Aimee's Rabies Exemption Law

Ooops: MO Rabies Exemption Waiver Not Passed

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Sat, 26 May 2012 00:25:00 +0000

Missouri residents who want to avoid the increasing the risk of adverse reactions in companion animals inoculated with rabies vaccine will have to take it up at the local level.

According to Kris Christine, The Rabies Challenge Fund:

According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture's Legislative Liaison, Rachel Mobley, the final version of SB 566 stripped the language which required all dogs and cats to be vaccinated against rabies. Because there is no statutory requirement for rabies vaccination in the final bill or in state law, there was no need for a medical exemption clause in SB 566. Rabies vaccination requirements are determined at the county level.

Well darn!

VAS Makes News?

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:49:00 +0000

A rare news story about a cat in Colorado Springs suffering from VAS - vaccine-associated sarcoma isn't news to me. It's been killing cats and other companion animals for a very long time.

Pet Owners Say Cat's Cancer Caused By Vaccine
Owners Say Vet Never Warned Them Of Risks

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A family pet is dying of cancer, and the owners say their veterinarians told them the tumor was likely caused by a vaccination. "The bump started growing towards the beginning of the year," said Alyssa Gorden, one of the cat's owners.Her cat, Hozart, has a large open tumor just above his tail, the same spot where the cat was vaccinated in Montana years ago."It was just a routine visit, 'Oh your cat needs a vaccination,'" said Anthony Gorden, Alyssa's dad. "I was never told of any risks or anything like that."Anthony said the cat was vaccinated for rabies, distemper and feline leukemia. Since Hozart developed the tumor, the family has learned that the leukemia vaccine isn't necessary for in-door cats like Hozart, and that it carries one of the highest risks of any animal vaccine for causing cancerous tumors.

Veterinarians have known about the risk of injection-site cancer since 1991 - 10 in every 10,000 injections are believed to result in a malignant - inoperable - tumor.

Since then, veterinary medicine has also ascertained why these nasty, deadly tumors grow at the injection site - adjuvants.

This substance holds the virus in the area of the vaccination for a couple of weeks so it can be released slowly, allowing immune stimulation to take place over a longer time period. Indeed, some fibrosarcomas have been found to have vaccine adjuvant embedded within them. Adjuvanted vaccines have been shown to be five times more likely to cause VAS by inducing mutations in the genes that prevent cancer. are believed to be the cause of the cellular disturbance.

And while this article suggests that the feline leukemia vaccine is the causative agent, any adjuvanted vaccine is suspect, including rabies vaccine.

One has to ask why the pharmaceutical manufacturers don't respond? If we have to inoculate our animals for public safety, give us better drugs.

Read more about Vaccine-Associated Sarcoma and how to reduce the risks of VAS in your companion animals.

MO Approves Rabies Medical Exemption

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Fri, 18 May 2012 02:10:00 +0000

Today, May 17, Missouri became the 16th state to grant rabies medical exemption to dogs and cats under the care of a licensed veterinarian.

5/17/2012 - Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed

How sweet it is!

H/T: Kris Christine

OT: Diamond Pet Foods - Only Pet Food

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:34:00 +0000

The FDA has released a report on the conditions within the Diamond Pet Foods factory that produces 14 popular brands of kibble for dogs and cats, including some of the most expensive on the market.

Unsanitary conditions. Unhygienic practices. Dirty equipment. The report goes on and on. But in a word? Fail!

Every item observed in the FDA report smacks of callous disregard. Why care? It's only pet food.

Given what goes on in farms and meat processing facilities for human food, I can't say I'm surprised. Our food system as a whole fails in terms of quality, nutritional value, safety and authentic connection with the general public.

The only way to change it is to be willing to change ourselves. The FDA won't do it. They are a government entity charged with food safety but without the resources - money and manpower - to enforce it.

Only the consumer-public has the power to change this.

Our dogs and cats are members of the family, not inferior creatures. The pet food industry knows this and has played to this in advertising that promises the best and manufacturing that deliberately under-delivers.

Stop buying the messages. Stop buying the products that let us down. It is inconvenient to change our buying habits. It is time-consuming to learn new ways of feeding our pets (and ourselves.) And it's uncomfortable to assume the full weight of responsibility for their health (and ours.)

But it is increasingly evident that we have misplaced our trust. Not all doctors have our best interest at heart. Not all medicine protects life. A product made of unhealthy ingredients in unsanitary conditions cannot make up a healthy diet.

We need to look in the mirror. Then we need to use our brains.

Our pets are worthy of better food products and better medicine. And so are we. We have more choices. There are better ways.

Changing minds, changing habits, choosing health and sticking with a new program is hard work. It's so worth it.

Once past the discomfort and uncertainty of "learning curve," we can have total confidence that our beloved companion animals will not be affected the next time a pet food manufacturer gets called out for callous disregard.

And if we cannot put these manufacturers completely out of business, we can at least put them on notice that they better step up their game.

Neither our pets nor we are willing to be victims any more.

OT: BIG Pet Food Recall. Beware.

