Sec. 22-359. Control of rabies. Regulations. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 22-359. Control of rabies. Regulations. (a) The commissioner may make such orders for the adequate confinement, control or destruction of any dog, cat or other animal as he deems necessary to prevent the spread of rabies and to protect the public therefrom provided, notwithstanding the provisions of section 22-358, a local director of health may order the destruction of any unowned animal which is not currently vaccinated for rabies for the purpose of rabies testing if the director finds that the animal has bitten a person and the health or life of such person may be threatened. Any person who fails to comply with any order made under the provisions of this section shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars. The commissioner, the Chief Animal Control Officer, any animal control officer or any municipal animal control officer may quarantine any animal in a public pound, veterinary hospital, kennel or other building or enclosure approved by the commissioner for such purpose, if in the determination of the commissioner or such officer, such animal is rabid or is suspected of being rabid, or has been bitten by, or may have been bitten by, or has been in contact with or exposed to, a rabid animal or an animal suspected of carrying rabies or any wild animal as defined in subsection (d) of this section. The length of such quarantine period shall be determined by the commissioner or the State Veterinarian who shall take into account the age, general health and vaccination history of the animal as well as current accepted veterinary practices. Any suspected or confirmed case of rabies shall be reported to the commissioner by a local director of health or board of health or any veterinarian within twenty-four hours of receipt of such information.

      (b) Any dog, cat or other animal held in quarantine which is clinically diagnosed as rabid by two licensed veterinarians, at least one of whom shall be engaged in private practice, shall be humanely euthanized immediately without prior notice to the owner or keeper of same. No person who kills any animal in accordance with this subsection shall be held criminally or civilly liable therefor.

      (c) Any animal, other than a dog, which is quarantined pursuant to this section which is not claimed by its owner or keeper within the period of such quarantine may be sold by the municipal animal control officer, if he finds that the animal is in good health. The animal may only be sold as a pet to a person who satisfies the officer that the animal will be given a good home and proper care. The municipal animal control officer may retain possession of such animal for such additional period of time as he may deem advisable in order to place such animal. Any animal, other than a dog, which is quarantined pursuant to this section which is not claimed by its owner or keeper within the period of such quarantine and which is not sold by the municipal animal control officer within five days of the expiration of such quarantine, may be disposed of at the direction of the State Veterinarian. No person who disposes of any animal in accordance with this subsection shall be held criminally or civilly liable therefor.

      (d) The commissioner, any animal control officer or any state or municipal police officer may immediately kill any wild animal which is displaying behavior which causes the commissioner or such officer to reasonably conclude that such animal is rabid. For purposes of this subsection, "wild animal" means any mammal which is ferae naturae or wild by nature.

      (e) The commissioner shall institute such measures as the commissioner deems necessary to prevent the transmission of rabies associated with animals in public settings, including, but not limited to, fairs, shows, exhibitions, petting zoos, riding stables, farm tours, pet shops and educational exhibits.

      (f) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of subsection (e) of this section. Such regulations may include requirements for the vaccination of animals against rabies, identification of animals, identification of owners or keepers of such animals, animal enclosures, posting of public advisories, reporting of rabies exposure incidents, records deemed necessary and proper relating to the vaccination of animals against rabies, and any other methods determined by the commissioner to prevent the transmission of rabies. Such regulations may consider the species of animal, the characteristics of the public settings and the nature and type of contact the public may have with animals.

      (1949 Rev., S. 3407; 1953, S. 1845d; 1963, P.A. 613, S. 29; 1969, P.A. 81, S. 4; P.A. 91-46, S. 7, 12; P.A. 92-77, S. 2, 5; P.A. 97-187, S. 2, 4; P.A. 98-12, S. 16, 22; P.A. 06-105, S. 4.)

      History: 1963 act added provision empowering commissioner to order vaccination of all dogs in a municipality and dividing cost between dog owners and state and rephrased provision re quarantine of rabid animals and those suspected of being rabid or of having contact with other rabid animals; 1969 act replaced references to dog wardens with references to canine control officers where necessary; P.A. 91-46 deleted requirement that the commissioner immediately investigate certain reports of rabies, changed "dog" to "animal", included reference to vaccinations of cats and added provision requiring that suspected or confirmed cases of rabies be reported within 24 hours; P.A. 92-77 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize orders by the commissioner for control of rabies in cats and to expand circumstances under which the commissioner may quarantine animals suspected of being rabid, deleting prior provisions re specific circumstances and procedures for general vaccination orders, added new Subsecs. (b) to (d), inclusive, re euthanization of quarantined rabid animals, re procedures for disposition of animals abandoned while in quarantine and re killing of wild animals suspected of being rabid; P.A. 97-187 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize local directors of health to order destruction of certain animals for purposes of controlling rabies, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-12 changed "canine control officer" to "animal control officer", effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 06-105 made a technical change in Subsec. (c) and added Subsecs. (e) re measures to prevent transmission of rabies associated with animals in public settings and (f) re adoption of regulations to implement provisions of Subsec. (e).