If officials think that your dog has rabies it can confine the dog in a similar fashion to the situation where a dog bites a person. If you fail to obey the order, the local board of health can apprehend and kill your dog, and make you pay for the costs associated with taking such actions.

If the local board of officials thinks that there is an epidemic on hand, then it can quarantine a certain area that is affected. If quarantine is in effect in your area, you are required to securely enclose or leash your dog until the quarantine is lifted.