NY: Bills S02164/A14253 Pet Vaccinations

[Rene Allegrini]

Urgent action is needed.

The New York Legislature has introduced misguided bills -- S02164 and A14253 -- which would require boarding kennels and grooming facilities to obtain proof of ANNUAL VACCINATION “against distemper, hepatitis, para influenza, leptospirosis, parvo and bordetella during the previous year” for dogs and “against feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus,or feline panleuopenia within the past year” for cats engaging their services (http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi insert S02164 in the box at the top after "Bill No.", click "2006" and check the "text" box to read the text of the bill).

If these bills pass, companion animals in New York will be required by law to be overvaccinated in order to board or groom their animals. PLEASE copy the e-mail addresses of the NY legislators below and send them an e-mail urging them to vote against this irrational legislation.

cyoung@senate.state.ny.us ; padavan@senate.state.ny.us ; lavalle@senate.state.ny.us ; seward@senate.state.ny.us ; morahan@senate.state.ny.us ; little@senate.state.ny.us ; winner@senate.state.ny.us ; valesky@senate.state.ny.us ; stachows@senate.state.ny.us ; breslin@senate.state.ny.us ; jdklein@senate.state.ny.us ; fuschill@senate.state.ny.us ; nozzolio@senate.state.ny.us ; marcelli@senate.state.ny.us ; ojohnson@senate.state.ny.us ; robach@senate.state.ny.us ; krueger@senate.state.ny.us ; sabini@senate.state.ny.us ; hassellt@senate.state.ny.us ; alessim@ assembly.state.ny.us ; butlerm@ assembly.state.ny.us ; abbatep@ assembly.state.ny.us ; benedem@ assembly.state.ny.us ; delmonf@ assembly.state.ny.us ; destitr@ assembly.state.ny.us ; cohena@ assembly.state.ny.us ; camarak@ assembly.state.ny.us ; crouchc@ assembly.state.ny.us ; cymbros@ assembly.state.ny.us ; GiglioJ@ assembly.state.ny.us ; finchg@ assembly.state.ny.us ; fieldsg@ assembly.state.ny.us ; rabbita@ assembly.state.ny.us ; GuntheA@ assembly.state.ny.us ; Pheffea@ assembly.state.ny.us ; riverap@ assembly.state.ny.us ; mcenenj@ assembly.state.ny.us ; RosentL@ assembly.state.ny.us ; McDonoD@ assembly.state.ny.us ; mengj@ assembly.state.ny.us ; markeym@ assembly.state.ny.us ; liftonb@ assembly.state.ny.us ; maisela@ assembly.state.ny.us ; mcdonar@ assembly.state.ny.us ; mageew@ assembly.state.ny.us ; peraltj@ assembly.state.ny.us ; reillyr@ assembly.state.ny.us ; tonkop@ assembly.state.ny.us

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[JoJo]

I read that Bill and I personally find it to be a good one. It is NOT saying that you have to give your animals shots yearly. It states that they want proof that the animal has had its shots OR a statement from the vet. You can give your titer record and that should be enough.

I find this bill to be a good thing, for it sounds like the state of NY has been lacking in regulations for sometime. Now people have to take responsiblity for their actions or lack of. This bill also states that the Pet Dealers need to step-up their end and take care of their animals that they intend on selling. This Bill just may help out in clearing out the puppy mills in the area.

Where I live, Florida, we have the samething. All boarding kennels have to ask for shot records. They except titer records also. It's a good start to stop the spread of contagious diseases IMO. As I was just saying to a friend, my vet said he hasn't seen a parvo case in almost 7 years! That's because of demanding shots and educating the public.

Just my 2 cents.

JoJo

[moondog]

Originally Posted by JoJo

It is NOT saying that you have to give your animals shots yearly

Oh, but it does. Read more carefully. The exemption for "medical considerations" is generally understood to mean for advanced age or illness that would put the animal at risk by receiving yearly vaccinations. It says nothing about providing EVIDENCE of PROTECTION, which is what a titer does. Evidence of protection and proof of vaccination are two very different things. Unless specifically said that titers are an acceptable form of documentation to demonstrate protection against communicable disease, which is not present here, they are requiring yearly vaccinations.

No dog shall be accepted at a boarding kennel or grooming establishment unless the owner of such animal provides proof, including but not limited to a health certificate or a bill of or receipt from a veterinarian, that such animal has been vaccinated against rabies in accordance with state or local law and against distemper, hepatitis, para influenza, leptospirosis, parvo and bordetella during the previous year; provided that an owner of a dog may provide a written recommendation from a veterinarian exempting the dog of such owner from receiving a vaccination due to medical considerations.