H. B. 2790
(By Delegates Kelley, Boggs, Yeager, Williams and Willis)
[Introduced February 16, 1999; referred to the
Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then Finance.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section nine-a, article twenty,
chapter nineteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand
nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to rabies
observation of dogs, cats and other animals.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section nine-a, article twenty, chapter nineteen of the
code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 20. DOGS AND CATS.
§19-20-9a. Dogs, cats, etc.; rabies observation.
Any person who owns or harbors any dog, cat or other
domesticated animal, whether licensed or unlicensed, which bites
any person, shall forthwith confine and quarantine the animal for
a period of ten days for rabies observation. If the animal is
not currently vaccinated for rabies it must be confined for a period of six months and vaccinated after five months. If an
animal is bitten by a rabid animal it must also be confined for
a period of six months and vaccinated after five months. If such
the animal is not so confined and quarantined, the humane
officer, dog warden or sheriff may cause such the animal to be
placed in the custody and care of a licensed veterinarian for
such that purpose at the owner's expense. The penalty for any
violation of this section shall be is a fine of fifty dollars or
confinement in the county or regional jail for a period of no
less than two nor more than three days.
NOTE: This bill requires confinement and vaccination of
animals suspected of rabies or bitten by an animal with rabies.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language
that would be added.
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