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:54:00 +0000

If you feed your dogs or cats products from any of these brands, please read this recap from Honest Dog of the Diamond Pet Food Recall that began last Friday. It could mean life or death for your companion animals. You could be sickened as well; the nasty salmonella poisoning has also affected humans who have handled it.

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
Kirkland (C0stco brand)
Country Value
Diamond
Diamond Naturals
Premium Edge
Professional
4Health
Taste of the Wild
Natural Balance
Wellness
Canidae
Apex

Never heard of Diamond Pet Foods? Read the list again. Some of these are considered the "best." They are all manufactured by the same company, same process, same "quality" standards.

Start feeding your pets biologically appropriate food. Kibble kills on more ways than this.

H/T: Thank you Christie Keith

MO Action Alert: Tell Lege to Vote Yes on SB 566

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:36:00 +0000

The Rabies Challenge Fund has issued an action alert for Missouri pet owners in favor of rabies medical exemption.

MISSOURI MEDICAL EXEMPTION SB 566 ACTION ALERT: A medical exemption clause was included in SB 566 after The Rabies Challenge Fund petitioned the bill's sponsors. Bill SB 566 was read for the 2nd time in the Missouri House on 4/10/12

CS/SB 566 - The act requires dog and cat owners to vaccinate these animals against rabies. The vaccinations must be administered by a veterinarian and must be kept current in accordance with a veterinarian's determination or local law. The act allows for an exemption from the vaccination requirement for animals with medical conditions that restrict them from receiving the vaccination.

What You Can Do:

Please contact your legislators (http://www.senate.mo.gov/llookup/leg_lookup.aspx )& ask them to pass the bill.

Text of SB 566 http://www.senate.mo.gov/12info/pdf-bill/perf/SB566.pdf including exemption:

(5) "Statement of exemption from vaccination," a written determination, signed by a veterinarian, that a medical reason exists that precludes the vaccination for the dog or cat. The statement shall include the owner's name and address, a description of the animal, the medical reason that precludes vaccination, the date of determination, and the period of time for which the medical condition is reasonably expected to persist."

PERMISSION GRANTED TO CROSS-POST

What's in Your Pet's Kibble? Not What You Think.

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:41:00 +0000

According to pet food advertising, kibble contains all good things - whole chickens, juicy pieces of steak, fresh vegetables, even fruit. In real life, nothing is further from the truth.

Thanks to Mercola Healthy Pets, we have a better picture of what's really in pet food. And it will turn your stomach.

It can come from anywhere, including "4-D animals" – dead, diseased, disabled or dying prior to slaughter. It might be chicken, or it might be turkey, geese, buzzard, seagull, unidentifiable roadkill with wings, or a pet bird euthanized at an animal shelter.

It gets worse.

Apparently spurred on by the mad cow disease scare, in 2004 a report was made to Congress titled Animal Rendering: Economics and Policy.ⁱ

This report is useful in understanding the rendering industry because it simply states the facts, without editorializing. I think you'll agree the facts are plenty disturbing (and nauseating, for those with weak stomachs) on their own.

These are a few excerpts from the report (bold by me), with points I want to make following each excerpt:

Renderers annually convert 47 billion pounds or more of raw animal materials into approximately 18 billion pounds of products. Sources for these materials include meat slaughtering and processing plants (the primary one); dead animals from farms, ranches, feedlots, marketing barns, animal shelters, and other facilities; and fats, grease, and other food waste from restaurants and stores.

But please don't look away. Next to over-vaccination, bad food is one of the biggest detriments to your family pet's health.

Coat, skin, ear issues. Obesity. Diabetes. Kidney disease. These are just a few of the chronic conditions that can emerge from the combination of bad diet and over-vaccination.

AVMA Approves Resolution to Grant Rabies Vaccination Waiver

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 23:51:00 +0000

According to Kris Christine, The Rabies Challenge Fund, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has approved the Policy on Annual Rabies Vaccination Waiver as proposed in committee in January 2012.

Fair warning: this is not a "get out of jail free" card. Pet owners are more responsible than ever for the protection for companion animals suffering age or illness that make it dangerous to administer rabies vaccination. When it is granted - and this is not automatic - rabies shots are waived on firm conditions:

The waiver must be written by a licensed veterinarian who has a patient-doctor relationship with the pet;
It must be granted on the basis of a specific condition or previous reaction;
It must be accepted by your local animal control board;
It must be renewed annually;
All reasonable precautions should be taken to prevent the animal from exposure to rabies. If a dog or cat that has been granted a waiver from rabies vaccine is reported to animal control for suspected exposure to rabies, it will be treated as an unvaccinated animal. This could mean an extended quarantine.

Science Studies Raw v Kibble FINALLY

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 01:07:00 +0000

The lack of science-based evidence is one of the objections to feeding dogs and cats a diet of raw meaty bones. To respond, researchers have undertaken a study to weigh the differences in raw, cooked and kibble fed to cats. We hope it portends a long look at pet food. Our fur babies deserve the best.

So, with that in mind, the objectives of this study were to determine differences in the digestibility, fecal characteristics, urine characteristics, and serum chemistry of 9 domestic cats fed 3 different diet treatments. The dietary treatments were the raw beef-based diet that we feed to our cats at the zoo (Raw); the same diet but cooked (cooked) and a high quality grain-free kibble cat food (kibble).

