Responsibility and liability of owner of dog, cat, or ferret for quarantine when dog, cat, or ferret is known or suspected to have exposed a human being to rabies.
Del. Code tit. 3, § 8208
in effect(a) Quarantine at time of exposure. — The owner of any dog, cat, or ferret that is known or suspected to have exposed a human being to rabies shall place the dog, cat, or ferret under a strict quarantine for a period of at least 10 days commencing at the time of the exposure. Any person who fails to comply with this subsection shall be fined not less than $25 nor more than $100.
(1) If the owner of the dog, cat, or ferret can provide proof of a currently valid rabies vaccination, that dog, cat, or ferret may be placed under a strict quarantine on the premises of the owner or custodian.
(2) If the owner of the dog, cat, or ferret cannot provide proof of a currently valid rabies vaccination, that dog, cat, or ferret must be quarantined by a veterinarian, kennel, or other facility approved by the Department. The cost of quarantine in this instance is to be borne by the owner of the dog, cat, or ferret.
(3) If the owner of that dog, cat, or ferret cannot show proof of a valid rabies vaccination, the quarantine period shall be extended beyond the 10 days until such time that the dog, cat, or ferret has been examined by a licensed veterinarian and a rabies vaccine has been administered to that dog, cat, or ferret by a licensed veterinarian. The dog, cat, or ferret must not be vaccinated during the initial 10-day strict quarantine period.
(4) In cases where the behavioral disposition of the dog, cat, or ferret poses a public health danger which renders quarantine of the animal unsafe for its caregivers, the Division, in consultation with the Department and the attending veterinarian, may elect to forego the 10 day strict quarantine and euthanize the patient and submit the brain for rabies testing.
(b) Quarantine after notice of exposure. — An owner who fails to place under strict quarantine any dog, cat, or ferret that exposes a human being to rabies after being notified that the exposure occurred and of the quarantine requirements must quarantine the dog, cat, or ferret in an approved place and manner. An owner failing to quarantine the dog, cat, or ferret shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $200.
(c) Reporting of conditions of quarantine. — (1) The owner of a dog, cat or ferret quarantined pursuant to this chapter is responsible for reporting the facts by telephone to the Division or a licensed veterinarian, if that dog, cat, or ferret shows marked behavior changes, escapes, sickens, or dies during the quarantine period. If the quarantined animal dies, escapes or for any other reason is not available to complete the quarantine period, the owner shall immediately notify the Division by telephone within 12 hours, to be followed by a signed, notarized affidavit stating the reason for the animal’s unavailability to complete the quarantine period. This affidavit must be submitted within 7 days of the animal’s disappearance or death to the Division.
(2) Any veterinarian, approved kennel or other person having knowledge of a quarantined dog, cat or ferret which shows marked behavior changes, escapes, sickens, or dies shall report the facts to the Division by telephone within 12 hours.
(3) Any person failing to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $200.
(d) Disposition during quarantine. — A dog, cat, or ferret under quarantine may not be moved from the place of quarantine, killed, given away, or otherwise disposed of without the written permission of the Division of Public Health or Department of Agriculture.
(e) Surrender of dogs, cats, or ferrets for quarantine. — A person may not fail or refuse to surrender any dog, cat or ferret for quarantine or destruction as required in this section when demand is made by written order of the Department of Agriculture or Division.
(f) Law-enforcement canines. —
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a police dog from any recognized law-enforcement agency is not subject to being quarantined after biting any person, if such bite occurred while the dog was being used for a law-enforcement purpose and the dog is current on its rabies vaccination. The law-enforcement agency shall notify the Division by telephone if the dog shows marked behavior changes, escapes, sickens, or dies.
Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title3/c082/sc01/index.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026