Who is in charge when an animal Other Biting Animals: All biting animals that bites a person? are not categorized as dogs, cats, or domestic Animal Bites ferrets, free-roaming high-risk, or low-risk • All cities and counties in Texas must must either be euthanized and tested or What should you do if an designate someone to handle animal bite quarantined or suitably confined as deemed appropriate by the LRCA for a 30-day animal bites you? cases. This person is called the "Local Rabies Control Authority" (LRCA). observation period. Rabies is a viral disease that • The LRCA is responsible for investigating What is quarantine? affects warm-blooded animal bites, ensuring proper animals (such as a dog, management of biting animals, and Quarantine means placing the animal in a cat, skunk, fox, raccoon, bat, enforcing state and local rabies laws. facility that provides: etc.). The virus is spread when saliva containing 1. absolute security (no escape possible); rabies virus is introduced into an opening in the What happens to the animal that 2. no contact with other animals or people skin, usually by the bite (or possibly scratch) of bites a person? except for contact necessary for its care; and a rabid animal. You can also get rabies if the saliva from a rabid animal contacts your mucous Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets (Domestic): 3. observation twice daily by a qualified person. Regardless of vaccination status, the membranes or any open wounds. Quarantine must be in a quarantine facility dog, cat, or ferret must be quarantined or licensed by the Texas Department of State If a bite occurs, the following precautions should euthanized (humanely killed). If euthanized, Health Services (DSHS) or a veterinary clinic be taken: do not damage the brain, as it must be operated by a veterinarian.* submitted to a rabies laboratory for testing. Identify the animal. Most animals that have • If the animal is to be quarantined, the time The DSHS is responsible for inspection of all bitten a person must either be quarantined frame for the 10-day observation period rabies quarantine facilities; however, the LRCA and observed for signs of rabies or tested begins at the time the bite occurred, even is responsible for the proper handling and for rabies. If the animal is to be tested, a if the animal is not physically confined until observation of all animals being quarantined. qualified person should separate the animal's sometime later. The LRCA might allow home head from the body and submit the head confinement under certain conditions. What about home confinement? (or whole body of a bat or small rodent) for laboratory testing. High-Risk Animals: Free-roaming skunks, According to state law, the LRCA may authorize bats, foxes, coyotes, and raccoons must home confinement if: Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with • be euthanized, and their heads must be 1. the biting animal was vaccinated against soap and water, plus apply an iodine-based submitted for rabies testing. As defined antiseptic, if available, as a first aid procedure. rabies and the time elapsed since the most in Texas law, a free-roaming animal is recent vaccination has not exceeded the one that is not in captivity or has been in Consult a physician as soon as possible manufacturer's recommendations for the • captivity for less than 200 days immediately to determine whether rabies postexposure vaccine (if an unvaccinated animal is not before the bite incident occurs. If a high- treatment is needed. over 4 months of age, it may be allowed risk animal is not considered to be free- home confinement); In addition, bite wounds can roaming, refer to Texas Administrative Code, Rabies Control and Eradication, for 2. the biting animal was not a stray at the time become infected. A physician of the bite; will decide if you need details on how to handle a bite incident. 3. the home has an enclosure that will provide antibiotics. You should Low-Risk Animals: Opossums, shrews, the required security and isolation; also check with a moles, squirrels, gophers, mice, rabbits, physician about the 4. the animal's custodian monitors the animal's rats, and armadillos do not need to be possible need behavior and health status and reports any quarantined or tested unless the LRCA has for a tetanus shot. changes to the LRCA right away; and reason to suspect that the biting animal has rabies. * A veterinarian is a person licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the United States. 5. the LRCA or a veterinarian observes the • Rabies vaccine for animals must be animal at least on the first and last days of administered by a veterinarian or under the home confinement. the direct supervision of a veterinarian. Animal rabies vaccine can only be sold or Local policies may prohibit home confinement. distributed to veterinarians. Veterinarians Additionally, local ordinances may have more cannot legally sell vaccine to their clients stringent requirements for home confinement, ANIMAL except for use in livestock if a veterinarian- including more restrictive vaccination time client-patient relationship exists. intervals. How can I help prevent animal What if and Who pays? bites? BITES

What if the animal gets sick while in • Do not approach or try to handle animals, quarantine? • including dogs and cats, that you do not The animal should be examined by a know. veterinarian and if it is determined that it shows clinical signs of rabies, the head must • Do not touch sick or injured animals. Call be submitted for testing. The bite victim should and report them to an animal control officer. be notified if the animal develops clinical signs • Do not let your pets roam; keep them consistent with rabies so that consultation on restrained. Train and socialize them so they rabies treatment can be obtained. If the animal are calm around people. dies, the head must be removed and tested for rabies. • Educate children about bite prevention. Children are the most common victims of • Who pays for quarantine? severe dog bites. The owner of the biting animal is required by state law to pay the cost of the quarantine. What are the rabies vaccination requirements in Texas? • Texas state law requires that pet owners have their dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies by 4 months of age. Based on the type of vaccine used, plus requirements established in state law and local ordinance, the veterinarian responsible for administering the vaccine will determine a vaccination schedule and issue a completed rabies vaccination certificate for each vaccinated animal. This certificate is considered to be an acceptable proof of vaccination (i.e. a rabies tag does not serve as proof of vaccination).

Local ordinances may have more stringent Texas Department of State Health Services • Texas Department of requirements than state law about rabies Zoonosis Control State Health Services vaccinations. Stock 7-20 05/2016 Zoonosis Control