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Rabies law for strays
I know the laws are different for every state, but I was wondering if anyone
else involved in sheltering/rescue has heard of such a thing. It has come to our attention that in NH, we are supposed to hold a stray cat or dog for 10 days before giving a rabies vaccine and adopting out to the public. I went over and over the law and really could not find anything specific, so I have asked that the shelter speak to someone in authority with the state before we make radical changes. As you can imagine, this will impact the way we do things dramatically. Most of our animals are strays. We are scheduled to have a meeting on the matter. I'm just curious if other states have such a rule. If they did, how would any cat especially ever make it to adoption in highly populated areas? Some large municipal shelters only give a cat a few days before they euthanize, I can't see them holding a cat for 10 days. -- -Kelly |
KellyH wrote: I know the laws are different for every state, but I was wondering if anyone else involved in sheltering/rescue has heard of such a thing. It has come to our attention that in NH, we are supposed to hold a stray cat or dog for 10 days before giving a rabies vaccine and adopting out to the public. I went over and over the law and really could not find anything specific, so I have asked that the shelter speak to someone in authority with the state before we make radical changes. As you can imagine, this will impact the way we do things dramatically. Most of our animals are strays. We are scheduled to have a meeting on the matter. I'm just curious if other states have such a rule. If they did, how would any cat especially ever make it to adoption in highly populated areas? Some large municipal shelters only give a cat a few days before they euthanize, I can't see them holding a cat for 10 days. -- -Kelly Kelly, I looked at the state law & city ordinance and can't find anything that could be interpreted as such. The only thing I could find was WRT animals who have bitten or scratched someone, then the rabies quarantine law kicks in. If there IS a state or city ordinance, it's not being followed here. The municipal pound euth's after 72 hours. They don't even vaccinate for rabies--they take a deposit or something and it's the new owner's responsibility to have it done and bring them proof of vax to get a city license. We keep dogs/cats quarantined for 10 days before making them available for adoption anyway, for observation of any illness or aggression. But we are privately funded and not a part of the city's shelter. Sherry |
KellyH wrote: I know the laws are different for every state, but I was wondering if anyone else involved in sheltering/rescue has heard of such a thing. It has come to our attention that in NH, we are supposed to hold a stray cat or dog for 10 days before giving a rabies vaccine and adopting out to the public. I went over and over the law and really could not find anything specific, so I have asked that the shelter speak to someone in authority with the state before we make radical changes. As you can imagine, this will impact the way we do things dramatically. Most of our animals are strays. We are scheduled to have a meeting on the matter. I'm just curious if other states have such a rule. If they did, how would any cat especially ever make it to adoption in highly populated areas? Some large municipal shelters only give a cat a few days before they euthanize, I can't see them holding a cat for 10 days. -- -Kelly That doesn't make a lot of sense. The 10 day period reflects quarantine requirements for biter animals. This period of time applies to domestic dogs and cats only. Wild animals cannot be handled in the same manner, as the incubation period is quite different. The purpose of the ten day period has always been because a rabies infected animal can only transmit the disease in the last 4-5 days of it's life, before dying itself of the disease. Thus if the biter animal is still alive ten full days after thebite ocurred it is impossible for the animal to have transmitted the disease to the person bitten. This procedure cannot be used in foxes, bats, racoons, or other wild animals as the period of disease transmission is considerably different. |
"Steve Crane" wrote
That doesn't make a lot of sense. The 10 day period reflects quarantine requirements for biter animals. This period of time applies to domestic dogs and cats only. Wild animals cannot be handled in the same manner, as the incubation period is quite different. The purpose of the ten day period has always been because a rabies infected animal can only transmit the disease in the last 4-5 days of it's life, before dying itself of the disease. Thus if the biter animal is still alive ten full days after thebite ocurred it is impossible for the animal to have transmitted the disease to the person bitten. This procedure cannot be used in foxes, bats, racoons, or other wild animals as the period of disease transmission is considerably different. That's what I thought, that the 10 days applies if the cat/dog has bitten a person, and that is what our shelter has been doing. I really think this is a matter of some people interpreting the law incorrectly. -- -Kelly |
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