H/T: Judy Frison-Schor

INDIANA Petitions for Rabies Medical Exemption

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:39:00 +0000

Pet owners in Indiana have launched an online petition urging the state to grant rabies medical exemption for dogs and cats judged by a licensed veterinarian to be too stressed, ill or aged to withstand rabies vaccination.

This petition by responsible pet owners requests the Indiana State Board of Animal Health to include a medical exemption clause in the Rabies Immunization Rule 5 Section 345 IAC 1-5-1 for unhealthy animals whose medical conditions have been deemed by a veterinarian to preclude immunization against rabies. A medical exemption clause would allow Indiana’s veterinarians to write waivers for animals -- such as those who have had anaphylactic reactions to vaccination, or suffer from cancer, kidney/liver failure, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, grand mal seizures, and chronic autoimmune disorders -- whose medical conditions would be exacerbated by rabies vaccination. Fifteen states currently have medical exemptions: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

If you are an Indiana resident or know a dog or cat owner in Indiana, please sign this important petition and share the link.

Texas Study Shows Gains in Vaccination Rates After 3-Year Interval

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:36:00 +0000

News flash: when it comes to vaccinating companion animals against rabies, less is more.

A new study undertaken by Austin Community College subsequent to the State of Texas adopting a 3 year rabies revaccination protocol in 2003 indicates that the fears of its opponents were unfounded. There have been no negative consequences of extending the interval between rabies shots. Indeed, the rate of vaccination among dogs and cats has improved overall.

When states or territories weigh the public health safety concerns of adopting similar requirement changes, the results of this Texas study should be considered. The hypothesized decrease in rabies vaccination rates after the introduction of a triennial vaccine interval in Texas were not realized. In fact, vaccination rates appear to have improved across the board after the code change. Even among age groups in which the annual vaccination requirement was preserved, vaccination rates increased.

This is good news to the veterinarians who stridently opposed the rabies protocol to 3 years. Their fears that pet owners would "forget" to revaccinate and that lapsed rabies licenses would cause rabies outbreaks and so much more that never came to pass.

It's also good news for rabies law reform activists who are pushing local communities to get on board with State guidelines. Now there is empirical evidence to support the move to relax rabies control and prevention policies at the city and county level without endangering public health.

Since the 1950's, the goal of public health officials has been to vaccinate dogs against rabies to create a buffer between wildlife and humans. It has been a highly successful public safety program.

According to the Center for Disease Control in 2007, canine rabies has been eradicated from the United State.

Concomitantly, vaccine-related reactions among dogs and cats have increased. This is the unintended consequence of vaccinating the same animals annually rather than expanding the universe of animals vaccinated.

The ACC study supports the view that rabies laws can only go so far before they become counter-productive.

Due to the cost and potential for vaccine damage inherent in annual rabies vaccination, many pet owners stop vaccinating companion animals altogether. Given the opportunity to vaccinate less frequently, it appears that more pet owners are willing to comply with rabies laws.

Some time ago, National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) made the same observation in its rabies control and prevention "bible."

The Center for Disease Control’s National Association of State Public Health Veterinarian's (NASPHV) Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control 2008 states that, “Vaccines used in state and local rabies control programs should have at least a 3-year duration of immunity. This constitutes the most effective method of increasing the proportion of immunized dogs and cats in any population (50).” They specifically warn that, “[n]o laboratory or epidemiologic data exist to support the annual or biennial administration of 3- or 4-year vaccines following the initial series.” Also endorsing the NASPHV’s Rabies Compendium are the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)[1] and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).

OT: How Old Is Your Pet?

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:20:00 +0000

Forget that old saw, every dog year is 7 times human years. I mean. Really. Veterinarians are giving it a second look. A chart calculates it for both dogs and cats.

Many veterinarians agree that a pretty good guess on the age of pets can be made using the following formula. Although still simple, it is much more accurate than the seven-year method.

Assume that a 1-year-old dog is equal to a 12-year-old human and a 2-year-old dog is equal to a 24-year old human. Then add four years for every year after that. (Example: A 4-year-old dog would be 32 in human years.)

PS Please ignore all the ads for Purina Dog Food. Raw food is the best choice for your furry babies.

New Rules for MN Veterinarians Who Give Rabies Shots

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:20:00 +0000

Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine has revised its practice guidance rules to curb off-label use of rabies vaccine and get the consent of pet owners before administering it contrary to the manufacturer's label directions.

Minnesota veterinarians are advised to vaccinate dogs and cats according to the recommendations of the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) Rabies Compendium, to issue rabies certificates that accurately state the duration of immunity on the vaccine label, to obtain and document the owner's consent if administering rabies vaccines counter to the manufacturer's label and to have "credible, scientifically-based information....in the possession of the veterinarian and available for review" if the veterinarian chooses to adopt a booster protocol other than that recommended in the Compendium.

According to Kris Christine, The Rabies Challenge Fund, this is a major victory for Minnesota pet owners thanks to Jane Anderson and Chris Addington, who prompted the measure with the aid of the Rabies Challenge Fund.

