(a) When an animal is destroyed for the purposes of rabies testing, every effort shall be made to keep the head and brain intact and unfrozen. Precautions shall be taken to avoid exposure to humans during destruction and until transported to the Division of Public Health Laboratory. The Division of Public Health shall be responsible for ensuring that the destroyed animal is transported safely, and for notifying the submitting party of the rabies testing results.

(b) The Division of Public Health or the Department of Agriculture may order the owner of an animal which is suspected of having exposed a human being to rabies to have the animal examined by a licensed veterinarian at any time during the quarantine period. The cost of the examination and any other associated cost shall be borne by the owner of the biting animal which is suspected of having exposed the human being to rabies. Any animal determined by a licensed veterinarian, the Department of Agriculture or the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, to be inhumanely suffering may be killed in a humane manner and the head promptly submitted to the Division of Public Health Laboratory for rabies testing.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the Department of Agriculture or the Division of Public Health may issue a written order that an animal suspected of exposing a human being to rabies or having bitten a person and that animal having not been immunized with a vaccine specifically approved for use in that species and administered by a veterinarian, shall be killed in a humane manner for laboratory examination for rabies, if it is determined that the animal is not being quarantined adequately or that there are other reasons which make it necessary for the preservation of human health.

66 Del. Laws, c. 247, § 1; 68 Del. Laws, c. 285, § 4; 75 Del. Laws, c. 326, § 1.