NAC441A.425. Management of animals that have bitten persons; responsibility of owner for costs of quarantine, veterinary care and examination.

     1. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2 and 3, the rabies control authority shall cause a dog, cat or ferret, regardless of current vaccination against rabies, which has bitten a person, to be quarantined and, for 10 days following the bite, to be observed under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian or any other person designated by the rabies control authority. The dog, cat or ferret must be quarantined within an enclosure or with restraints deemed adequate by the rabies control authority to prevent direct contact with a person or an animal.

     2. If a dog which has bitten a person is owned by a canine unit of a law enforcement agency or is a service animal or service animal in training, the rabies control authority may waive the requirement that the dog be quarantined if:

     (a) The bite occurred while the dog was carrying out his or her normal duties for the law enforcement agency or as a service animal or service animal in training;

     (b) The dog has been vaccinated against rabies pursuant to NAC 441A.435; and

     (c) For 10 days following the bite, the dog is observed under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian or any other person designated by the rabies control authority.

     3. A dog, cat or ferret which has bitten a person may be euthanized and tested for rabies without a period of quarantine if:

     (a) The animal is so ill or severely injured that it would be inhumane to keep it alive;

     (b) In the opinion of the health authority or licensed veterinarian, the animal exhibits paralysis or neurological or behavioral symptoms that are consistent with rabies; or

     (c) The behavior of the animal is so fractious or aggressive that it is not possible for the rabies control authority to manage the animal safely.

     4. The dog, cat or ferret must be examined by a licensed veterinarian at the first sign of illness during the 10 days of observation. Any illness must be reported immediately to the rabies control authority. If signs of rabies develop during the 10 days of observation, the dog, cat or ferret must be euthanized and its head removed and shipped under refrigeration, but not frozen, for examination at the laboratory of the State Department of Agriculture. If at the end of the quarantine period, the animal is free of all signs of rabies:

     (a) The animal must be returned to its owner upon payment of all costs of quarantine and veterinary care and examination; or

     (b) The animal may be euthanized in the manner prescribed by the rabies control authority if the owner of the animal cannot be located. The head of the animal is not required to be submitted to the laboratory of the State Department of Agriculture for examination.

     5. A bat, raccoon, skunk or fox which has bitten a person must be euthanized immediately without a period of quarantine and the head submitted for laboratory examination.

     6. An animal of any other species which has bitten a person must be managed as deemed appropriate in the discretion of the rabies control authority. The rabies control authority shall consult with the health authority concerning the management of such an animal.

     7. The owner of an animal quarantined pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is responsible for all costs of quarantine and veterinary care and examination.

     8. The person responsible for supervising an animal quarantined pursuant to subsection 1 shall not release the animal to any person other than the owner of the animal at the time it was quarantined or a member of the immediate family of that person.

     9. As used in this section:

     (a) “Service animal” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 426.097.

     (b) “Service animal in training” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 426.099.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 1-24-92; A 3-28-96; R047-99, 9-27-99; R087-08, 1-13-2011)