Full Title Name:  Nevada Administrative Code. Chapter 441A. Infectious Diseases; Toxic Agents. Investigating, Reporting, Preventing, Suppressing and Controlling Particular. Communicable Diseases. Animal Rabies

1. The rabies control authority shall investigate each report of a case having animal rabies or suspected case considered to have animal rabies to confirm the diagnosis, to identify the source of infection, to identify any human or animal contacts, to order the disposition of rabid or suspected rabid animals and to make recommendations for postexposure rabies prophylaxis.

2. If the rabies control authority is not the health authority, recommendations concerning postexposure prophylaxis must be made in accordance with a protocol established by the health authority.

3. The rabies control authority may enter private property for the purpose of:

(a) Investigating an animal bite and assessing any animal that has been in close contact with another animal suspected or known to have rabies;

(b) Seizing an animal that has bitten a person;

(c) Determining if any animal kept or harbored therein has rabies or has been exposed to rabies; or

(d) Implementing orders for quarantine, confinement, confiscation or euthanasia of an animal.

4. Unless authorized by the rabies control authority, a person shall not destroy or allow to be destroyed the head of a rabies-susceptible animal which has bitten a person.

Credits

(Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 1-24-92; A by R121-14, 10-27-2015)

NAC 441A.425 Management of animals that have bitten persons; responsibility of owner for costs of quarantine, veterinary care and examination. (NRS 441A.120, 441A.410)

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2 and 3, the rabies control authority shall cause a dog, cat or ferret, regardless of current vaccination against rabies, which has bitten a person, to be quarantined and, for 10 days following the bite, to be observed under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian or any other person designated by the rabies control authority. The dog, cat or ferret must be quarantined within an enclosure or with restraints deemed adequate by the rabies control authority to prevent direct contact with a person or an animal.

2. If a dog which has bitten a person is owned by a canine unit of a law enforcement agency or is a service animal or service animal in training, the rabies control authority may waive the requirement that the dog be quarantined if:

(a) The bite occurred while the dog was carrying out his or her normal duties for the law enforcement agency or as a service animal or service animal in training;

(b) The dog has been vaccinated against rabies pursuant to NAC 441A.435; and

(c) For 10 days following the bite, the dog is observed under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian or any other person designated by the rabies control authority.

3. A dog, cat or ferret which has bitten a person may be euthanized and tested for rabies without a period of quarantine if:

(a) The animal is so ill or severely injured that it would be inhumane to keep it alive;

(b) In the opinion of the health authority or licensed veterinarian, the animal exhibits paralysis or neurological or behavioral symptoms that are consistent with rabies; or

(c) The behavior of the animal is so fractious or aggressive that it is not possible for the rabies control authority to manage the animal safely.

4. The dog, cat or ferret must be examined by a licensed veterinarian at the first sign of illness during the 10 days of observation. Any illness must be reported immediately to the rabies control authority. If signs of rabies develop during the 10 days of observation, the dog, cat or ferret must be euthanized and its head removed and shipped under refrigeration, but not frozen, for examination at the laboratory of the State Department of Agriculture. If at the end of the quarantine period, the animal is free of all signs of rabies:

(a) The animal must be returned to its owner upon payment of all costs of quarantine and veterinary care and examination; or

(b) The animal may be euthanized in the manner prescribed by the rabies control authority if the owner of the animal cannot be located. The head of the animal is not required to be submitted to the laboratory of the State Department of Agriculture for examination.

5. A bat, raccoon, skunk or fox which has bitten a person must be euthanized immediately without a period of quarantine and the head submitted for laboratory examination.

6. An animal of any other species which has bitten a person must be managed as deemed appropriate in the discretion of the rabies control authority. The rabies control authority shall consult with the health authority concerning the management of such an animal.

7. The owner of an animal quarantined pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is responsible for all costs of quarantine and veterinary care and examination.

8. The person responsible for supervising an animal quarantined pursuant to subsection 1 shall not release the animal to any person other than:

(a) The owner of the animal at the time it was quarantined;

(b) A member of the immediate family of the person described in paragraph (a); or

(c) An entity or organization, the primary purpose of which is to protect animals from harm, abuse or neglect and that is exempt from federal taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3).

