Animal Bite Reports
Rabies Quarantine
Quarantine Death
45 Day Quarantine
6 month Quarantine
Helpful Links
Rabies Tags
Tag Look-Up
Ordering Tags
Return Tags
Replace Lost Tags
Animal Bites & Quarantine
According to Ohio Administrative Code 3701-3-28, “Whenever a person is bitten by a dog or other mammal, report of such bite shall be made within 24 hours to the health commissioner of the district in which the bite occurred.” If you have been bitten by an animal or know someone who has, please report this to Franklin County Public Health.
Franklin County Public Health is required to quarantine all dogs, cats and ferrets that bite people. The quarantine is typically for 10 days and is most often done at the animal owner’s home. The purpose of the quarantine is to ensure that the biting animal does not have rabies. If the biting animal has rabies at the time it bit, the symptoms of rabies will be seen in that dog, cat or ferret within 10 days following the bite.
It is strongly recommended that the biting animal not be vaccinated or have elective surgery during the quarantine period to ensure that any vaccine reaction or side effects from surgery do not give a false indication of rabies or other neurological behavior that may be associated with rabies. See the requirements of quarantine according to Ohio Administrative Code 3701-3-29. The typical quarantine period is 10 days, but there are however times when a 45 day or 6 month quarantine of an animal is necessary. Please see below for information about this extended quarantine.
What if an animal dies or is put down during quarantine?
OAC 3701-3-29 (A)(2) states:
If any quarantined dog, cat, or ferret dies before the quarantine period expires, then the head of the dog, cat, or ferret shall be submitted to the Ohio department of health’s bureau of public health laboratories for rabies examination.
OAC 3701-3-29 (A)(3) states:
If the owner or harborer of the dog, cat, or ferret is unknown, the health commissioner may direct that the dog, cat, or ferret be humanely killed in which case the head of the dog, cat, or ferret shall be submitted to the Ohio department of health’s bureau of public health laboratories for rabies examination.
When is a 45 day quarantine required?
OAC 3701-3-29(4) states:
Any dog, cat, or ferret bitten by a known rabid mammal, or that had reasonable probability to have been bitten by a wild carnivorous mammal or bat that is not available for rabies testing shall be regarded as having been exposed to the rabies virus.
(b) Mammals with a current rabies vaccination shall be given a booster rabies vaccination immediately and quarantined under an order issued by the health commissioner of the health district in which the bite was inflicted. The quarantine period shall be for not less than forty-five days.
When is a 6 month quarantine required?
OAC 3701-3-29(4) states:
Any dog, cat, or ferret bitten by a known rabid mammal, or that had reasonable probability to have been bitten by a wild carnivorous mammal or bat that is not available for rabies testing shall be regarded as having been exposed to the rabies virus.
(a) Dogs, cats, or ferrets not currently vaccinated against the rabies virus or when vaccination cannot be verified shall be humanely killed; or if sufficient justification for preserving the dog, cat, or ferret exists, the exposed dog, cat, or ferret shall be quarantined by the health commissioner of the health district in which the bite was inflicted. The quarantine period shall be for not less than six months. The dog, cat, or ferret shall be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine one month before the end of the quarantine period required by this paragraph.
FCPH Rabies Regulations
NASPHV Rabies Compendium
Ohio Department of Health Rabies Specimen Submission Form
CDC Rabies Homepage
Ohio Department of Health Rabies Program
Rabies Tags
Want to look up a rabies tag number?
If you have a Franklin County Public Health rabies tag for a dog, cat or ferret simply enter the tag number (example: A123456) and it will display the name, address and telephone number of the veterinarian or clinic that vaccinated the animal. Visit the online lost pet look-up form here. You can then contact the veterinarian or clinic to obtain owner information, address and date of vaccination.
Want to order rabies tags, rings or certificates?
Submit an order online (forms generator coming soon!)
Print and complete the order form and fax to Nadine Herrell at (614) 525-3851. If you have any questions, please call Nadine at (614) 525-3799 or email at nadineherrell@franklincountyohio.gov.
Want to return unused rabies tags?
We accept any rabies tags that have not been issued from the current year or the previous year only and will credit your account for the amount returned. Tags can be either mailed to our office or arrangements can be made for a representative of our office to pick them up from your clinic.
Please call Nadine Herrell at (614) 525-3851 or email her to request a return and/or pick up of unused rabies tags.
Want to replace a lost tag for a client?
If your client has lost a rabies tag from this current year, simply issue them a new tag and amend your records (rabies certificate) with the replacement rabies tag number.
If your client has lost a rabies tag from a previous year, please contact Nadine Herrell at (614) 525-3799 and she will work with you and your client to obtain a replacement rabies tag. Please note that she will need a copy of the original rabies certificate or record that provides the owner information, pet information, date of vaccination and expiration date of vaccination.