§ 10-302. Rabies – Possible exposure.

(a) Required reporting.

In addition to complying with State Health-General Article, § 18-316, a person must immediately, by telephone or in person, report to the Commissioner and the Baltimore City Police Department whenever that person has knowledge of:

(1) any animal susceptible to rabies that:

(i) has bitten or scratched and broken the skin of any human being; or

(ii) otherwise has exposed any human being to a possible rabies infection;

(2) any animal that has been bitten by another animal suspected of having rabies; or

(3) any other animal that is suspected of having rabies.

(b) Isolation and examination.

In addition to the requirements of State Health-General Article, § 18-316, the following apply to a quarantined animal:

(1) the animal must be isolated in the manner and for the period that the Commissioner directs; and

(2) at any time during the isolation, the Commissioner or the owner or custodian of the animal may direct that the animal be humanely killed for the purpose of rabies testing.

(c) Expenses.

(1) The isolation and examination of an animal under this section is at the expense of the animal's owner or custodian.

(2) When the animal is impounded, the animal's owner or custodian must pay to the Office an initial deposit, as set under § 10-106 of this title, toward expenses related to isolation and examination.

(d) Release of animal.

An animal isolated under this section may be released only:

(1) with the consent of the Commissioner; and

(2) on payment of:

(i) the fee set for each day or part of a day that the animal was held; and

(ii) all costs incurred during the isolation.