Section 18-320 - Animal quarantine. - Maryland Statutes

§ 18-320. Animal quarantine.
 

(a)  In general.- Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, an apparently healthy dog, cat, or ferret that has been adequately vaccinated against rabies in accordance with § 18-318 of this subtitle or any other animal that bites a human or otherwise exposes a human to rabies shall be quarantined as provided in subsection (b) of this section. 

(b)  Place, manner, and length.- An animal under quarantine shall be quarantined in a place, which may include the residence of the owner, in the manner designated by the local health officer or the public health veterinarian for a suitable period as determined by the health officer or the public health veterinarian. 

(c)  Monitoring biting animal.-  

(1) At any time during the quarantine period, the public health veterinarian or local health officer may order the owner of a biting animal to have the animal monitored for rabies by a licensed veterinarian. 

(2) The owner of the animal shall pay for the cost of any examination or other associated cost. 

(d)  Limitations on moving quarantined animal.- An animal under quarantine may not be moved from the place of quarantine without the written permission of the local health officer or public health veterinarian. 

(e)  Destruction of biting animal for rabies testing.- The public health veterinarian or local health officer or the designee of the public health veterinarian or local health officer may order the immediate and humane destruction of a biting animal for rabies testing if: 

(1) It is necessary to preserve human health; 

(2) A licensed veterinarian determines that a quarantined animal is inhumanely suffering; or 

(3) The animal is considered wild and is not claimed by an owner within 24 hours. 
 

[1984, ch. 314; 1996, ch. 684.]