COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
H. B. 2790
(By Delegates Kelley, Boggs, Yeager, Williams and Willis)
(Originating in the Committee on Finance)
[February 24, 1999]
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 confinement
and observation of domestic animals, extending the
confinement period if the animal is not vaccinated;
requiring confinement of any domestic animal bitten by a
rabid, or suspected rabid, animal; and extending the
penalties to all such violations.
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.
(a) 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 shall be confined for a
period of six months and vaccinated after five months.
(b) If any domesticated animal, whether vaccinated or
unvaccinated, is bitten by a rabid animal or suspected rabid
animal, the owner shall confine the bitten animal for a period of
six months and have the animal vaccinated after five months.
(c) If
such the animal is not
so confined and quarantined
as
directed in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, 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.
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