1) The document establishes uniform procedures for completing rabies control investigation reports when domestic animals are exposed to wild animals. 2) It outlines policies for quarantining or destroying exposed domestic animals depending on their vaccination status, and testing suspect wild animals. 3) The procedures describe how to complete the rabies control investigation report form for domestic animal vs. wild animal exposures, including documenting quarantine visits and releases.

1. Number: 700.03
SUBJECT: COMPLETION OF RABIES CONTROL INVESTIGATION
REPORT FOR DOMESTIC ANIMALS VS. WILDLIFE
Page: 1
Date: 4/13/99
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 9/22/10
I. PURPOSE
To establish a uniform procedure for the initiation and completion of the Rabies Control
Investigation Report (Animal Bite/Scratch Report) for domestic animal vs. wild animal
exposures.
II. POLICY
A. Policy Part A.
According to California Code of Regulations, 2606 (c), when a domestic animal
has been bitten by or has been in intimate contact with a rabid or suspected rabid
animal (bats or carnivores) it must be quarantined for a period of six (6) months
from the date of exposure or destroyed with the following exception:
1. Domestic animals that are currently vaccinated against rabies will be
quarantined for 30 days from the date of exposure.
2. Wild, nondomestic, and other animal species bitten by or exposed to a
rapid or suspect rabid animal shall be euthanized immediately. If owned,
place the animal under immediate 180 day quarantine and contact the OC
Animal Care veterinarian.
B. Policy Part B.
1. All domestic animals not vaccinated against rabies in the last 30 days will
be vaccinated within 48 hours. The owner shall be issued a Notice to
Comply (NTC) requiring the rabies vaccination within 48 hours.
2. If the suspect rabid animal is available for testing, it will be tested and the
exposed animal will be quarantined pending a negative test result.
3. Any rabies positive animals will be reported to the shelter veterinarian
immediately.
4. Initial quarantine will be imposed at the residence provided the facilities
are adequate. The OC Animal Care veterinarian will determine if the
quarantine needs to occur elsewhere.

2. Number: 700.03
SUBJECT: COMPLETION OF RABIES CONTROL INVESTIGATION
REPORT FOR DOMESTIC ANIMALS VS. WILDLIFE
Page: 2
Date: 4/13/99
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 9/22/10
III. SCOPE
Applicable to all staff responsible for placing domestic animals under quarantine that
have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal.
IV. FORMS
Rabies Control Investigation Report (Animal Bite/Scratch Report) F272-12.2001.4
Animal Head Information Form F272-12.2025
Notice to Comply F272-12.2078.3
V. REFERENCES
California Code of Regulations, Title 17, 2606
VI. DEFINITIONS
Not Applicable.
VII. PROCEDURE
A. Quarantine Visits and Releases:
1. A quarantine visit shall be conducted every month after the exposure date
for six (6) month quarantine. A field release is conducted at the end of the
six (6) month quarantine.
2. A quarantine visit shall be conducted 14 days after the re-vaccination date
for 30 day quarantine. A field release is conducted at the end of the 30
day quarantine.
B. Distribution of Copies:
1. Refer to 700.02 Completion of Rabies Control Investigation Report
Animal vs. Human.
2. The Animal Control Officer (ACO) who impounds the wild animal for
testing shall make a photocopy of the original report.

3. Number: 700.03
SUBJECT: COMPLETION OF RABIES CONTROL INVESTIGATION
REPORT FOR DOMESTIC ANIMALS VS. WILDLIFE
Page: 3
Date: 4/13/99
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 9/22/10
3. The photocopy is submitted to Station III personnel with completed head
slips.
4. The animal shall be placed either in a receiving cart for regular hours or
receiving cage after hours, tagged with manila label tag and placed in the
tag-morgue section, if deceased.
5. The ACO shall place the Animal Bite/Scratch Report in the future call box
located in the dispatch office prior to the end of the shift and submit the
pink copy of bite/scratch report to the Rabies Desk.
6. The Animal Bite/Scratch Report shall be filed according to the NTC
follow up date, giving the owner 48-hours to obtain a rabies vaccination.
C. Completion of Report:
1. In domestic vs. wild animal reports, the domestic animal is the “victim”
and the wild animal is the “biting animal”.
2. Domestic vs. wild animal report (refer to the numbered spaces on the
form):
a. Numbered Items:
1. Imp. #: OCAC Animal ID number generated by
Chameleon.
1b. Case #: Activity Number.
2a. Name: Enter “Pet” and the type of domestic animal, (i.e.
pet dog, pet cat).
2b. Victim (last name): Enter the domestic animal owner’s last
name, (i.e. pet dog Smith).
3. Sex: The sex of the victim animal. Place an “N” or “S” in
the box if the animal is altered.
4. Age: The age of the victim animal.
5. Telephone: Home and work numbers for the animal owner.
6. Address: Address from where the animal is most likely to
be found and quarantined.
7. Parent/Guardian: Last name, first name, middle initial of
the animal owner.
8. Address: Where the person listed in “# 7” lives, if different
from # 6.

