Vets Urged to Deny Vaccinations
posted 5:16 pm Tue July 10, 2007 - RICHMOND, Va.
A law that took effect July 1 requires veterinarians to send a copy of each new rabies vaccination certificate to the local treasurer's office, which can then bill the dog owner for a license. The measure is intended to improve compliance with a dog-licensing law that has been on the books for more than three decades.
The Virginia Veterinary Medical Association has suggested that its members refuse to vaccinate dogs whose owners insist that they violate the new requirement.
"Veterinarians are not only being asked to serve as dog tag police and to violate their client's privacy, now their professional organization advises them to ignore common sense, jeopardize public health and violate veterinary medical ethics," Bob Kane of the hunting dog owners' organization wrote in an e-mail to the group's approximately 2,700 members, state legislators and reporters.
Dr. Lauren Keating of Natural Bridge Station, president of the VVMA, said Tuesday that the new statute is just a compliance mechanism and does not raise any privacy issues. She said the advice to refuse vaccinations when dog owners object is necessary to protect the veterinarian.
"If we don't send a duplicate certificate in, we're breaking the law," she said.
Kane predicted in a telephone interview that some veterinarians will ignore the law, absorbing the $10 civil penalty for violations as "a cost of doing business." He said dog owners don't want their information easily accessible to activists who might use it to push for limits on dog ownership or mandatory sterilization.
He also complained that insurers could get the data and cancel the homeowner policies of clients who own pit bull terriers or other so-called "bully breeds."
Kane, who vigorously opposed the legislation when it was passed in 2006, suggested in his e-mail that refusing to give rabies shots could exacerbate a "public health crisis." According to the Virginia Department of Health, the state has had 377 confirmed cases of rabies this year, up from 325 cases at this time a year ago.
Rabies is a potentially lethal disease that attacks the nervous system. It is spread mainly by saliva from infected animals that enters the body through bites or through the mouth or eyes.
Keating said she doubts many dog owners will oppose sending the rabies vaccination information to the treasurer. To the contrary, she said most will be pleased because they can just wait for the treasurer to mail them the bill of $5 to $10 for a dog license and avoid making a trip to the courthouse.
Del. Bobby Orrock, R-Caroline and sponsor of the legislation, said inconvenience - not cost or privacy protection - is the main reason about 80 percent of dog owners have not obtained the required license.
Dr. Julia Murphy, public health veterinarian with the state Health Department, said her conversations with practicing vets have convinced her few dog owners will buck the new law. Veterinarians will log the number that do, however, so the issue can be revisited if necessary.
Orrock introduced the measure after a Spotsylvania County resident was mauled to death by a neighbor's pit bull terriers in March 2005. The three dogs weren't licensed, which initially made it difficult for authorities to tie them to Deanna Large, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Keating and Orrock agree that the legislation is not a burden for veterinarians. Keating said it's easy just to make duplicate certificates, put them in an envelope and mail them at the end of the month.
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