Will Falconer, DVM Moderator
Hi Jeri,
I added a couple of returns to your writing, in the hopes that it might be more readable. You can do this, too, as you write a comment.
I've always *counted on* animal control and regulatory officials to not have the time or budget to pursue vaccination status. I think now that it depends where you live. Some California folks live in a real police state where they actually knock on doors to check on this! You are indeed in a lucky place to have such a laissez faire attitude working for you. I would ride that train as long as it's running!
Your vet fuels future blog posts with his misunderstanding of immunology, so thanks for sharing his views. "Protecting his staff" is sadly laughable. Must have been out for coffee when immunity was discussed back in vet school, I guess.
Part of the confusion around rabies is that, yes, every municipality can make their own rules, and the state could well have different rules. Just today, a client from hours away said her town has a rule for yearly rabies vaccination, while Texas deemed every three years to be their law about a dozen years ago. And guess who wins? If the local law enforcement shows up with your fine, do you think the state would care? Not unless you poked them pretty hard with a lawyer and a stick!
You are a brilliant example of what I want for all animal guardians: you've educated yourself and actually know more than your vet about most of this critical vaccination area! It HAS to be a grass roots movement by animal owners that changes the world -- it won't come from the vets, certainly. Sad to say, but they have no motivation to change, and if Texas' public hearings on going to 3 year rabies was any indication, they'll scream for their livelihood being lost instead of embracing what's best for the animals.
Folks, you need to step up and educate yourselves on this, and lead the way with what you want for your animals. Then, when you have amazingly vital animals that draw people to them like magnets, let the questions be answered. Education spreads, lives are changed, and often in ways that can't always be immediately seen.