§ 34-248. Quarantine.

(a)

In the event a dog or cat has bitten a human, such animal shall be immediately confined at the animal control shelter, veterinary hospital, or other such premises deemed acceptable by the board of health or its designee for a period of ten days from the date of the bite to be observed for symptoms of rabies.

(b)

In the event a warmblooded animal other than a dog or cat has bitten a human or other warmblooded animal, or in the event a warmblooded animal has been bitten by another warmblooded animal, the recommendations contained in the rabies control manual compiled by the Georgia Department of Public Health shall be followed.

(c)

All expenses incurred for boarding an animal for the quarantine period as well as other applicable fees shall be paid by the owner or custodian of the biting animal.

(d)

It shall be unlawful for any person, custodian, or harborer to fail to surrender a dog, cat, or other animal which has bitten a human, upon the sworn statement of the person bitten. Such animal will be placed under quarantine or submitted for laboratory examination at the discretion of the board of health or its designee. The provisions of this division shall apply, regardless of whether or not such animal has a current rabies vaccination and tag.

(e)

When rabies has been found to exist in any warmblooded animal, or where its existence is suspected, the board of health or its designee may designate a geographical area within which quarantine of all owned warmblooded animals shall be maintained. Such animals shall be immediately confined to the premises designated and in a manner approved by the board of health or its designee, whether or not such animals have been vaccinated against rabies.

(f)

No warmblooded animal shall be brought into or removed from a quarantined area or premises without written approval of the board of health or its designee.

(g)

Quarantine ordered by the board of health or its designee shall be maintained for such period as deemed necessary to protect the public health.

(h)

Quarantined areas or premises where rabid animals or animals suspected of having rabies remain at large, may be posted by the board of health or its designee with signs which read as follows: "Rabies suspected" or "rabies—keep away from animals." Such signs shall be conspicuously displayed in a place designated by the board of health or its designee and shall not be removed except by the board of health or its designee. Such signs shall not be defaced.

(i)

The owner, custodian, or harborer of each animal subject to a quarantine invoked by the board of health or its designee under the terms of this article shall be notified of the quarantine, the particular animals subject thereto, and shall be given such other information as the board of health or its designee deems necessary.

(j)

Every animal showing clinical signs of rabies, as determined by the board of health or its designee, shall be immediately destroyed; and/or the heads of all animals suspected of having had rabies at the time of death shall be submitted to the epidemiology office, department of public health, for examination by the Georgia Public Health Laboratory.

(91-RC-441, § G, 8-21-91; 16-0469, Exh. 1, 6-1-16; 16-0728, Exh. A, 9-7-16; 18-0340, Att. A, 5-16-18)

State law reference

Animal bites, O.C.G.A. § 31-19-4.