Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  3. IOWA Rabies Waiver Bill ACTION ALERT

IOWA Rabies Waiver Bill ACTION ALERT

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • Kris_ChristineK

    IOWA Rabies Waiver Bill HF2124 ACTION ALERT: Iowa Rep. Marti Anderson has filed a rabies medical exemption bill, HF 2124, and it has been assigned to the Agriculture Committee.. Please contact Agriculture Chair, Pat Grassley pat.grassley@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221 & Agriculture committee members (below) & ask them to support HF2124. Rabies Challenge Fund letter in support below. Bill Text: http://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/Legislation/85thGA/Bills/HouseFiles/Introduced/HF2124.html

    House Agriculture Committee: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/committees/committee?ga=85&groupID=694

    Pat Grassley Chair pat.grassley@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Jarad J. Klein Vice Chair jarad.klein@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Helen Miller ( Ranking Member helen.miller@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Dwayne Alons dwayne.alons@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Clel Baudler clel.baudler@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Bruce Bearinger bruce.bearinger@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Peter Cownie peter.cownie@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Dave Deyoe dave.deyoe@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Jack Drake jack.drake@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Nancy Dunkel nancy.dunkel@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Curtis Hanson curt.hanson@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Lee Hein lee.hein@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Bobby Kaufmann bobby.kaufmann@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Jerry A. Kearns jerry.kearns@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Daniel Kelley dan.kelley@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Dave Maxwell dave.maxwell@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Brian Moore brian.moore@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Daniel Muhlbauer dan.muhlbauer@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Steven N. Olson steven.olson@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Scott Ourth scott.ourth@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Todd Prichard todd.prichard@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Patti Ruff patti.ruff@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
    Tom Shaw tom.shaw@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221

    January 4, 2014

    Representative Marti Anderson

    House of Representatives HD36

    RE: Rabies Medical Exemption for Iowa

    Greetings Representative Anderson:

    Iowa Code Title 9, Subtitle 1 Chapter 351 Section 351.33 requiring rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats does not contain a provision to exempt unhealthy animals whose veterinarians have determined their medical conditions should preclude vaccination.

    The 18 states of Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin all have medical exemption clauses in their rabies laws, with Pennsylvania?s Governor Corbett having just signed one into law on July 9, 2013.

    Labels on rabies vaccines declare that they are for ?the vaccination of healthy cats, [and] dogs,? because vaccinating an unhealthy animal may not produce the desired immunologic response. As Pfizer?s rabies vaccine labels warn: " 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?." Passage of a medical exemption clause would allow Iowa?s veterinarians to write waivers for animals whose lives would be jeopardized by or whose medical conditions would be exacerbated by vaccination, including those with past anaphylactic reactions to the rabies vaccine or those suffering from cancer, kidney/liver failure, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, lymphoma, grand mal seizures, and chronic autoimmune disorders.

    The American Animal Hospital Association advises veterinarians "…to avoid administration of any vaccine to patients with a history of systemic disease suspected to be associated with previous vaccination (e.g., immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia) or known to be caused by vaccine (vaccination-site cutaneous ischemic vasculitis after administration of rabies vaccine).? (1) They further recommend that ?[d]ogs receiving immunosuppressive chemotherapy should not be vaccinated.? (2)

    The State of Maine inserted the following medical exemption into their rabies protocol, Title 7 M.R.S.A., Sec. 3922(3), in April 2005:

    ?5 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 waivers in Iowa Code Title 9, Subtitle 1 Chapter 351 Section 351.33, Iowa?s rabies immunization requirement poses an ethical dilemma for veterinarians with seriously ill patients – they must either violate their Veterinarian?s Oath and administer a rabies vaccine conflicting with sound medical practice and contrary to manufacturer?s labeled instructions, or recommend that clients break the law by not immunizing their unhealthy pets. Additionally, veterinarians face potential liability for any adverse reactions suffered after administering a vaccine inconsistent with labeled directions when immunizing sick animals against rabies. Owners may choose not to comply with the law rather than risk their pets? lives and subsequently fail to license them to avoid detection.

    On behalf of The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust, veterinarian Franchesca Zenitsky, and other Iowa pet owners who have contacted us for assistance, we urge you to introduce legislation to insert a medical exemption clause into Chapter 351 Section 351.33 of the Iowa Code. Please contact me if you would like any scientific data on the rabies vaccine or have any questions.

