ALABAMA Rabies Law

[BamaFan121s]

Not sure if it differs from county to county, but I know that here (Shelby), it doesn't matter if the vaccine is a 1-yr or 3-yr shot. They are still required get one annually. (This is per our county's health department.)

At least that is what the official "laws" require...like I said, they don't seem to care or enforce it here, even when they should unless pressured to. At that point, they don't accept 3yr vaccinations or titer results.

These issues here have been a BIG complaint of mine for a while now.

[Kris Christine]

Ashley V,

Virginia state law does not require annual rabies boosters. I just got off the phone from speaking with Virginia's State Public Health Veterinarian, and the law only requires that dogs and cats be "currently vaccinated" and if they have been vaccinated with a 3 year rabies vaccine licensed by the USDA, they are "current" for 3 years and do not have to be booster any more often than once every 3 years.

Dr. Murphy's phone number is below and she said she would be happy to speak with any Virginia pet owner or veterinarian who would like clarification on this matter.

Kris

Julia Murphy, DVM, MS, DACVPM - State Public Health Veterinarian Phone: (804) 864-8141

VIRGINIA CODE Title 3.2 Section 3.2-6521 LIS > Code of Virginia > 3.2-6521

§ 3.2-6521. (Effective October 1, 2008) Rabies inoculation of dogs and domesticated cats; availability of certificate; rabies clinics.

A. The owner or custodian of all dogs and domesticated cats four months of age and older shall have them currently vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician who is under the immediate and direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian on the premises. The supervising veterinarian on the premises shall provide the owner of the dog or the custodian of the domesticated cat with a certificate of vaccination. The owner of the dog or the custodian of the domesticated cat shall furnish within a reasonable period of time, upon the request of an animal control officer, humane investigator, law-enforcement officer, State Veterinarian's representative, or official of the Department of Health, the certificate of vaccination for such dog or cat. The vaccine used shall be licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for use in that species.

B. Rabies clinics, approved by the appropriate health department and governing body, shall be held at least once per year when the governing body finds that the number of resident veterinarians is otherwise inadequate to meet the need.

(1984, c. 492, § 29-213.67; 1987, c. 488, § 3.1-796.97; 1988, c. 538, § 3.1-796.97:1; 1992, c. 294; 1993, c. 817; 1994, c. 636; 1996, c. 351; 1998, c. 817; 2006, c. 836; 2008, c. 860.)

[Ashley V]

Originally Posted by Kris Christine

Ashley V,

Virginia state law does not require annual rabies boosters. I just got off the phone from speaking with Virginia's State Public Health Veterinarian, and the law only requires that dogs and cats be "currently vaccinated" and if they have been vaccinated with a 3 year rabies vaccine licensed by the USDA, they are "current" for 3 years and do not have to be booster any more often than once every 3 years.

Dr. Murphy's phone number is below and she said she would be happy to speak with any Virginia pet owner or veterinarian who would like clarification on this matter.

Kris

Julia Murphy, DVM, MS, DACVPM - State Public Health Veterinarian Phone: (804) 864-8141

VIRGINIA CODE Title 3.2 Section 3.2-6521 LIS > Code of Virginia > 3.2-6521

§ 3.2-6521. (Effective October 1, 2008) Rabies inoculation of dogs and domesticated cats; availability of certificate; rabies clinics.

A. The owner or custodian of all dogs and domesticated cats four months of age and older shall have them currently vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician who is under the immediate and direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian on the premises. The supervising veterinarian on the premises shall provide the owner of the dog or the custodian of the domesticated cat with a certificate of vaccination. The owner of the dog or the custodian of the domesticated cat shall furnish within a reasonable period of time, upon the request of an animal control officer, humane investigator, law-enforcement officer, State Veterinarian's representative, or official of the Department of Health, the certificate of vaccination for such dog or cat. The vaccine used shall be licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for use in that species.

B. Rabies clinics, approved by the appropriate health department and governing body, shall be held at least once per year when the governing body finds that the number of resident veterinarians is otherwise inadequate to meet the need.

(1984, c. 492, § 29-213.67; 1987, c. 488, § 3.1-796.97; 1988, c. 538, § 3.1-796.97:1; 1992, c. 294; 1993, c. 817; 1994, c. 636; 1996, c. 351; 1998, c. 817; 2006, c. 836; 2008, c. 860.)

That's not what I was told by our county... maybe ours is a county law because we are required to do it annually, but I don't for one thing because Chip has severe reactions to vaccines.

[Kris Christine]

Montgomery Advertiser March 10, 2009 Bill May Save Pet Owners Cash by Markeshia Ricks Bill may save pet owners cash | montgomeryadvertiser.com | Montgomery Advertiser

"State Sen. Larry Dixon, R-Montgomery, is sponsoring a bill that would change a law that requires dogs and cats to be vaccinated against rabies each year. Instead, most pet owners will only have to round up their animals and pay for the shots once every three years.

Dr. Charles Frantz, executive director of the Alabama Veterinarian Medical Association, said vaccines for dogs and cats that immunize an animal against rabies for three years have been around for at least 20 years."

[Kris Christine]

Do Pets Need Annual Rabies Vaccination? Alabama is Last State Left to Require Them 3/26/09 by Kent Faulk Birmingham News
Do pets need annual rabies vaccination? Alabama is last state left to require them - al.com

A proposed change in Alabama law would allow dogs and cats to be vaccinated every three years, rather than once a year. .....

The AVMA and the Alabama Department of Public Health are among the groups pushing the bill.

