<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 6-31. - Management of animals exposed or potentially exposed to rabies.</div>
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            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
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            <p class="content1">
               If a dog, cat or ferret has a current rabies vaccination and is bitten by or exposed
               to a rabid or potentially rabid animal, the owner of the animal must get it a booster
               rabies vaccination within 96 hours after contact with the possibly rabid animal. Animals
               are not considered vaccinated until the twenty-eighth day after the first vaccination.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               If a dog, cat or ferret does not have a current rabies vaccination and is bitten by
               or exposed to a known rabid animal, animal services shall impound the animal.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               If the animal suspected of having rabies is available for testing, the unvaccinated
               dog, cat or ferret bitten by or exposed shall be confined at the county animal shelter
               until rabies test results have been received. If the test results are negative, the
               animal can be returned to its owner. All fees shall be paid by the owner at the time
               of redemption. If the test results are positive or inconclusive, the unvaccinated
               dog, cat, or ferret may be humanely euthanized. As an alternative to euthanasia, the
               animal may be quarantined at a facility approved by the local health director for
               a period up to six months under reasonable conditions imposed by the local health
               director.
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            <p class="incr1">
               (2)
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            <p class="content2">
               If the animal suspected of having rabies is not available for testing, the unvaccinated
               cat, dog or ferret shall be considered to have been exposed to rabies and may be euthanized.
               Pursuant to G.S. 130A-197, as an alternative to euthanasia, the animal may be quarantined
               at a facility approved by the local health director for a period up to six months
               under reasonable conditions imposed by the local health director. The owner of the
               animal shall be responsible for the cost of quarantining the animal.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. of 8-17-2009; Ord. No. 2009-13, 11-16-2009; Ord. No. 2014-04, 6-16-2014; Ord.
               No. 2023-02, 3-6-2023)
               </p></div>