Concerned at the implication that Minnesota veterinarians may be vaccinating more often than medically necessary and not informing owners, the Veterinary Board surveyed its members to learn how the rabies vaccine is currently administered and reported.

Of respondents, 90 percent were giving rabies vaccine with a three-year duration. 40% of these were repeating the vaccine more often without informing owners that the annual or bi-annual booster shot is not medically unnecessary.

Helping owners comply with local rabies prevention and control ordinances, which often require annual rabies shots, was the primary reason for the deviation. The desire to see their pet-clients more often than every three years was secondary. Unsurprisingly, no respondent said that off-label use was motivated by the income derived from yearly office visits and shots.

The Minnesota Veterinary Board, which is responsible for setting and maintaining license and minimum practice standards for all its members subsequently issued a new rule.

In general, state veterinary boards do not have the power to compel their members to follow practice rules. Their rules are more like guidelines. But publicly declaring that there is no medical necessity for annual rabies vaccine is a very strong commitment on their part. This rule puts veterinarian members on notice that they better have scientific fact in hand to back up any decision to use this potent biologic agent counter to the manufacturer's label.

It also gives Minnesota pet owners a strong stand to challenge yearly rabies shots after administration of a three-year vaccine as well as when a vet wants to vaccinate a companion animals who is ill, pregnant or stressed.

According to the label directions written by its manufacturers, rabies vaccine is "for healthy animals only."

Kudos to all who made this happen.

Trend-spotting: Dogs Going Raw

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:40:00 +0000

Finally! New York Times reports that feeding raw food to dogs and cats is a hot topic around dog parks in Manhattan and nationwide.

Geoff Bowers, founder of New Zealand-based K9 Natural, a line of raw dog food, suspects the burgeoning raw-pet-food market reflects the broader interest in healthful eating. “People are looking for more and more natural products,” he said, “and since pets are considered members of the family, they want healthier options for them, too.” Mr. Bowers, a former police-dog trainer, said he converted to raw feeding after studying Alaskan wolf packs, because he became convinced that “nature provides the perfect food” for dogs.

Phil Klein, owner of the East Village holistic pet-supply store Whiskers, started selling raw food in 1988. Known to his fans as the Dogfather, Mr. Klein has published articles on the importance of feeding animals natural cuisine and keeps thick binders of thank-you notes from local pet owners who swear the raw diets he recommended cured their charges of everything from dandruff to diabetes.

“Though pet owners using raw foods are still only maybe 2 or 3 percent of the total, the popularity of these diets is indicated by the fact that the big box stores like PetCo are latching on,” Mr. Klein said. “It’s become hip.”

You probably won't get much support from your veterinarian, but there are numerous online groups and plenty of resources to get you started on feeding family pets a biologically appropriate diet. I highly recommend Works Wonders by Tom Lonsdale, DVM. Download for free.

Additional thought: Try to find current grocery coupons to save money on raw ingredients for pet food.

TX Woman Sues Veterinarian After VAS Cat Dies

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:46:00 +0000

A Texas woman is suing her veterinarian for professional negligence, malpractice and negligent misrepresentation after the death of her companion cat from vaccine-associated sarcoma (VAS), an extremely aggressive cancer that claims the lives of more than one in every 10,000 million cats vaccinated every year. Jena Gonzalez of Corpus Christi is aided by Dr. Bob Rogers, a Texas veterinarian long at the forefront of vaccination reforms. They are seeking contributions to pay attorney's fees in a case that could have far-reaching impact.

According the the lawsuit, the veterinarian administered two unnecessary vaccines to her adult cat, at intervals of two years - an adjuvanted PLPRhCv vaccination and an adjuvanted FeLV vaccine. In addition, the veterinarian failed to advise Ms. Gonzalez that the booster shots were unnecessary and could cause injection-site cancer.

When the cat, named Kitty Kat, subsequently developed vaccine-associated sarcoma, Jena spent $8,000 for surgery and chemotherapy. Kitty Kat died on February 14, 2011.

Jena's lawsuit seeks to recover medical costs plus sentimental value for her beloved companion. It alleges that the adjuvanted vaccine caused the VAS, that the vaccines were unnecessary and that she would not have agreed to their administration if asked for informed consent.

Lawsuits against veterinarians for the death of family pets after administering vaccines are extremely rare. Judgments are rarer still. However, a judgment in this case could have far-reaching effects.

According to Dr. Rogers, a judgment in this case could move malpractice insurance companies to advise veterinarians to stop using adjuvanted vaccine, get informed consent from pet owners before administering vaccines and stop recommending unnecessary vaccines. A judgment can also wake up State Veterinary Boards to the way veterinarians currently violate consumer protection laws.

Dr. Bob Rogers is serving as an expert witness in this case at no charge. In addition to his time, he has contributed $5000 toward the case and is seeking another $5000 in public contributions to underwrite the attorney's fees which are estimated at $10,000. Legal fees cannot be recovered in this kind of lawsuit.

Any money collected over the $5,000 goal will be used to obtain a Writ of Mandamus, i.e. to have a Judge explain to the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners that giving unnecessary vaccines is against the law, negligent misrepresentation. All 50 State Veterinary Medical Examiners Boards will be duly advised.

