(a) If any animal has bitten any person, is suspected of having bitten any person or is for any reason suspected of being infected with rabies, the animal may be required to be placed under an observation period either by confinement or by quarantine for a period of time deemed necessary by the commissioner or rules of the department.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 68-8-109

  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of health or a duly authorized representative. See Tennessee Code 68-8-102
  • Confinement: means housed in a building, pen or by some other suitable escape-proof method or enclosure or being leashed. See Tennessee Code 68-8-102
  • Department: means the Tennessee department of health. See Tennessee Code 68-8-102
  • Observation period: means the time following a bite incident during which the biting animal's health status must be monitored. See Tennessee Code 68-8-102
  • Owner: means any person having a right or property in a dog or cat, or who keeps or harbors a dog or cat, or who has it in such person's care or acts as its custodian, or who permits a dog or cat to remain on or about any premises. See Tennessee Code 68-8-102
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Quarantine: means a state of strictly enforced isolation from other animals or the public imposed to prevent the spread of disease. See Tennessee Code 68-8-102
(b) The act of investigating the bite or rabies exposure and placing the animal under observation by confinement or quarantine shall be accomplished either by the department or by the animal control program, in either the county or municipality wherein either the animal owner or the person bitten resides, in consultation with the department.
(c) The confinement, quarantine or other disposition of the animal shall follow the current recommendations in the national rabies compendium unless more specific guidelines are designated by duly promulgated rules of the department or as deemed necessary by the commissioner to protect the public’s health.
(d) The observation period by confinement or quarantine may occur at the animal owner’s home at the discretion of the department or the animal control program.
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