Vermont § 3801 - Rabies control authority

§ 3801. Rabies control authority

• (a) In the event of an outbreak of rabies, the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets,
  the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife, and the Commissioner of Health shall work together
  to assist the affected towns. In addition to the responsibilities provided by this
  chapter, the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets shall generally be responsible
  for management of rabies in livestock, education of veterinarians and livestock owners
  concerning rabies, and vaccination recommendations for livestock. The Department of
  Fish and Wildlife shall generally be responsible for management of rabies in wildlife
  and the education of the sporting community, municipal officials, and the general
  public about rabies in wildlife. The Department of Health shall generally be responsible
  for the prevention of rabies in humans, management of rabies in animals that may have
  exposed humans, and assisting with diagnosis of rabies in animals that may have exposed
  humans and supervision of health officials’ education. (b) In addition to any other applicable authority, the Agency of Agriculture, Food and
  Markets, the Department of Health, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife may, individually
  or jointly, adopt rules to control the spread of rabies within a specific region or
  within the State as a whole. The Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets is authorized
  to adopt rules necessary to control the spread of rabies in domestic animals, domestic
  pets, and wolf-hybrids, including mandating the vaccination of specific species of
  animals, the conditions under which rabies inoculation clinics may be operated, and
  establishing quarantines for domestic animals. The Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife
  is authorized to adopt rules necessary to control the spread of rabies in wildlife,
  including mandating the vaccination of specific species of wild animals, translocation
  of wild animals, and the destruction of wild animals through the use of registered
  pesticides, trapping, or other means as may be necessary. The Commissioner of Health
  is authorized to adopt rules requiring the reporting of incidents of animals biting
  humans; the confinement, quarantine, observation, and disposition of animals that
  are suspected of exposing humans to rabies; and the disposition of animals bitten
  by animals suspected of carrying rabies and other rules as necessary to protect the
  general public from rabies. (c) The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the Department of Health, and the Department
  of Fish and Wildlife may cooperate with other federal, state, and local officials
  in controlling the spread of rabies within the State and within the region. (Amended 1965, No. 36, § 4, eff. April 28, 1965; 1983, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 13, 1984; 1989, No. 256 (Adj. Sess.), § 10(a), eff. Jan. 1, 1991; 1993, No. 213 (Adj. Sess.), § 23, eff. June 15, 1994; 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003.)