The following terms are defined for the purpose of this part:

1. (1) “Cat” means any domestic feline animal, species Felis catus;

2. (2) “Confinement, quarantine, and observation”.

   1. (A) Dogs and cats.

      1. (i) Health authorities of the state, county and city, and law enforcement officers have the authority to order confinement, quarantine, and observation of any dog or cat that has bitten a human that has not received a current vaccination against rabies or it is unknown if the dog, cat, or other animal has received a vaccination against rabies.

      2. (ii)

         1. (a) (a) If the dog, cat, or other animal has received a current vaccination against rabies and the owner provides proof of the current vaccination, the owner may confine and observe the dog, cat, or other animal.
         2. (b) (b) Confinement may be in a public pound or a licensed veterinary hospital.
      3. (iii) When appropriate facilities for confining a dog, cat, or other animal that has not received a current vaccination against rabies, or it is unknown if the dog, cat, or other animal has received a vaccination against rabies, are not available, it is the owner's responsibility to prepare and maintain satisfactory confinement facilities.
      4. (iv) The dog or cat will be quarantined from contact with other animals and humans.

      5. (v)

         1. (a) (a) Local public officials acting in cooperation shall ensure the dog or cat is confined and observed for a period of ten (10) days from the date the person was bitten.
         2. (b) (b) Alternatively, the animal may be humanely euthanized and tested for rabies at the public health laboratory.
      6. (vi) Quarantined animals may be treated by a veterinarian, but rabies vaccine shall not be administered to the animal until the quarantine period is complete.

      7. (vii) The dog or cat is not to be:

         1. (a) (a) Revaccinated;
         2. (b) (b) Sold;
      8. (c) (c) Transferred;

      9. (d) (d) Destroyed; or

         1. (e) (e) Otherwise disposed of.
      10. (viii) If the dog or cat dies or is killed during the ten-day observation period, intentionally or unintentionally, the head shall be shipped immediately to the public health laboratory as outlined in subdivision (8) of this section.
      11. (ix) The owner is responsible for all costs, including confinement fees, veterinary fees, and transportation costs.
      12. (x) At the end of the ten-day observation period, if the dog or cat shows no signs of illness compatible with rabies, and if the dog or cat does not have a record of current vaccination status, it will be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian prior to release.
      13. (xi) Dogs or cats having current rabies vaccination need not be revaccinated upon release.

   2. (B) Other animals.

      1. (i) The incubation period of rabies in all other animals is variable and a specific period of confinement is not practical.
      2. (ii) If there is no known incubation period, the animal may be euthanized and tested at the discretion of the Department of Health.
      3. (iii) Consult health authorities for detailed instructions;
3. (3) “Dog” means any domestic canine animal, species Canis lupus familiaris;

4. (4) “Has been bitten” means:

   1. (A) The skin has been penetrated by an animal’s teeth; and
   2. (B) Saliva has contacted a break or abrasion of the skin;
5. (5) “Other animal” means any warm-blooded animal, dogs and cats excepted, which may be affected by rabies;

6. (6) “Owner” means any person who:

   1. (A) Has a right of property in a dog, cat, or other animal;
   2. (B) Keeps, harbors, cares for, or acts as the custodian of a dog, cat, or other animal; or
   3. (C) Knowingly permits a dog, cat, or other animal to remain on or about any premises occupied by him or her;

7. (7) “Quarantine”.

   1. (A) Quarantine of dogs and cats suspected of having rabies. The complete confinement and observation in a secure cage or enclosure free from human contact for a period of ten (10) days.

   2. (B) Quarantine of an area.

      1. (i) All dogs and cats, vaccinated or unvaccinated, at all times during a specified period will be:

         1. (a) (a) Kept in a cage, pen, or enclosure; and
         2. (b) (b) Exercised on a leash.
      2. (ii) Stray dogs and cats will be apprehended and humanely destroyed in accordance with local ordinance;

8. (8) Shipment to the public health laboratory for tests for diagnosis of rabies.

   1. (A) For dogs, cats, skunks, foxes, raccoons, opossums, coyotes, wolves, and similarly sized animals, ship the head only.
   2. (B) Ship entire carcass of small size animals such as rats, mice, chipmunks, squirrels, bats, etc.

   3. (C)

      1. (i) Ship to the Department of Health, Public Health Laboratory, 201 S. Monroe, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, in the special rabies specimen buckets and boxes supplied by the laboratory and distributed to all local health units.

      2. (ii)

         1. (a) (a) Because a human life may be endangered, and because early diagnosis of rabies is highly advantageous in selecting treatment for the victim, the fastest and most direct transportation is encouraged.
         2. (b) (b) This can be accomplished by personally transporting the animal head to the laboratory.
      3. (iii) If private transportation is not available, the specimen may be taken to a local health unit to be transported to the public health laboratory.
      4. (iv) The specimen must be delivered to the local health unit in a timely fashion.
      5. (v) Any veterinary fees, and all transportation costs, are the responsibility of the owner.
      6. (vi) When ownership is not established, these costs are the victim's responsibility.
      7. (vii) There may be a charge by the public health laboratory for the examination of an animal brain for rabies.

   4. (D)

      1. (i) It is essential that all information relative to the possible rabies exposure accompany the rabies specimen.

      2. (ii) This includes the:

         1. (a) (a) Complete name, address, and phone number of the exposed individual;
         2. (b) (b) Owner; and
      3. (c) (c) Physician and veterinarian attending the case.
      4. (iii) This information is available when the rabies sample submission form HL-12 (which is included in each rabies specimen box) is completely and accurately filled out.
      5. (iv) The public health laboratory will report its findings by the most expeditious means to the submitter.

   5. (E) Brain or head only, large animals.

      1. (i) Livestock and farm animals present a different situation.
      2. (ii) Entire carcasses must not be sent to the public health laboratory at Little Rock, Arkansas.

      3. (iii) The attending licensed veterinarian should:

         1. (a) (a) Remove the brain; and
         2. (b) (b) Ship it in the special rabies specimen container as outlined in subdivision (8)(C) of this section.
      4. (iv) Otherwise, it is the owner's responsibility to transport the head only, packed in wet ice, not dry ice, placed in a plastic bag in a leak-proof container, to the public health laboratory.
      5. (v) The shipment of large animal heads to the laboratory is very unsatisfactory and dangerous;
9. (9) “Special circumstances” means bites upon the head, face, neck, or upper extremities, deep lacerations, or multiple bite wounds inflicted by unvaccinated dogs, cats, or other animals; and

10. (10) “Vaccination against rabies” means the injection, subcutaneously or otherwise, of antirabic vaccine, as:

    1. (A) Approved by the United States Department of Agriculture or State Board of Health; and

    2. (B) Administered by:

       1. (i) A licensed veterinarian;
       2. (ii) A veterinary technician;
       3. (iii) A veterinary technologist;
       4. (iv) A veterinary technician specialist; or
       5. (v) An agent of the Department of Health.