3.22.060 Rabies Control

(a) An officer of the tribal natural resources or health department shall order quarantined any dog or cat if there exists reason to believe the dog or cat has bit a person, is infected with rabies, or has been in contact with a rabid animal. If the dog or cat cannot be captured after a serious effort, the dog or cat may be killed. The officer shall attempt to kill the dog or cat in a humane manner and in a manner which avoids damage to the head.

(b) Unless a valid certificate of vaccination evidences that an animal to be quarantined is currently immunized against rabies, all quarantined animals shall be delivered to an isolation facility as soon as possible. A currently immunized animal may be quarantined at the owner's house.

(c) Quarantined animals shall be treated as follows:

(1) Health risk to humans. If a dog or cat is ordered to be quarantined because there is reason to believe that the animal bit a person, the custodian of an isolation facility or the owner shall keep the animal under strict isolation under the supervision of a veterinarian for at least 10 days after the incident occurred. In this paragraph, "supervision of a veterinarian" includes, at a minimum, examination of the animal on the first day of isolation, on the last day of isolation and on one intervening day. If the observation period is not extended and if the veterinarian certifies that the dog or cat has not exhibited any signs of rabies, the animal may be released from quarantine at the end of the observation period.

(2) Risk to animal health.

(A) If a dog or cat is ordered to be quarantined because there is reason to believe that the animal has been exposed to a rabid animal and if the dog or cat is not currently immunized against rabies, the custodian of an isolation facility or the owner shall keep the animal leashed or confined for 180 days. The owner shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies between 155 and 165 days after the exposure to the rabid animal.

(B) If a dog or cat is ordered to be quarantined because there is reason to believe that the animal has been exposed to a rabid animal but if the dog or cat is immunized against rabies, the custodian of an isolation facility or the owner shall keep the animal leashed or confined for 60 days. The owner shall have the animal revaccinated against rabies as soon as possible after exposure to a rabid animal.

(C) Sacrifice of a dog or cat exhibiting symptoms of rabies. If a veterinarian determines that a dog or cat exhibits symptoms of rabies during the original or extended observation period, the veterinarian shall notify the owner and the officer who ordered the animal quarantined and the officer who ordered the animal quarantined and the officer or veterinarian shall kill the animal in a humane manner and in a manner which avoids damage to the animal's head. If the dog or cat is suspected to have bitten a person, the veterinarian shall notify the person or the person's physician.

(d) Any officer killing an animal under this section shall deliver the carcass to a veterinarian.

(e) The owner of an animal is responsible for all expenses incurred in the application of this section.