CHAPTER 16. RABIES PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Subchap. Sec.
A. GENERAL PROVISIONS … 16.1
B. CONTROL OF RABIES … 16.21
C. RABIES VACCINATION … 16.41
D. CERTIFICATION OF OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF STATE-LICENSED KENNELS … 16.61Authority The provisions of this Chapter 16 issued under the Rabies Prevention and Control in Domestic Animals and Wildlife Act (3 P. S. § § 455.1—455.12); act of July 22, 1913 (P. L. 928, No. 441) (3 P. S. § § 331—334, 352—354, 379—391, 395, 397, 401, 402, 412, 421, 423—425 and 427—430); and act of April 17, 1929 (P. L. 533, No. 236) (3 P. S. § § 341—351), unless otherwise noted.
Source The provisions of this Chapter 16 adopted December 18, 1987, effective December 19, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 5231, unless otherwise noted.
Subchapter A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec.
16.1. Definitions.
16.2. Penalties.§ 16.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Act—The Rabies Prevention and Control in Domestic Animals and Wildlife Act (3 P. S. § § 455.1—455.12).
Cat—A carnivorous mammal scientifically known as Felis catus which spends part of a 24-hour day in a residence inhabited by a human being. For the purposes of Subchapter B (relating to control of rabies), the term includes members of the Felis catus species regardless of their location or relationship to humans.
Certificate of vaccination—A statement signed by a licensed veterinarian attesting to the vaccination of a dog or cat and recording the identification, breed, sex, age and color of the animal, the vaccination tag number, the name, lot number, duration of immunity and manufacturer of the vaccine and the date of vaccination.
Department—The Department of Agriculture of the Commonwealth.
Dog—The genus and species known as Canis familiaris.
Domestic animal—An equine animal, bovine animal, sheep, goat, pig, dog or cat.
Exposed to rabies—A human or domestic animal that has been bitten by an animal infected with rabies or that has had an open wound, scratch, eye or mucous membrane in contact with saliva from an animal infected with rabies.
Licensed kennel—A kennel that is licensed by the Department under the Dog Law (3 P. S. § § 459-101—459-1205).
Official rabies test—Fluorescent antibody, animal inoculation or other tests which have been or may be approved by the USDA or the USPHS and which are conducted in a State laboratory or other facility designated by the Secretary.
Person—An individual, partnership, association or corporation.
Quarantine—Restriction of the movement, use and disposition of animals, premises, equipment, vehicles and other articles to prevent the spread of rabies.
Rabies—In man and animal, hydrophobia, an acute viral disease of the central nervous system usually transmitted to man through the injection of saliva by an animal bite.
Secretary—The Secretary of the Department.
Suspected of having rabies—A mammal exhibiting behavior which, in the opinion of a veterinarian, public health official or official representative of the Department, the Department of Health or the Game Commission, is suggestive of infection with rabies.
USDA—The United States Department of Agriculture.
USPHS—The United States Public Health Service.
Wild animal—An animal other than a domestic animal.§ 16.2. Penalties.
A person who violates the act commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $300 for each violation. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.
Subchapter B. CONTROL OF RABIES
Sec.
16.21. Report of suspicion of infection.
16.22. Special quarantine required for domestic animals.
16.23. Domestic animal bites.
16.24. Wild animal bites.
16.25. General quarantine order.
Cross References This subchapter cited in 7 Pa. Code § 16.1 (relating to definitions).
§ 16.21. Report of suspicion of infection.
A veterinarian, physician or public health officer who suspects that an animal may be infected with rabies shall report the suspicion to the Department.
§ 16.22. Special quarantine required for domestic animals.
(a) A domestic animal suspected of having or having been exposed to rabies will be quarantined by the Department.
(1) A domestic animal suspected of having rabies will be placed under a special quarantine order by the Department. To prevent exposure to humans and other animals, the order shall cover a single premises or a single animal or a number of animals when confined or contained in or on the same premises and may also cover products or materials that may carry rabies.
(2) A domestic animal suspected of having rabies that dies or is euthanatized shall be disposed of by incineration or by burial under the act of May 18, 1945 (P. L. 796, No. 317), known as the Dead Animal Rendering or Disposal Plant Law (3 P. S. § § 397.1—397.23).
