Delaware General Assembly


CHAPTER 486

FORMERLY

SENATE BILL NO. 204

AS AMENDED BY SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1 AND HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1

AN ACT TO AMEND SUBCHAPTER I, CHAPTER 17, TITLE 7, DELAWARE CODE, RELATING TO CONFINEMENT OF BITING DOGS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two-thirds of all members elected to each House thereof concurring therein):

Section 1. Amend Subchapter I, Chapter 17, Title 7, of the Delaware Code by adding thereto a new Section designated as §1716 to read as follows:

"§1716. Confinement of Biting Dogs; Notice to Local Health Authority; Exemption

(a) When a person has been bitten by a dog, the person or parent, guardian or person standing in loco parent's of the person, and the person owning the animal or in control or possession of the animal shall notify the local health authority immediately and give the name and address of the person bitten and the owner of the animal. AU dogs that bite a person shall be immediately confined for 10 days in a place designated by the local health authority. If the owner or the person who controls or possesses a dog that has bitten a person refuses to confine the animal as required by this section, the local health authority may order seizure of the animal and its confinement for 10 days at the expense of the owner.

(b) Confinement of a dog which has bitten a person will not be required provided the owner or the person who controls or possesses such dog can present a veterinarian's certificate of current rabies immunization."

Approved July 9, 1986.