[lgoodall]

I would like more info on the Rabies law in Tennessee. We have two homes. We spend most of our time at our home in Alabama. We have a condo in Knoxville (Faragut) to be more specific. We're there about one week out of every month. I do not want Tucker vacinated more often than every 3 yrs. I the Tn law is every three yrs, I could say we live in Tn.
Tucker's Mom

[Kris Christine]

Originally Posted by lgoodall

I would like more info on the Rabies law in Tennessee. We have two homes. Tucker's Mom

Tucker's Mom,

Tennessee has a 3 year rabies protocol. See below.

Title 68 Chapter 8 tennessee.gov/sos/acts/103/pub/pc0765.pdf

Tennessee’s state anti-rabies law, Title 68 Chapter 8 Section 103 (i) declares that “Nothing in this section shall be construed to require more frequent rabies vaccinations or a greater number of rabies vaccinations than are required by the rabies compendium,” and defines the “compendium” under Section 102 (3) as “the most recent issue of the national ‘Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control’ published by the Association of State Public Health Veterinarians..”

The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarian’s (NASPHV) Compendium of Rabies Prevention and Control
Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2008* </P><P>National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV)
promulgated in Tennessee’s anti-rabies law declares that “All vaccines must be administered in accordance with the specifications of the product label or package insert. …. Vaccines used in state and local rabies control programs should have at least a 3-year duration of immunity. ….. No laboratory or epidemiologic data exist to support the annual or biennial administration of 3- or 4-year vaccines following the initial series.”

[Kris Christine]

Rabies Vaccination Bill Passes in Alabama Senate Committee by Kent Faulk Birmingham News 3/27/09 Rabies vaccination bill passes in Alabama Senate committee - al.com

A bill that would allow dogs and cats to be vaccinated every three years, instead of once a year, got the unanimous approval of the Alabama Senate's Health Committee on Thursday.

"If they just keep contacting their legislators, it would be very helpful," he said. [Senator Larry Dixon, the bill sponsor]

This bill still needs to pass the full Senate and House, so concerned pet owners should contact their legislators and ask them to pass SB 469.
Alabama Legislature: You can find contact information for your Senator and Representative at the following link: Welcome to the Alabama State Legislature

[Kris Christine]

AL Rabies Law SB 469 --Contact Rules Committee Now

Urgent -- there are only 7 session days left for the Legislature and SB 469 schedule for a 3rd reading in the House of Representatives after receiving an "ought to pass" vote from the Alabama Agriculture & Forestry Committee. To make sure SB 469 gets put on the "consent calendar," please contact the House Rules Committee members below and ask all the pet owners you know to do the same. The e-mail addresses for the committee members are below.

A 3 year protocol is almost there -- one more reading and vote, this is the final push.


Alabama House Rules Committee
RULES

Ken Guin, Chair; James Buskey, Vice Chair; Ron Johnson, Ranking Minority Member; Barbara Boyd, Craig Ford, Blaine Galliher, Todd Greeson, Randy Hinshaw, Richard Laird, Jack Page, Arthur Payne, John Robinson, Rod Scott, Pebblin Warren, Cam Ward


repkenguin@aol.com; james.buskey@alhouse.org; ron.johnson@alhouse.org; barbara.boyd@alhouse.org; craig.ford@alhouse.org; blaine.galliher@alhouse.org; todd.greeson@alhouse.org; randy.hinshaw@alhouse.org; richard.laird@alhouse.org; arthur.payne@alhouse.org; john.robinson@alhouse.org; pwarren@alhouse.gov; camjulward@aol.com; scotthrod@yahoo.com; reppage@bellsouth.net; rjlsr@teleclipse.net;

[lilroxy]

Kris,

Thank you so much for keeping us updated on this. I have been sending my emails out in hopes that this will pass. You keep the updates coming and I'll keep the emails going...

[Kris Christine]

lilroxy,

I spoke with the secretary in the House Rules Committee (242-7673) office yesterday and she said that the bill was in a "good position" to be heard this session. Rhode Island's Rabies Control Board just voted to pass a 3 year protocol on Wednesday which included a medical exemption clause. Alabama is the last state to go.

Kris

[lgoodall]

I hope it will become a law soon. I will not have allow Tucker to have the Rabies shot every year. His first one made him sick. If neccessary, I will transfer his records to a vet in Tennessee. We have a condo there. Therefore I have duel residency. I even vote in Tn. However, our main home is in Alabama.

[Kris Christine]

We should know this week or next.

[Kris Christine]

Alabama Legislature OKs 3-Year Rabies Vaccinations Birmingham News 5/15/09 Alabama Legislature OKs 3-year rabies vaccinations - al.com

Dogs and cats around Alabama could be howling a sigh of relief soon.

The Alabama House of Representatives gave final approval Thursday to a proposed law that allows dog and cat rabies vaccinations once every three years. The bill goes to Gov. Bob Riley for his consideration to sign into law.

The bill passed both houses of the Alabama Legislature without a vote against it. "It's something everybody understands," Dixon said.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Kris Christine

Alabama Legislature OKs 3-Year Rabies Vaccinations Birmingham News 5/15/09 Alabama Legislature OKs 3-year rabies vaccinations - al.com

Dogs and cats around Alabama could be howling a sigh of relief soon.

The Alabama House of Representatives gave final approval Thursday to a proposed law that allows dog and cat rabies vaccinations once every three years. The bill goes to Gov. Bob Riley for his consideration to sign into law.

The bill passed both houses of the Alabama Legislature without a vote against it. "It's something everybody understands," Dixon said.

CONGRATULATIONS, Kris, on all of your hard work. Thanks for protecting our babies from over-vaccination!