    Sincerely,

    Kris L. Christine

    Founder, Co-Trustee

    THE RABIES CHALLENGE FUND

    (1) American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Task Force. 2011 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature, Revised p. 21

    (2) American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Task Force. 2011 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature, Revised p. 29

    Kris L. Christine

    Founder, Co-Trustee

    THE RABIES CHALLENGE FUND

    www.RabiesChallengeFund.org

    0

Suggested Topics

  • Kris_ChristineK

    MISSOURI PASSES Rabies Waiver Bill

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    1k Views
    Kris_ChristineK
    CORRECTION MISSOURI: The medical exemption clause in SB 566 was removed from the version of the bill which passed on 5/17/12. The "Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed" version of SB 566 which did pass http://www.senate.mo.gov/12info/pdf-bill/tat/SB566.pdf was not posted on the Legislature's website until a week after passage, leading to the incorrect conclusion that the "Perfected" bill text appearing on the Legislature's bill status including waivers http://www.senate.mo.gov/12info/pdf-bill/perf/SB566.pdf had passed. This version of the bill including rabies waivers did not, in fact, pass. According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture's Legislative Liason, 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.
  • P

    Should I be worried about rabies?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    P
    This sucks! I can't find any evidence of bat poop on my balcony anywhere. There's also really no where for them to hide. The bat was found where it could have possibly come off my balcony where the pup was. She was on the third floor balcony, and the bat was all the way downstairs, probably about three feet from the beginning of my actual balcony. When you come downstairs, there's a little step leading down to the sidewalk. The bat was perched on this part of the sidewalk, hanging upside down. I could have sworn it was slightly twitching when I first saw it, but it could have been the wind. I sat outside to warn my neighbor, because they also have kids and would have to step right where the bat was. When he came home and I warned him, he smacked the bat down with a piece of wood he just do happened to be carying. I asked him of it was alive and he said it was dead. I told him I had called someone to come get it, but I guess he took things into his own hands. I called the vet but of course they were closed. So I left a message explaining what happened and asked what he thinks I should do. They have an emergency clinic but since I don't even know if her and the bar had actual contact I'm not considering it an emergency, unless she shows some dramatic behavior change between now and Monday. Everything I've been able to find online seems to say that a 10 day confinement to check for symptoms is fine.
  • Kris_ChristineK

    MINNESOTA Rabies Vax Survey

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    Kris_ChristineK
    MINNESOTA Board of Veterinary Medicine issues Rabies Vaccination Guidance Document 3/1/12 http://www.vetmed.state.mn.us/portals/22/RabiesVaccinationGuidanceDocument.pdf **"rabies vaccination certificate should always comply with Minnesota Rule 1705.1146, including displaying the date of vaccination and the rabies vaccine labeled duration of immunity, even if the veterinarian recommends more frequent rabies vaccination" A major victory for Minnesota pet owners thanks to Jane Anderson & Chris Addington, who, with assistance from The Rabies Challenge Fund, have prompted the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine to publish a rabies vaccination guidance document in order to get veterinarians to follow the recommendations of the CDC's Rabies Compendium, to issue rabies certificates accurately reflecting the duration of immunity on the vaccine label, to obtain documented informed consent if administering rabies vaccines off-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. The Rabies Vaccination Survey Report can be viewed here: http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/images/stories/pdfs/rabies_vaccination_committee_survey_results.pdf**
  • MayaM

    Rabies Vaccination Reaction

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    3k Views
    KipawaK
    Kipawa had this happen with one of his shots. It took about 2 months to go away, and started to really reduce in size with massage. The area is perfectly fine now - you'd never know anything odd had been there.
  • nobarkusN

    Fda alert!!

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    2k Views
    AJs HumanA
    I picked up at a pig-ear factory in Denver one time. It's no wonder to me why there is trouble with these dog treats. There is little regulation over dog treats, so refrigeration isn't as strict. That place reeked of rotten meat! AJ can't eat pork or rawhide. He gets sick from them every time. Also, the hooves that are used for treats sometimes lay in the field for a few days attached to a dead cow before they are processed. It's nasty!
  • AlexA

    Rabies Shots

    Pinned Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    51
    0 Votes
    51 Posts
    34k Views
    Kris_ChristineK
    @eeeefarm: I believe Benin is in West Africa. Rabies is endemic in Africa. Yes, I thought you must live outside the U.S. We at The Rabies Challenge Fund believe that all healthy dogs and cats should be vaccinated against rabies.