(3) A domestic animal suspected of having rabies may not be released from quarantine until suspicion of rabies is dispelled or until the animal has died or has been euthanatized and disposed of under paragraph (2).
(4) A domestic animal suspected of having rabies that is known to have bitten or otherwise exposed a human shall be immediately, humanely euthanatized and subjected to an official rabies test.
(5) A domestic animal suspected of having rabies that is known to have bitten or otherwise exposed a domestic animal and that dies within 10 days after the biting or exposure incident, or both, shall immediately be subjected to an official rabies test.
(b) A domestic animal exposed to rabies or exposed to an animal suspected of having rabies shall be quarantined and confined to the owner’s premises.
(1) If the exposed animal has been vaccinated at least 2 weeks prior to exposure and the duration of immunity has not expired, the exposed animal may, in the absence of any signs of rabies, be released from quarantine 90 days after exposure.
(2) If the exposed animal has not been vaccinated or if the duration of immunity has expired, the exposed animal shall be placed under quarantine for 6 months.
(3) No tissues or secretions from an exposed food animal exhibiting signs of rabies may be sold, transported or used for human or animal consumption.
(4) Food animals exposed, but which are not exhibiting signs of rabies, may be moved to a licensed rendering plant or slaughtered for animal consumption if processed by cooking. Consumption of the animals after proper processing does not constitute a rabies exposure.
§ 16.23. Domestic animal bites.
Dogs, cats and other domestic pet animals that are not suspected of having rabies but which have bitten humans shall be kept confined and isolated so that there is no further exposure of humans or animals during an observation period of 10 days. A dog shall be treated in accordance with section 502 of the Dog Law (3 P. S. § 459-502).
§ 16.24. Wild animal bites.
Wild animals suspected of having rabies, including, but not limited to, bats, foxes, skunks, raccoons and rodents, whether free-living or confined by humans, which have bitten, scratched or exposed humans or domestic animals to saliva shall be humanely euthanatized and subjected to an official rabies test.
§ 16.25. General quarantine order.
If the incidence of rabies in domestic or wild animals in a given area of this Commonwealth causes a serious risk of exposing humans or domestic animals to rabies in that area, the Department may impose, by posting and advertising in at least one newspaper, a general quarantine order restricting the movement of animals into, within or from that infected area to prevent rabies from being carried within or out of the infected area.
(1) If a general quarantine order has been imposed, no animals may be allowed to move from the owner’s premises unless under the direct control of the owner.
(2) A domestic animal found running at large in violation of the general quarantine order may be captured, confined or humanely euthanatized by a police officer or an officer or agent of the Department without liability.
(3) A dog found running at large in violation of the general quarantine order shall be treated in accordance with sections 302 and 303 of the Dog Law (3 P. S. § § 459-302 and 459-303).
Subchapter C. RABIES VACCINATION
Sec.
16.41. Rabies vaccination required.
16.42. Persons authorized to administer vaccine.
16.43. Revaccination.
16.44. Vaccination certificate and tag.
16.45. Production of certificate of vaccination required.
16.46. Certificate required for out-of-State dog or cat.
16.47. Grace period for State-licensed nonprofit kennels.§ 16.41. Rabies vaccination required.
A person living in this Commonwealth owning or keeping a dog or cat over 3 months of age shall have the dog or cat vaccinated against rabies under the act and this chapter.
§ 16.42. Persons authorized to administer vaccine.
Rabies vaccine shall be administered only by or under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. An owner of a State-licensed private or breeding kennel and an operator of a State-licensed nonprofit kennel who has been examined and certified by the Department under Subchapter D (relating to certification of owners and operators of State-licensed kennels) may administer rabies vaccine to a dog or cat which is owned by the private or breeding kennel or which is in the possession of the nonprofit kennel.
§ 16.43. Revaccination.
A dog or cat over 3 months of age shall be vaccinated to maintain immunity against rabies by the administration of a USDA licensed vaccine, including vaccines producing immunity lasting 3 years, in accordance with instructions prescribed by the manufacturer.
(1) A dog or cat vaccinated when under 1 year of age shall be revaccinated no later than 1 year later.
(2) A dog or cat vaccinated when over 1 year of age with a vaccine producing immunity lasting 3 years shall be revaccinated no later than 3 years later and at least every 3 years thereafter.
(3) A dog or cat vaccinated with a vaccine producing immunity lasting less than 3 years shall be revaccinated no later than 1 year later.