Donations are tax deductible and can be made to the NPO C.A.R.E.S. ,(Critter Advocacy Responsibility Ethics Science)( www.critteradvocacy.org located at 5703 Louetta Rd. Spring, Texas 77379.

Rabies Law When a Dog Bites

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:57:00 +0000

On February 8, a Denver television news anchor was bitten by a dog while on the air. Kyle went to the hospital. The dog went to jail pending a court hearing and a judge's ruling on his fate.

Dammit, your Honor, it was self defense.

Here's what came down.

Kyle Dyer was interviewing Max, an 85-pound Argentine Mastiff, his owner and a firefighter, who rescued Max from an icy pond the day before, when she was bitten in the face.

The dog's owner was cited with failure to have his dog on a leash, allowing a dog to bite and failure to have a vaccinated dog. Max was quarantined with Denver Animal Control while court officers reviewed his case.

Watching the news segment, Kyle's actions are a classic example of when a kiss can get you bitten. (Turn off the sound to observe the dog's body language.)

Kyle nervously pets the dog under his jowls while talking about his rescue the day before from an icy pond. The energy is hectic, anxious, frantic. The dog is pinned between the legs of the fireman who rescued him the day before. He can't move away, so he turns his head - a signal that he isn't enjoying this. He licks his lips - another sign of anxiety. At the end of the segment, Kyle abruptly leans in to kiss the dog. He bites her in the face, causing an injury that requires 70 stitches.

Denver news stations report today that Max will be released to his owner this weekend, after a 10 day quarantine. This makes him a lucky dog, indeed.

In most states, a dog that is involved in a bite incident - and that is not current on rabies vaccination - is considered unvaccinated. Rabies is not infectious and cannot be spread until the symptoms show, which can take as long as six months. There are no tests to diagnose rabies. Consequently, an animal is isolated and confined for up to six months at the owner's expense.

Many owners cannot fund this cost so a beloved family pet must be destroyed - all because the person who was bitten did not know or ignored the clear warning signs that the animal was threatened.

Be very clear that any dog - from a tiny Chihuahua to giant Mastiff - is liable to bite when in a similar situation. Nipping is a normal part of self defense for dogs; it's how they tell other dogs to "back off." And it happens lightning fast. So as you saw, even a seemingly benign situation can get out of hand like that.

*snap*

Know how to approach a dog to prevent a bite. And be extra careful around children who might unwittingly threaten him with excited affection. Indeed, the people most commonly bitten are excitable little boys, says Kathy Porter, author of Healing Rescue Dogs.

Also be very very clear that any dog, including a dog that has been granted a rabies vaccine waiver, is subject to rabies quarantine if involved in a bite incident. For these dogs, an extended quarantine is a death sentence.

AVMA Proposes Rabies Waiver as Standard of Care

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:13:00 +0000

According to news from The Rabies Challenge Fund, the American Veterinary Medicine Association has recommended a policy to make waiver from rabies vaccine for health reasons its standard of care for the model practice :

The second resolution adopted by HOD [House of Delegates] Jan. 7 amends AVMA’s Policy on Annual Rabies Vaccination Waiver. The AVMA Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine proposed the policy and an accompanying waiver to provide an exemption from rabies vaccination in the rare event an animal experiences a contraindication to the vaccine. The council fully supports rabies vaccinations for all dogs, cats and ferrets per the recommendation from the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, says AVMA.

According to the new policy, "All rabies vaccination waivers should be reconsidered at least yearly and, if appropriate, may be renewed on an annual basis following a reassessment of the animal's condition."

HOD reference Committee No. 7 amended the proposal to state that some animals may require a waiver from rabies vaccination due to health risks or research purposes, and that amended version was adopted by the House of Delegates. The resolution was also recommended for approval by the House Advisory Committee and the Executive Board.

Slowly, glacially, surely, the drift moves in the direction of rabies medical exemption nationwide.

Now if only the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, who write the "Bible" on rabies control and prevention, would get on board. Their guidelines are generally adopted by state public health veterinarians in order to standardize regulations that work. These "trickle down" to local levels.

In past years, NASPHV have gone so far as to say that administering repeat rabies vaccination is not a medical necessity. To my knowledge, they have not yet put their weight behind a rabies medical exemption for sick and senior dogs and cats.

You can find the 2011 Rabies Compendium online.

Reader Comment Makes My Day

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:46:00 +0000

This comment from a reader just made my day.

Darling Aimees Mom, I can not thank you enough for the information I found on your site. Our four year old Daush. had a serious reaction to a triple combination injection of rabies, distemper and bordella. We were frantic knowing our eleven year old, new boy Ollie, was due to have his rabies shot. My adult son and I spent hours on the computer searching for a reasonable alternative. I found mention about an exemption but was frustrated after three vets told me they knew nothing of the exemption and gave me all kinds of stupid reasons why he should have the shot. Oh, I forgot to mention he has no teeth, not even one!! FINALLY I arrived at a list of Holistic vets and found one who gladly said yes to writing the exemption. Using your site we downloaded the wavier and now have Ollies signed form in our hands. She, the Vet. would have made it without an end date but the wavier states it is only good for three years. So the end of the story is don't give up finding what is right and on Colorado Approves Rabies Medical Exemption Effective 3/02/10

I often wonder why I continue to publish Aimee's Rabies Medical Exemption blog. There are other people and organizations who are in the vanguard of the issue. I have seen myself more supporter than as a leader. Often I question my judgment. Is this blog a vanity? I write it as a public service; but is it worth the time and the cost?