The history of an animal quarantined pursuant to subsection 1 must be made available to health authorities upon request.

9. As used in this section:

(a) “Service animal” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 426.097.

(b) “Service animal in training” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 426.099.

Credits

(Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 1-24-92; A 3-28-96; R047-99, 9-27-99; R087-08, 1-13-2011; R121-14, 10-27- 2015)

NAC 441A.430 Management of animals that have been in close contact with animal suspected or known to have rabies; responsibility of owner for costs of quarantine, veterinary care and examination. (NRS 441A.120, 441A.410)

1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a wild or exotic animal that is rabies-susceptible and in close contact with an animal suspected or known to have rabies must be euthanized immediately. The rabies control authority may exempt a rare or valuable animal from the provisions of this section.

2. A dog, cat or ferret which is considered by the rabies control authority to have been in close contact with an animal suspected or known to have rabies must be managed according to the guidelines adopted by reference in paragraph (o) of subsection 1 of NAC 441A.200, regardless of whether the dog, cat or ferret has been vaccinated pursuant to NAC 441A.433 and 441A.435. If the animal is euthanized prior to the completion of the management process, the head of the animal must be removed and submitted to the State Department of Agriculture to test for rabies.

3. A domesticated animal of a rabies-susceptible species, other than a dog, cat or ferret, which is considered by the rabies control authority to have been in close contact with an animal suspected or known to have rabies must be managed according to the discretion of the rabies control authority.

4. The owner of an animal confined pursuant to the provisions of this section is responsible for all costs of confinement and veterinary care and examination.

5. As used in this section, “in close contact with an animal suspected or known to have rabies” means, within the past 180 days, to have been bitten, mouthed or mauled by, or closely confined on the same premises with, an animal suspected or known to have rabies.

Credits

(Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 1-24-92; A 3-28-96; R047-99, 9-27-99; A by LCB File No. R187-18, 6-26-2019)

NAC 441A.433 Animal shelter required to provide for vaccination of dog, cat or ferret released for adoption. (NRS 441A.120, 441A.410)

1. Before releasing a dog, cat or ferret for adoption, an animal shelter shall:

(a) Have the dog, cat or ferret vaccinated against rabies in the manner prescribed in NAC 441A.435 and provide the person who adopts the dog, cat or ferret with a certificate of vaccination issued pursuant to NAC 441A.440; or

(b) Issue to the person who adopts the dog, cat or ferret a voucher which can be presented to a licensed veterinarian as payment for the vaccination of the dog, cat or ferret.

2. To defray the costs of complying with the requirements of subsection 1, an animal shelter may impose and collect a fee from each person who adopts a dog, cat or ferret from the animal shelter. The fee must not exceed the administrative costs of complying with subsection 1, plus the actual cost of the vaccination.

3. As used in this section, “animal shelter” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 574.240.

Credits
(Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 3-28-96)

NAC 441A.435 Owner required to maintain dog, cat or ferret currently vaccinated; vaccination requirements; exemption by licensed veterinarian; proof that dog, cat or ferret is currently vaccinated or exempted from vaccination required before entering State; impoundment; review of revisions of recommendations for vaccination. (NRS 441A.120, 441A.410)

1. An owner of a dog, cat or ferret shall maintain the dog, cat or ferret currently vaccinated against rabies in accordance with the provisions of this section and the recommendations set forth in the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2008 edition, published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc., which is hereby adopted by reference. The publication is available, free of charge, on the Internet at http://www.nasphv.org

2. A dog or cat must be vaccinated against rabies with a vaccine that is designed to provide protection from rabies for 3 years. The provisions of this subsection do not prohibit the vaccination of a dog or cat against rabies with a vaccine that is designed to provide protection from rabies for a longer period if recommended in the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, adopted by reference pursuant to subsection 1.

3. A ferret must be vaccinated against rabies annually. The provisions of this subsection do not prohibit the vaccination of a ferret against rabies with a vaccine that is designed to provide protection from rabies for a longer period if recommended in the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, adopted by reference pursuant to subsection 1.

4. A licensed veterinarian may exempt a dog, cat or ferret from vaccination for health reasons. The veterinarian shall record the reasons for the exemption and a specific description of the dog, cat or ferret, including the name, age, sex, breed and color on a rabies vaccination certificate which must bear the owner's name and address. The veterinarian shall record whether the reason for the exemption is permanent and, if it is not, the date the exemption expires.

