1. (a) Quarantine procedures.

   1. (1) Quarantine facilities shall have and use written standard operating procedures (SOP) specific for that facility to ensure effective and safe quarantine procedures. The SOP shall be posted in the quarantine facility and adhered to by each employee.
   2. (2) An animal which may have exposed a human to rabies and animals suspected of rabies that are placed in quarantine for observation must be separated by a solid partition from all other animals in such a manner that there is no possibility of physical contact between animals. An empty chamber between animals is not an acceptable alternative. To prevent escape, the chamber must be enclosed on all sides, including the top. Quarantine cages, runs, or rooms must have "Rabies Quarantine" signs posted.
   3. (3) Unowned animals may be destroyed for rabies diagnosis prior to the end of the quarantine period.
2. (b) Facilities planning. Any county, city, town, or incorporated community desiring to construct animal quarantine facilities shall submit plans to the department for approval.

3. (c) Inspection requirements of quarantine facilities.

   1. (1) It will be the responsibility of the department to inspect all animal quarantine facilities. The inspection of the premises will be accomplished during ordinary business hours. All deficiencies will be documented in writing. Those that are of sufficient significance to affect the humane care or security of any animal confined to the facility must be corrected within a reasonable period of time.
   2. (2) The inspections will be accomplished annually or more frequently when significant discrepancies have been identified. Any facility that does not achieve acceptable standards will not be licensed for rabies quarantine operations.
   3. (3) The quarantine facility manager has the right to appeal the results of the inspection evaluation. If the opinion of management of the quarantine facility is in conflict with the inspection evaluation, he or she may request a review of the inspection by the director of the department's Zoonosis Control Division. In the event points of difference still remain, the supervisor may request a review of the inspection by the chief of the department's Bureau of Communicable Disease Control. Each of the appeals listed in this paragraph, when required, will be made in writing through the regional director's office of the public health region in which the animal facility is located.

Source Note:The provisions of this §169.28 adopted to be effective April 1, 1980, 5 TexReg 812; amended to be effective February 22, 1993, 18 TexReg 845; amended to be effective February 21, 1996, 21 TexReg 963; amended to be effective July 12, 1998, 23 TexReg 7224.