Apparently, yes.

Excuse me while I revel in the acknowledgement.

Why Rabies Vaccine is For Healthy Animals Only

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:05:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered why drug manufacturer's admonish veterinarians that rabies vaccine is only for healthy animals? Author, Jan Rasmusen, delivers a really thorough discussion of the potential damage in Dogs Naturally Magazine.

Most knowledgeable vets agree that certain animals should NOT be vaccinated (absent proven, urgent need such as inevitable exposure to a life-threatening disease). These include, but aren’t limited to, pets with autoimmune disease … pets undergoing chemo, radiation or surgery (even dental cleaning or neutering) … pets with autoimmune disease, cancer, severe allergies and skin diseases … pets fighting an illness or parasites … pets stressed from shipment or a move to a new home … malnourished pets … and dying housebound pets. Assaulting the immune systems of these animals with vaccination has been likened to throwing gas on a raging fire.

Vaccination is big business and an old habit. Dogs and cats need an advocate with common sense (and a strong backbone) to stand up for their pets. That means you!

So why shouldn’t you vaccinate a sick, stressed or geriatric pet? For one thing, the pet may develop adverse reactions ranging from fever to seizures to autoimmune disease to anaphylactic shock and even death. Furthermore,shots administered to an unhealthy animal may fail to provide immunity while giving you the false security that your dog is protected. On top of that, the animal’s immune system, which should be fighting illness, may be diverted to handle the shot.

Where We Began

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:46:00 +0000

Last night I paused in the hallway to look at the photo montage of Aimee, the calico cat who inspired me to start this blog and advocate for rabies medical exemption for sick and senior pets.

Aimee must have been tapping me on the shoulder; I realized that it was five years ago today that we said "goody-bye."This blog and my participation in the reform of rabies laws nationwide began as a tribute to her.

I have much to thank her for.

If it had not been for my experience with her, I would never have known about the damage that redundant vaccinations can do to our companion animals. I would never have explored or adopted the proper diet for my dog. If it had not been for Aimee, I would never have connected with so many wonderful dog and cat people around the country and worldwide.

Since Aimee's death, more than 1,800 people have stepped forward to sign the petition to exempt sick dogs and cats from redundant rabies vaccinations. Many others I am privileged to know advance reform with informational blogs like this one, by lobbying city, county and state lawmakers to reform rabies laws, by advancing our knowledge of current vaccine science or contributing to this study through The Rabies Challenge Fund.

We come to this information through heartbreak. We took our animals to a licensed veterinarian. We trusted their advice. We obeyed the law. "Doing the right thing" turned out very wrong for our companion animals. Loss. Grief. Anger. Resolve. If I can do nothing more for my beloved pet, let me spare someone else this anguish.

For a long time, I felt tremendously guilty and ashamed about choosing homeopathy over conventional drug treatment for my cat and hospice over heroic medical intervention for Aimee. Should a. Could a. Would a.

Shadow the VAS cat

Five years later, knowing the stories of animals who lost their lives to the unintended consequences of overvaccination - Shadow, the VAS cat, Neptune, the poodle with IMHA - as well as Peaches, the champion rat terrier who survived, I know it doesn't matter. All the heroics and resources in the world don't always win.

We do the best we can with the information, understanding and resources available at the time. When we know better, we do better. And in my heart, I know that hospice was the right choice for my cat.

So today I remember Aimee with tears and smiles.

She was the first kitten of four I picked up the day Callianna gave birth in the towel cabinet in my bathroom. The many joyful moments raising her and her siblings. The satisfaction of finding homes for all of them, knowing that she would always be mine. The many beautiful days she bathed in the sun while I gardened. Her diligence excavating a poo garden behind the house on Lakeway Drive. How tough she looked when she puffed herself up to drive off an opossum on the patio. How vital and lively she was just days before her disease turned for the worse. The many peaceful nights she snuggled up in the crook of my legs to sleep.

Aimee, my fat cat.

Bitter. Sweet. A good life.

OT: America's Nanny Dog - the Pit Bull

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:22:00 +0000

Yona Ward Grossman publishes a post that is too good not to share. For over 100 years, America knew pit bulls by what they did best - babysitting. Check out all the vintage pictures. They're precious. My part-pittie nanny is pictured here.

MISSOURI: Rabies Challenge Fund Proposes Rabies Medical Exemption

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:36:00 +0000

Senator Dan Brown has introduced a rabies bill, SB 566, into the Missouri legislature for consideration. This bill has been assigned to the Agriculture, Food Production & Outdoor Resources Committee.

While the state legislature considers setting state guidelines for rabies vaccination of all dogs and cats, the Rabies Challenge Fund has submitted a letter urging lawmakers to insert a medical exemption clause into this bill.

