WAC 246-100-191   Animals, birds, pets -- Measures to prevent human disease.  (1) All persons and entities are prohibited from:

     (a) Sale of milk, meat, hides, and hair from animals infected with anthrax; and

     (b) Sale and display of turtles except as permitted under Title 21 CFR, Food and Drug Administration, part 1240.62, 1986.

     (2) Except for bonafide public or private zoological parks, persons and entities are prohibited from:

     (a) Importing into Washington state any bat, skunk, fox, raccoon, or coyote without a permit from the director of the Washington state department of agriculture, as required in WAC 16-54-125; and

     (b) Acquiring, selling, bartering, exchanging, giving, purchasing, or trapping for retention as pets or for export any:

     (i) Bat,

     (ii) Skunk,

     (iii) Fox,

     (iv) Raccoon, and

     (v) Coyote.

     (3) Local health officers shall determine whether or not to order the destroying or testing of animals other than cats and dogs if:

     (a) The animal has bitten or otherwise exposed a person, and

     (b) Rabies is suspected.

     (4) When an animal has bitten or otherwise exposed a person, the local health officer shall institute any or all of the following as judged appropriate:

     (a) Order testing and destruction of the animal,

     (b) Order restriction of dogs and cats for ten days observation,

     (c) Require examination and recommendation by a veterinarian related to signs of rabies, or

     (d) Specify other appropriate actions for animals considered low risk for rabies.

     (5) When an animal other than a bat is found to be rabid, the local health officer shall immediately institute a community-wide rabies control program including:

     (a) Issuance of orders to pick up and impound all stray and unlicensed dogs and cats,

     (b) Issuance of orders to owners of dogs and cats requiring proof of rabies vaccination of animals by a veterinarian within six previous months,

     (c) Restriction of household mammals to owners' premises except when on a leash, or

     (d) Institute actions other than subsection (5)(a), (b), and (c) of this section when judged appropriate.

     (6) A person destroying an animal as described in this section shall:

     (a) Avoid damaging the brain; and

     (b) Transport the dead animal's head, brain, or body in a manner approved by the local health department.

     (7) To improve surveillance for rabies, laboratories shall inform the local health officer prior to testing specimens and samples for rabies.

     (8) When a cat or dog has been bitten or exposed to a rabid or suspected rabid animal, the local health officer shall require:

     (a) Destruction of the exposed animal; or

     (b) Revaccination, if currently vaccinated, including observation by owner for ninety days; or

     (c) If not currently vaccinated, vaccination and strict isolation for six months with revaccination one month prior to release from isolation; or

     (d) Any other action judged appropriate by the local health officer.

     (9) A person importing a dog and/or a cat into Washington state shall comply with WAC 16-54-120.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. 91-02-051 (Order 124B), recodified as § 246-100-191, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91; 88-07-063 (Order 308), § 248-100-191, filed 3/16/88.]