§ 16.44. Vaccination certificate and tag.
A veterinarian shall issue a certificate of vaccination and a vaccination tag for each dog or cat vaccinated by the veterinarian or vaccinated under his supervision. A certificate of vaccination may be transferred to a new owner. The vaccination tag shall be a metal tag that is approximately 1 square inch in area that can be attached to an animal’s collar or harness and that is indelibly marked with the year of the rabies vaccination.
§ 16.45. Production of certificate of vaccination required.
A person owning or keeping a dog or cat over 3 months of age shall, upon request of a police officer or State dog warden or designated municipal animal control officer, produce within 48 hours a valid certificate of vaccination. A certified owner and operator of a State-licensed kennel shall present records required under § 16.63(5) (relating to vaccination requirements) as proof of rabies vaccination.
§ 16.46. Certificate required for out-of-State dog or cat.
A dog or cat over 3 months of age brought into this Commonwealth shall be accompanied by a certificate of vaccination.
§ 16.47. Grace period for State-licensed nonprofit kennel.
A State-licensed nonprofit kennel is not required to vaccinate a dog or cat received by the kennel for a period of 10 days from the date received.
Subchapter D. CERTIFICATION OF OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF STATE-LICENSED KENNELS
Sec.
16.61. Application for certificate to vaccinate.
16.62. Department certification.
16.63. Vaccination requirements.
16.64. Revaccination required after removal from kennel.
16.65. Revocation of certificate.
Cross References This subchapter cited in 7 Pa. Code § 16.42 (relating to persons authorized to administer vaccine).
§ 16.61. Application for certificate to vaccinate.
An owner of a State-licensed private or breeding kennel and an operator of a State-licensed nonprofit kennel may apply to the Department for certification to vaccinate a dog or cat which is either owned and kept in the licensed private or breeding kennel or which is in the possession of the nonprofit kennel. Application shall be by submission of a form provided by the Department and an application fee of $35.
§ 16.62. Department certification.
The Department will certify an owner of a State-licensed private or breeding kennel and an operator of a State-licensed nonprofit kennel based upon the results of a written examination to be administered by the Department and upon verification by a licensed veterinarian that the private or breeding kennel owner or nonprofit kennel operator has been given a demonstration of vaccination procedures by the licensed veterinarian in accordance with procedures established by the Department. A fee associated with the demonstration by the veterinarian is the responsibility of the owner or operator.
§ 16.63. Vaccination requirements.
A certified private or breeding kennel owner and a certified operator of a nonprofit kennel shall comply with the following procedures regarding rabies vaccination:
(1) Vaccine shall be administered only by an owner or operator who has been certified by the Department.
(2) Vaccine shall be administered only to a dog and cat owned by the kennel owner and kept at the licensed kennel or to a dog or cat in the possession of a nonprofit kennel.
(3) Only-USDA licensed inactivated vaccine purchased from a licensed veterinarian or a source approved by the Department shall be used.
(4) Vaccine shall be administered according to vaccine label instructions and according to procedures outlined in the Rabies Vaccination Manual provided by the Department.
(5) Detailed records shall be kept and maintained for at least 3 years which indicate:
(i) The name, type by duration of immunity, lot number, manufacturer, date of purchase and date of administration of the rabies vaccine.
(ii) The name and address of the veterinarian or other source from whom the vaccine was purchased.
(iii) The name, address and telephone number of the person who administered the vaccine.
(iv) A detailed description of each animal vaccinated, including the breed, sex, age and color.
Cross References This section cited in 7 Pa. Code § 16.45 (relating to production of certificate of vaccination required).
§ 16.64. Revaccination required after removal from kennel.
A dog or cat vaccinated by a kennel owner or operator will be considered in compliance with the vaccination requirements of the act only as long as it is kept in the licensed kennel. The kennel owner or operator shall inform a person purchasing or otherwise receiving a dog or cat which has been vaccinated that the animal will not be considered vaccinated under the act after removal from the kennel and shall be revaccinated by a licensed veterinarian.
§ 16.65. Revocation of certificate.
Violation of the act, this chapter or other statutes or regulations of the Commonwealth relating to the control, keeping, protection, sale or transportation of dogs or cats shall be cause for revocation of certification of kennel owners to vaccinate dogs and cats they own.
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