It states that rabies vaccine is intended for use in only healthy animals for efficacy reasons. Even a slight elevation in temperature can thwart the efficacy of the vaccine. Furthermore, there is strong evidence that the administration of this vaccine in the very sick or senior family pets can be extremely damaging or even deadly.

The conflict between periodic mandatory rabies vaccination in the interest of public health and the desire of pet owners to protect companion animals sets up conditions for unintended consequences. Pet owners may choose to disobey the law and refuse to license their animals thus raising concerns for public health. When animals in frail health are exempted, no such conflict exists.

This rabies medical exemption clause insures that dogs or cats under the care of a licensed veterinarian for acute or chronic disease are excused from mandatory rabies vaccination until their health is judged sufficiently robust to withstand the challenge of a potent biologic agent.

So far 14 states have included medical exemption clauses for sick animals in their rabies prevention and control ordinances. There has been no increase in the reported cases of rabies in those states.

What You Can Do

Missouri residents are urged to contact the bill sponsor and the Chair of the Agriculture Committee asking them to place a medical exemption clause into the language of the bill and to vote that the bill "ought to pass." Please ask all of the Missouri pet owners you know to do the same.

Senator Dan Brown (573) 751-5713 Dan.Brown@senate.mo.gov Senator Brian Munzlinger, Chair of the Agriculture Committee (573) 751-7985 Brian.Munzlinger@senate.mo.gov

PERMISSION GRANTED TO CROSS-POST

January 14, 20012

Senator Dan Brown
Senator Brian Munzlinger

RE: SB 566 Bill Requiring Dogs and Cats to be Vaccinated Against Rabies

Greetings Senators Brown and Munzlinger:

The Rabies Challenge Fund supports passage of the proposed language in SB 566 which would amend Section A, Chapter 322 RSMo, Subsection 322.035 (5) to require that dogs and cats be immunized against rabies in accordance with the current recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) National Association of State Public Health Veterinarian’s (NASPHV) Rabies Compendium.

Also in accordance with the Rabies Compendium, we strongly urge the Committee to insert a rabies medical exemption clause into the language of this bill.

The Rabies Compendium directs that “All vaccines must be administered in accordance with the specifications of the product label or package insert,” and rabies vaccine labels specify that they are for healthy animals. In addition to limiting its rabies vaccine for use in healthy animals, Pfizer’s Defensor 3 label cautions that: “[a] protective immune response may not be elicited if animals are incubating an infectious disease, are malnourished or parasitized, are stressed due to shipment or environmental conditions, are otherwise immunocompromised.”

The states of Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin all have medical exemption clauses for sick animals in their rabies immunization laws/regulations.

Immunologically, the rabies vaccine is the most potent of the veterinary vaccines and associated with significant adverse reactions such as polyneuropathy “resulting in muscular atrophy, inhibition or interruption of neuronal control of tissue and organ function, incoordination, and weakness,”[1] auto-immune hemolytic anemia,[2] thrombocytopenia, anorexia, regional lymphadenomegaly, cutaneous ischemic vasculopathy;[3] autoimmune diseases affecting the thyroid, joints, blood, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel and central nervous system; anaphylactic shock; aggression; seizures; epilepsy; and fibrosarcomas at injection sites are all linked to the rabies vaccine.[4] [5]

It is medically unsound for this vaccine to be given to any animal deemed unhealthy by a veterinarian.

A medical exemption clause would allow Missouri veterinarians to write waivers for animals whose medical conditions (such as those with cancer, kidney/liver failure, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, grand mal seizures, and chronic autoimmune disorders) would be exacerbated by rabies vaccination.

The State of Maine inserted such an exemption for dogs into their 3 year rabies protocol, 7 M.R.S.A., Sec. 3922(3), which became effective in April 2005, and not one rabid dog has been reported in the nearly 7 years since.

Maine’s exemption language is as follows:

A. A letter of exemption from vaccination may be submitted for licensure, if a medical reason exists that precludes the vaccination of the dog. Qualifying letters must be in the form of a written statement, signed by a licensed veterinarian, that includes a description of the dog, and the medical reason that precludes vaccination. If the medical reason is temporary, the letter shall indicate a time of expiration of the exemption.

B. A dog exempted under the provisions of paragraph 5 A, above, shall be considered unvaccinated, for the purposes of 10-144 C.M.R. Ch.251, Section 7(B)(1), (Rules Governing Rabies Management) in the case of said dog’s exposure to a confirmed or suspect rabid animal. Without a provision for medical exemptions in Section A, Chapter 322 RSMo, Missouri’s rabies immunization requirement would thrust an ethical quandary on veterinarians with seriously ill patients -- they must either violate their Veterinarian’s Oath and administer a rabies vaccine contrary to sound medical practice and against the vaccine manufacturer’s labeled instructions, or recommend their clients break the law by not immunizing their unhealthy pets against rabies.

Being compelled by law to vaccinate sick dogs and cats against rabies in order for their clients to comply with the statute also puts Missouri’s veterinarians at risk of being held liable for any adverse reactions the animals may suffer after administering a vaccine inconsistently with the labeled directions.

Owners of critically ill dogs may choose not to comply with the law rather than jeopardize the lives of their pets and then fail to license their dogs to avoid detection.

