[ SHOWGSD-L ] TEXAS: Texas Proposes No Exemptions in Rabies Rules
- From: "Ginger Cleary" <cleary1414@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Showgsd-L@Freelists. Org" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2007 00:21:00 -0400
Ginger Cleary,Rome, GA ww.rihadin.com
The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human
hands, will ever be liable to abuse. ? James Madison
Member GSDCA
Member Sawnee Mtn Kennel Club
GA Director Responsible Dog Owners of the Eastern States.
-----Original Message-----
http://prweb.com/releases/2007/9/prweb553297.htm
Texas Proposes No Exemptions in Rabies Rules
Unless there is strong opposition,Texas Department of Health Services will
make changes in rabies control and prevention laws that have unintended
consequences to animals, pet owners, animal lovers and veterinary
professionals alike.
Austin, TX (PRWEB) September 14, 2007 -- Texas pet owners and animal
lovers nationwide who support rabies medical exemption for sick and senior
pets are urged to respond to proposed changes to laws covered in TAC
169.21 - 169.34 pertaining to the control and prevention of rabies. These
were published for public comment in the Texas Register on August 31, 2007.
The comment period runs until September 30, 2007.
Petition for reasonable reform
In August, Bob Rogers, DVM of Houston, who is nationally recognized for
his efforts to reform outdated rabies laws and Pamela Picard, a Texas
resident and advocate for rabies medical exemption, presented a petition to
the Texas Department of Health Services (TDHS) Council, which is responsible
to review rabies laws every four years. The petition which is still open for
signatures urges a provision to allow veterinary discretion in revaccinating
dogs and cats when they are unhealthy or aged. A legion of animal lovers of
every stripe as well as concerned veterinary professionals endorses rabies
medical exemption.
"Any pet that has had at least two rabies vaccinations in its lifetime is
at very minimal risk of developing rabies, and it is unlikely that this
patient will benefit from another vaccination," wrote Dr. Bob Rogers in a
letter sent ahead of the public meeting to Dr. Tom Sidwa, Texas State Public
Health Veterinarian. "Veterinarians should have discretion in assessing the
risk of the pet being exposed to rabies vs. the risk of an adverse and
potentially fatal reaction.
Despite scientific evidence and strong public support, TDHS proposes no
allowance for domestic animals that are being treated by a licensed
veterinarian for acute or chronic illnesses or have a history of adverse
reactions from the rabies vaccine.
No safety and efficacy standards
Instead, TDHS proposes to gut language that advises veterinary
professionals to follow the safety and efficacy standards on the vaccine
manufacturer's label which state "for use in healthy animals."
Proponents of rabies medical exemption believe that deleting this language
is ill advised.
Administering rabies vaccine when an animal is pregnant, stressed,
undergoing surgery, in an emergency or in treatment for illness can cause
unpredictable reactions and death. Even a slight elevation in an animal's
body temperature can thwart the drug's efficacy.
No medical benefit for animals
Repeat rabies shots have no medical benefit The practice of re-vaccination
at one or three-year intervals is purely based on precedent.
In a landmark report on vaccines published in 2002 by the AVMA Council on
Biologic and Therapeutic Agents (COBTA) stated that there is no scientific
basis for annual revaccination. Re-administering rabies vaccine does not
enhance disease resistance and may expose animals to unnecessary risk.
Unnecessary risk to animal health
Veterinary researchers have associated rabies vaccine with Vaccine
Associated Sarcoma (VAS,) Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) and Immune
Mediated Thrombocytopenia (IMT,) all life-threatening dysfunction. Prognosis
is guarded. Treatment is expensive.
"After two VAS cats and $25,000, I think vaccines suck." says Kris Hanson,
a pet owner who provided testimony to enact rabies medical exemption in
Connecticut. "How's that for this so called 'very rare VAS?' I had four cats
and two had VAS; that's 50 percent in my house alone."
Other chronic health concerns such as allergies, asthma, arthritis, ear
infections, thyroid disease, heart disease, kidney failure and cancer are
also believed to develop after too many vaccinations.
Potential health concerns aside, licensing language in the proposed rabies
rules may cause the needless destruction of well-immunized dogs and cats.
All dogs and cats at risk
As written, any animal that is overdue for rabies re-vaccination by a week
or month (according to the interval of the drug the veterinarian recommends)
would be deemed "unvaccinated" because it has not been revaccinated before
the interval lapses. An "unvaccinated" dog or cat - including a service or
therapy dog - that is involved in a bite incident or suspected of rabies
exposure must be isolated at the owner's expense or it is destroyed.
"When a Texas motorist driving on an expired license is involved in a
traffic mishap, he gets a ticket and pays a fine," Pamela Picard says. "When
a dog or cat is suspected of rabies exposure, even if it's had 10 rabies
shots in its life, it gets hard time or it goes to heaven."
Immunity does not expire
To be perfectly clear: the duration of a license may expire; a dog or
cat's immunity to rabies does not expire in one or three years.
Serological studies done by Dr. Ronald Schultz, Professor and Chair,
Patho-biological Sciences, the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary
Medicine over the course or 30 years show that dogs have antibody titer
counts at levels that confer immunity to rabies seven years after one
vaccination.
No change in compliance
TDHS defends its proposed revisions, stating that this is the best way to
protect animals and the public against rabies. Advocates for rabies medical
exemption question this statement.
In 2002, Texas Department of Health Services Zoonosis Division reported
that only 50 percent of dog owners and 25 percent of cat owners vaccinated
against rabies. When 22 veterinary schools and top veterinary professional
associations endorsed it, the Texas legislature amended rabies rules in 2003
to extend the interval between rabies boosters.
"To the best of our knowledge, four years down the road, there are twice
as many dogs and cats in Texas, canine rabies has been eradicated and
compulsory rabies vaccinations have not improved compliance." says Ms.
Picard. "Rabies laws penalize responsible, law-abiding citizens."
Currently, rabies medical exemption is permitted in California,
Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Maine. It does not exempt the
owner of a dog or cat from buying city or county licenses. Instead, it gives
responsible dog and cat owners a reasonable way to obey the law as well as
protect the health of family pets, show dogs and cats, hunting dogs, shelter
rescues and all domestic animals in their care.
These were among the first of 34 states to amend rabies prevention and
control laws to extend the interval between rabies shots to three years;
Texas was the last.
Comments on the proposal must be submitted in writing to Tom Sidwa, DVM,
Department of State Health Services, Community Preparedness Section,
Zoonosis Control Branch, P. O. Box 149347, Austin, Texas 78714-9347. You do
not have to be a Texas resident to comment.
###
Post Comment:
Trackback URL:
http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/U2luZy1IYWxmLVNpbmctTWFnbi1UaGlyLVplcm8=
__._,_.___
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.16/1004 - Release Date: 9/12/2007
5:22 PM
============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind
are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the
Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org
============================================================================
Other related posts:
- » [ SHOWGSD-L ] TEXAS: Texas Proposes No Exemptions in Rabies Rules
