(a) When an animal is destroyed for the purposes of rabies testing, every effort shall be made to keep the head and brain intact and unfrozen for transfer to the Division of Public Health Laboratory within 72 hours. Precautions shall be taken to avoid exposure to humans during all stages of specimen preparation and transport to the Division of Public Health Laboratory. The Division will review requests for rabies laboratory testing of rabies vector species in cases with a potential human exposure and will test samples if the rabies vector species is available and in adequate condition for valid results. The Division is responsible for ensuring that the destroyed animal is transported safely, and for notifying the submitting party of the rabies testing results. (b) The Division or the Department may order the owner of an animal which is suspected of having exposed a human being to rabies to have the animal examined by a licensed veterinarian at any time during the quarantine period. The cost of the veterinary examination and any other associated cost shall be borne by the owner of the biting animal which is suspected of having exposed the human being to rabies. Any animal determined by a licensed veterinarian or the Department to be inhumanely suffering may be destroyed in a humane manner and the head promptly submitted to the Division of Public Health Laboratory for rabies testing. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Department or the Division may issue a written order that an animal suspected of exposing a human being to rabies or having bitten a person and that animal having not been immunized with a vaccine specifically approved for use in that species and administered by a licensed veterinarian, shall be destroyed in a humane manner for laboratory examination for rabies, if it is determined that the animal is not being quarantined adequately or that there are other reasons which make it necessary for the preservation of human health. (d) A person may not fail or refuse to surrender the remains of an animal for the purposes of rabies testing when a written order is made by the Division or the Department. (e) Penalty. — Any person interfering with the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $300.
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