On behalf of The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust and Missouri pet owners, we urge you to insert a medical exemption clause in Senate Bill 566 and to vote that the bill ought to pass.

You may contact me at the number below if you would like any scientific data on the rabies vaccine or if you have any questions.

Sincerely, Kris L. Christine
Founder, Co-Trustee THE RABIES CHALLENGE FUND
www.RabiesChallengeFund.org

Dr. W. Jean Dodds
Dr. Ronald Schultz
Missouri Legislature & Agriculture Committee

[1] Dodds, W. Jean Vaccination Protocols for Dogs Predisposed to Vaccine Reactions, The Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, May/June 2001, Vol. 37, pp. 211-214 [2] Duval D., Giger U.Vaccine-Associated Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia in the Dog, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 1996; 10:290-295
[3] American Animal Hospital Association, 2011 Canine Vaccination Guidelines, p. 20
[4] American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Executive Board, April 2001, Principles of Vaccination, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Volume 219, No. 5, September 1, 2001.
[5] Vascelleri, M. Fibrosarcomas at Presumed Sites of Injection in Dogs: Characteristics and Comparison with Non-vaccination Site Fibrosarcomas and Feline Post-vaccinal Fibrosarcomas; Journal of Veterinary Medicine, Series A August 2003, vol. 50, no. 6, pp. 286-291.

Missouri Rabies Laws: A Solution Without a Problem?

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:24:00 +0000

It's hard to fathom why a Missouri state senator has introduced new legislation to require rural residents to vaccinate all dogs and cats with rabies vaccine. Currently rural areas are bereft of rabies control and prevention ordinances.

They are also devoid of rabies.

In the last few decades, only a few cases of rabies have been confirmed A rabid bat has caused one human death in 2008.

Although many cities and towns in Missouri have long since adopted ordinances requiring pet vaccinations, there is no such law at the state level, meaning that many rural parts of the state are not covered by any regulation.

Brown’s bill would require that all dogs, cats and other potential rabies transmitting pets be vaccinated regularly against the disease. Failure to meet this requirement would be considered a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a $300 fine or up to 15 days in jail.

Competing forces are arguing for and against this legislation.

On the plus side, vaccination of family pets has long been used to create a buffer between humans and wildlife on the theory that herd immunity prevents the spread of rabies. More, this bill will give a county sheriff's office the authority to detain a pet dog that bites for observation.

Opponents argue that the law would subject any kindly soul who feeds a stray dog or cat for more than three days to fines and jail time if the animal is not vaccinated.

Personally, I find it highly ironic that the lawmaker pushing this bill considers an antiquated policy to be the height of modernity.

“It kind of brings Missouri into the 20th century, even though this is the 21st century,” said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla, as he testified before the Senate agriculture committee on Wednesday. “We’re way behind on what our statute states in regard to rabies.”

Is the Missouri lawmaker proposing a solution without a problem?

Bordetella - A Good Vaccine?

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:27:00 +0000

I am the first person to say "don't throw the baby out with the bath water," when it comes to animal vaccines.

One rabies vaccine shot protects your dog or cat from the virus in case of exposure for a very long time. While the ongoing private study on duration of immunity funded by the Rabies Challenge Fund is incomplete at this time, studies by serology have proved this single administration to last as long as seven years.

Other animal vaccines are simply useless. They do not prevent disease and they may cause unintended consequences. I count Bordatella among these.

Patricia Monahan Jordan, a graduate of the North Carolina College of Veterinary Medicine, concurs and in no uncertain terms.

There are at least forty agents capable of initiating Bordetella so vaccination might appear to be prudent if it weren’t for the fact that only two of these agents are contained in the intranasal vaccine. This poor percentage truly makes the Bordetella vaccine a shot in the dark. The lack of efficacy is well summarized by noted immunologist Dr. Ronald Schultz: “Kennel Cough is not a vaccinatable disease”.

Have a look at why she considers Bordatella a worthless expense and possibly worse in the most recent issue of Dogs Naturally.

Minnesota Pet Owners Misinformed On Rabies Shot Intervals

noreply@blogger.com (Pamela Picard) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:21:00 +0000

Details. Oh those pesky details.

Over the years, many veterinary clinics have used the pretext of annual "booster shots" to see family pets for annual examinations even when re-administration of the vaccine was unnecessary. It's apparently a difficult practice to break.

Kris Christine, The Rabies Challenge Fund reports:

MINNESOTA: 88.8% of veterinarians responding to a rabies survey from the Board of Veterinary Medicine indicated they give a three-year rabies vaccine; yet 53.3% fail to give pet owners a corresponding three-year rabies certificate (36.2% issue a two-year certificate, 17.1% issue "other"). When asked if they inform clients when they put a different expiration date on the rabies certificate than that on the vaccine administered, 40.9% responded that they did not inform the client.

A copy of this 12/14/11 report entitled "Rabies Vaccination Survey Report" may be requested from Dr. John King, Executive Director of the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine (651) 201-2844 John.King@state.mn.us

From news reports as recent as a year ago, we know that Minnesota was one of ten states without a statewide vaccine requirement and planning to write them. Kudos to the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine for doing its homework first.