Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the
person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined.
Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing.

Karen

IIRC, if there's no reason to suspect an animal has rabies, the person bitten
doesn't start the rabies series. Not unless the animal can't be located for
testing or quarantine. The series isn't without risk itself, and they don't
routinely vaccinate people just because they're bitten. Wild/stray animals are
automatically euthanized and tested, but owned/vaccinated animals are
quarantined. I think they laws vary from state to state though.

Sherry