Section 26:4-86.2 - Rabies testing requirements; notifying owner, acknowledgement from ownera. Except as provided under subsection e. of this section, no rabies testing shall be performed on a dead domestic companion animal until the health official requiring the rabies testing, or the veterinarian preparing and submitting the specimen for rabies testing, and the owner of the animal have complied with the requirements of subsections b. and c. of this section.b. Whenever it is necessary to test a dead domestic companion animal for rabies, prior to commencing any testing procedure, the health official requiring the rabies testing, or the veterinarian preparing and submitting the specimen for rabies testing, as applicable, shall notify at the first opportunity the owner of the animal, if known, verbally and in writing, of:(1) the necessity of the rabies testing and the reasons therefor;(2) the rabies testing protocol to be followed;(3) the protocol to be followed with regard to the handling of the animal's body;(4) the protocol to be followed with regard to the disposal of the animal's body or its return to the owner; and(5) the protocol of decapitation.c. Upon receiving the notification required in subsection b. of this section, the owner of the animal shall immediately provide, in writing, in the manner prescribed by the department pursuant to subsection d. of this section:(1) release of the animal to the health official or veterinarian, as applicable, for the rabies testing, in accordance with the protocols to be followed pursuant to subsection b. of this section; and(2) the owner's signature to acknowledge notification about the protocols and procedures to be followed pursuant to this section.d. The Department of Health shall develop and provide on its website forms for use in providing the notification required pursuant to subsection b. of this section, and the release, and acknowledgement of notification required pursuant to subsection c. of this section.e. This section shall not apply to rabies testing required pursuant to section 10 of P.L. 1989, c.307 (C.4:19-26) or to the handling of an impounded animal that is suspected of being rabid pursuant to section 16 of P.L. 1941, c.151 (C.4:19-15.16). In cases where a veterinarian or health official has made reasonable attempts to contact the owner to comply with this section and the owner is unable to be contacted or refuses to provide a signature, rabies testing can proceed. When contact is made but a written signature or acknowledgement by the owner cannot be obtained, the veterinarian or health official shall document the date and time that verbal notification was made to the owner and keep this information on file for six months.f. Nothing in this section shall be construed to interfere with the powers of any municipality to control rabies consistent with R.S. 26:4-95.g. As used in this section, "domestic companion animal" means any animal commonly referred to as a pet that was bought, bred, raised, or otherwise acquired, in accordance with local ordinances and State and federal law, for the primary purpose of providing companionship to the owner, rather than for business or agricultural purposes. "Domestic companion animal" shall not include "domestic livestock" as defined in subsection c. of section 1 of P.L. 1995, c.311 (C.4:22-16.1).Added by L. 2021, c. 436, s. 2, eff. 1/18/2022.