirabies clinics in keeping with the requirements of this chapter.
(5)
A vendor of rabies vaccine for animal use shall supply vaccine only to a veterinary biologic supply firm, a Maryland-licensed veterinarian, or the Public Health Veterinarian.
F.
Rabies Tags.
(1)
The Public Health Veterinarian shall specify annually the size, shape, and color of the rabies tag to be issued by veterinarians and public antirabies clinics.
(2)
Public antirabies clinics and veterinarians who provide rabies vaccination services to dogs, cats, and ferrets shall promptly issue to the owner of each vaccinated animal a rabies certificate, tag, and s-shaped metal link for attaching the tag on the animal's collar.
(3)
The local health officer shall order rabies tags through the Public Health Veterinarian for use in public antirabies clinics.
G.
Antirabies Clinics.
(1)
In conjunction with the Department, each local health department shall provide for low-cost, self-financing, antirabies clinics for animals in each county and Baltimore City.
(2)
The Department shall assure that at least two clinics are offered annually with at least one to be held between April 1 and July 1 at dates and locations determined by the local health department.
(3)
The Public Health Veterinarian shall establish in writing the vaccination procedures to be used at the clinics and distribute these procedures to the local health officers.
(4)
The local health departments may establish fees sufficient to cover the costs of operating the clinics.
(5)
The local health officer shall report, in the manner specified by the Public Health Veterinarian, data concerning animals vaccinated at each clinic and the related costs.
Regulation .11 Importation of Animals.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Except as provided in §§B and I of this regulation, the owner or custodian of a dog, cat, or ferret 4 months old or older to be imported into the State for any purpose shall forward a certificate, issued by a licensed veterinarian, to the Public Health Veterinarian, within 10 days of the animal's arrival in the State, that:
(1)
Describes the dog, cat, or ferret, documenting that it was vaccinated against rabies;
(2)
Lists the manufacturer or brand of vaccine used;
(3)
Lists the date or dates the vaccine was given;
(4)
Documents that the animal is adequately vaccinated; and
(5)
Documents that the most recent dose of vaccine was given more than 30 days before the date the animal arrived in the State.
B.
Except as provided in §I of this regulation, the owner or custodian of a dog, cat, or ferret brought into the State for a period of less than 30 days is exempt from the requirement to forward a certificate to the Public Health Veterinarian as specified in §A of this regulation, if a copy of a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian can be presented to the local health officer immediately when requested.
C.
The local animal control authority may accept the certificate specified in §A of this regulation as proof of vaccination for licensing or registration purposes for the period specified on the certificate or 12 months, whichever period is shorter.
D.
The Public Health Veterinarian or the local health officer may order the owner or custodian of a dog, cat, or ferret brought into Maryland in violation of the provisions of this regulation to return the animal immediately to its point of origin at the owner's expense.
E.
If the local animal control authority is unable to locate an individual who will assume fiscal responsibility for an animal under an order to be returned to the point of origin within 48 hours of the issuance of the order, the authority may deem the animal abandoned and humanely kill it or place it for adoption.
F.
Research facilities and licensed dealers, as defined in 7 U.S.C. §2132 and 9 CFR 1.1 and 2.7, are exempt from §§D and E of this regulation when importing dogs, cats, and ferrets.
G.
The Secretary shall establish, in consultation with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, rabies control requirements for the importing and keeping of animals other than dogs, cats, and ferrets, such as livestock, wildlife, zoo animals, and exotic animals.
H.
The Secretary, with the agreement of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Natural Resources, shall prohibit the importation of certain animals or species of animals from areas inside or outside the United States that are known to have a high prevalence of rabies and the animals subject to the ban are judged to present an unacceptable risk of rabies infection in humans or animals.
I.
The Public Health Veterinarian may waive the requirements of §§A and B of this regulation if the importation of the animal poses no risk to the public health or safety.
