§ 7-82. Exemption for certain animals.

(a)

This section shall not apply except in the discretion of the parish health unit to small caged pets such as mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters or guinea pigs and any other animal that may be specifically excluded by the animal shelter veterinarian or parish health unit.

(b)

Non-mammalian animals are not capable of contracting rabies or infecting other animals with the rabies virus. Therefore animals that are avian, reptilian, or amphibian will not require ten-day rabies quarantine or testing.

(c)

Certain mammals, particularly "wild" animals, including but not limited to raccoons, skunks, and bats that bite a human will require immediate euthanasia and rabies testing. These animals are considered to be more likely to carry and transmit the rabies virus than other mammals. Ferrets can be quarantined and observed for ten-day observation only with the approval of the state public health veterinarian and only if current rabies vaccination can be verified for the biting animal. Exceptions to required testing of wildlife may be made only by the state public health veterinarian for properly licensed wildlife rehabilitators and only at the specific, written request of the victim.

(d)

Livestock animals that bite a human are handled at the discretion of the animal shelter veterinarian. Such handling may include testing which results in euthanasia.

(Ord. No. 24102, § 3, 8-31-11)