5. A dog, cat or ferret that is exempted from or is too young for vaccination against rabies must be confined to the premises of the owner or kept under physical restraint by the owner.

6. The owner shall not allow a dog, cat or ferret over 3 months of age to enter this State unless the owner has in his or her immediate possession written proof that the dog, cat or ferret is currently vaccinated against rabies or has an exemption for health reasons.

7. If the owner of a dog, cat or ferret violates any provision of this section, the rabies control authority may impound the dog, cat or ferret.

8. If the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, adopted by reference pursuant to subsection 1, is revised, the Board will review the revision to determine its suitability for this State. The Board will consider any objection to the revision filed by the Administrator of the Division of Animal Industry of the State Department of Agriculture pursuant to subsection 10. If the Board determines that the revision is not suitable for this State, the Board will:

(a) Hold a public hearing to review its determination within 6 months after the date of publication of the revision; and

(b) Give notice of that hearing.

9. If, after a hearing held pursuant to subsection 8, the Board does not revise its determination, the Board will give notice within 30 days after the hearing that the revision is not suitable for this State. If the Board does not give such notice, the revision becomes part of the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, adopted by reference pursuant to subsection 1.

10. The Aclministrator of the Division of Animal Industry of the State Department of Agriculture may review any revision of the recommendations for vaccination against rabies of dogs, cats and ferrets set forth in the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, adopted by reference pursuant to subsection 1, to determine whether the revision is appropriate for application in this State. For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this section, a revision of the recommendations shall be deemed to be effective in this State 10 days after its publication unless:

(a) The Administrator of the Division of Animal Industry of the State Department of Agriculture files an objection to the revision with the Board; or

(b) The Board gives notice, pursuant to subsection 9, that the revision is not suitable for this State.

Credits
(Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 1-24-92; A by R047-99, 9-27-99; R087-08, 1-13-2011)

NAC 441A.440 Veterinarians: Issuance of certificates of vaccination and rabies vaccination tags; cooperation with investigation by rabies control authority. (NRS 441A.120, 441A.410)

1. A veterinarian who vaccinates an animal against rabies shall complete three copies of a certificate of vaccination against rabies for the animal vaccinated. The certificate of vaccination against rabies must include, but is not limited to:

(a) The name and address of the owner of the animal.

(b) A description of the animal, including the name, age, sex, breed, color and weight of the animal.

(c) The date the vaccination was administered.

(d) The product name of the vaccine used.

(e) The lot number of the vaccine.

(f) The date the animal is due for revaccination based on the duration of immunity provided by the vaccine according to its label.

(g) The number on the rabies vaccination tag issued pursuant to subsection 3.

(h) The name, address and license number of the veterinarian.

(i) The signature of the veterinarian who administered the vaccine. The signature may be handwritten, stamped or produced by a computer.

2. The veterinarian shall:

(a) Provide the original copy of the certificate of vaccination to the owner of the animal;

(b) Provide a copy of the certificate of vaccination to the rabies control authority; and

(c) Retain a copy of the certificate of vaccination for the period that the vaccination is current.

3. A veterinarian who vaccinates an animal against rabies shall issue to the owner a metal rabies vaccination tag, serially numbered to match the number on the certificate of vaccination against rabies. A rabies vaccination tag must not conflict with the shape or color of local license tags.

4. A veterinarian shall cooperate with any investigation of an animal bite, or of a case having rabies or suspected case considered to have rabies, by providing all information requested by the rabies control authority.

Credits
(Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 1-24-92; A by R047-99, 9-27-99)

NAC 441A.445 Prohibited activities on private property involving bat, skunk, raccoon, fox or coyote; relinquishment of animal; exemptions. (NRS 441A.120, 441A.410)

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2:

(a) A person shall not intentionally keep, harbor or in any way care for, maintain, lodge or feed on private property, a bat, skunk, raccoon, fox or coyote.

(b) Any person violating the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection shall, upon request of the rabies control authority and the Department of Wildlife, relinquish the animal to the rabies control authority or the Department.

2. The rabies control authority and the Department may grant to any person an exemption from the provisions of this section.

Credits
(Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 1-24-92)