Regulation .12 Permits Required for Keeping Certain Animals.LinkCopy Citation
The Secretary shall require a person to obtain from the Public Health Veterinarian a permit for keeping certain animals or species of animals if the Secretary has determined that these animals or species of animals represent a substantial threat of rabies to humans.
Regulation .13 Disposition of Animals by Animal Shelters, Pounds, or Veterinarians.LinkCopy Citation
A.
The owner or custodian of an animal who surrenders the animal to an animal shelter, pound, or veterinarian for the purpose of having the animal humanely killed or for the purpose of offering the animal for adoption shall certify in writing, under penalty of perjury, that the animal:
(1)
If a dog, cat, ferret, or livestock, has not had bite or non-bite contact with an individual within the previous 10 days; or
(2)
If a wild animal, has not had bite or non-bite contact with an individual within the previous 30 days.
B.
Except as provided in §C of this regulation, if the animal has had bite or non-bite contact with an individual within the time periods specified in §A of this regulation, the animal shelter, pound, or veterinarian shall:
(1)
If the animal is a dog, cat, ferret, or livestock, offer the owner or custodian, the option of:
(a)
Quarantining the animal for 10 calendar days at the owner’s or custodian’s expense; or
(b)
Humanely killing the animal and submitting the head for rabies testing; or
(2)
If the animal is a wild animal, immediately humanely kill the animal and submit its head for rabies testing.
C.
The Public Health Veterinarian may waive the requirements of §B of this regulation if it is determined that the public health is not threatened.
Regulation .14 Penalty.LinkCopy Citation
A person refusing or failing to comply with the provisions of this chapter, or with the orders or directives of the local health officer, the State Epidemiologist, or the Public Health Veterinarian as provided by this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, subject to a fine of not more than $500 for each offense.
Chapter annotations
Authority: Health-General Article, §§18-102, 18-312—18-320, and 18-604, Annotated Code of Maryland
History: Effective date: April 27, 1977 (4:9 Md. R. 714)
History: Preface and Regulation .01 recodified to Regulation .01 and Regulation .01-1, respectively, in July 1994
History: Regulation .09A, B amended effective February 14, 1994 (21:3 Md. R. 193)
History: Regulations .01—.14 repealed and new Regulations .01—.14 adopted effective November 16, 1998 (25:23 Md. R. 1696)
History: Regulation .01 amended effective September 14, 2015 (42:18 Md. R. 1174)
History: Regulation .02B amended as an emergency provision effective January 1, 2008 (35:3 Md. R. 286); emergency status extended at 35:9 Md. R. 892; amended permanently effective March 24, 2008 (35:6 Md. R. 698)
History: Regulation .02B amended effective February 15, 2016 (43:3 Md. R. 272); February 27, 2017 (44:4 Md. R. 253)
History: Regulation .03C, D amended effective September 14, 2015 (42:18 Md. R. 1174)
History: Regulation .03D amended effective May 20, 2019 (46:10 Md. R. 485)
History: Regulation .03E repealed effective September 14, 2015 (42:18 Md. R. 1174)
History: Regulation .04 amended effective September 14, 2015 (42:18 Md. R. 1174)
History: Regulation .04B, D amended effective February 27, 2017 (44:4 Md. R. 253)
History: Regulation .06E amended effective September 14, 2015 (42:18 Md. R. 1174)
History: Regulation .07 amended effective September 14, 2015 (42:18 Md. R. 1174)
History: Regulation .09 amended effective September 14, 2015 (42:18 Md. R. 1174)
History: Regulation .10 amended effective September 14, 2015 (42:18 Md. R. 1174)
History: Regulation .10B amended as an emergency provision effective January 1, 2008 (35:3 Md. R. 286); emergency status extended at 35:9 Md. R. 892; amended permanently effective March 24, 2008 (35:6 Md. R. 698)
History: Regulation .11 amended effective September 14, 2015 (42:18 Md. R. 1174)
History: Regulation .13B amended effective September 14, 2015 (42:18 Md. R. 1174); February 27, 2017 (44:4 Md. R. 253)