4. Number: 700.03
SUBJECT: COMPLETION OF RABIES CONTROL INVESTIGATION
REPORT FOR DOMESTIC ANIMALS VS. WILDLIFE
Page: 4
Date: 4/13/99
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 9/22/10
9. Source: Mark the “other” box and list the person and
his/her telephone number. If the source is the dog owner,
list “# 7” and “same” for the telephone number.
10. Report Received By: No change.
11. Place of Attack: Although there is no attack, list the place
where the animal was discovered. BE SPECIFIC.
12a. Attack Date/Time: Line out “attack”. Enter the date and
time the animal was exposed to wildlife.
12b. Date of Bite: Enter the date of exposure.
13. Circumstances: No change. “Through material?” will not
apply in most cases. Animal clothing is considered
“material”.
14. Wound Location: Exact part of the body that was bitten or
scratched.
15. Skin Break: There is no need to verify skin break to
impose quarantine. Puncture wounds on animals are
sometimes difficult to locate, therefore, quarantine is
necessary whenever there is intimate contact between a
domestic animal and a rabies suspect wild animal. If there
is a skin break, mark the box and initial the line.
16. Wound Treatment: no change.
17. Treated By: no change.
18. Anti-Rabies Treatment: no change.
19-20. Veterinary Review: no change.
21-26. Laboratory Exam: no change.
27. Case Closed: no change.
28. Notification: no change.
29. QV Date: List the correct date. See Quarantine visits and
releases.
30. QR Date: List the correct date. See Quarantine visits and
releases.
31. Miscellaneous: The space in line 31 is used to record
information about the victim domestic animal. The
information should include:
a) The domestic animal’s sex, breed, color, age, name.
b) Rabies vaccination, type and expiration date.

5. Number: 700.03
SUBJECT: COMPLETION OF RABIES CONTROL INVESTIGATION
REPORT FOR DOMESTIC ANIMALS VS. WILDLIFE
Page: 5
Date: 4/13/99
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 9/22/10
c) Number of the “Notice to Comply” which was
issued to have the animal rabies vaccinated.
d) Disposition of the rabies suspect wild animal.
32a. Owner (Custodian): Of the rabies suspect animal.
Generally enter “wildlife” because there is usually no
owner. If there is an owner, enter last name, first name,
and then middle initial.
32b. Owner: Of the rabies suspect animal. Enter only if there is
a known owner, otherwise Rabies Desk will complete.
33. Address: Of the rabies suspect animal owner. Leave blank
if there is no owner.
34. Animal: Pertaining to the rabies suspect wild animal. No
change.
35. Description: of the rabies suspect wild animal. No change.
Insert a heavy vertical line between the end of line 35
and the number 36. The remaining lines (36-46) will
relate to the domestic “victim” animal.
36. License Number: no change.
37. Behavior: no change.
38. Travels: no change.
39. Vaccination: Refers to the re-vaccination date given to
comply with the California Code of Regulations, 2606(c).
43. Release: See Quarantine visits and releases.
44. Cause of Death: If the domestic animal died, no change.
45. Veterinarian/Symptoms: If the domestic animal died, no
change.
46. Signature: no change.
b. Non-Numbered Items:
Map Ref.: The Orange County Thomas Guide reference for the
owner.
QT Fee: Mark the “no” box and write “N/A” in the space. No fee
is collected.

6. Number: 700.03
SUBJECT: COMPLETION OF RABIES CONTROL INVESTIGATION
REPORT FOR DOMESTIC ANIMALS VS. WILDLIFE
Page: 6
Date: 4/13/99
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 9/22/10
Supplemental: Mark this box when a Supplemental Investigation
Report is initiated.