§ 27.162. Special requirements for animal bites.
Except as may be otherwise required by the Dog Law (3 P. S. § § 459-101—459-1205) and regulations promulgated by the Department of Agriculture in 7 Pa. Code Chapters 21, 23, 25 and 27 quarantine of a biting animal shall conform to the following:
(1) When an animal bites or otherwise potentially exposes a human to rabies, the Department or local health authority shall, after the case of an animal bite is reported, determine whether the animal shall be immediately destroyed and its head submitted to one of the State or county diagnostic laboratories for a rabies examination or whether some other action shall be pursued.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), when a healthy dog or cat bites or otherwise potentially exposes a human to rabies, the dog or cat shall be quarantined in a place and manner approved by the Department or the local health officer for 10 days after the date of the bite, unless the Department or local health officer directs otherwise.
(3) If a quarantine is imposed, the Department or the local health officer may order the owner or custodian of a biting animal to have the animal examined for symptoms of rabies during the quarantine period by a veterinarian licensed by the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. The cost of the examinations and other associated costs shall be borne by the owner or custodian of the biting animal.
Source The provisions of this § 27.162 adopted January 25, 2002, effective January 26, 2002, 32 Pa.B. 491.
Notes of Decisions Limitation on Liability
The unexercised authority of the Department or a local health board, to take possession of an animal or order its destruction, does not expose the health board to liability. Sweeney v. Merrymead Farm, Inc., 799 A.2d 972 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2002).
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