Jeri Howell
Hi, Esther -- Just read your comment. I still live in fear that next year they will say "Oops. That's really not the case. We made a mistake." and we'll be "illegal" again, but by next year's time I'm hoping our dog won't need another dental (working on different aspects of her diet to see that that's not the case), and we can still go "without". Just taking it one step at a time. Louisiana is rather known for being "different" in the approach it takes towards issues that are dealt with in a more "heavy-handed" manner elsewhere. Animal Control has neither the time nor the inclination to "hunt out" those who aren't vaccinating. If your dogs aren't "out and about" where they can be picked up, and there are no incidents, it's pretty much a non-issue. I suspect they know it would be a lost cause to try to crack down on it because we have many poor people with animals and those with lower incomes who simply don't vaccinate -- or at least not regularly. Of course, if they were asked and put on the spot, they might change their tune -- which is my fear. I think the local people have the right to interpret the laws as they wish? Is that right, Dr. Falconer? As I said in my other posts, I was STUNNED that my clinic called and told me they had confirmed that positive titers are sufficient for registration. Surely they should be, of course, because medically the science is there - and you're also paying far MORE money for Rabies titer than for parvo or distemper. It's the most expensive one and takes the longest to get back from the lab (3-4 weeks minimum -- for the others just a few days).
I really appreciate Dr. Falconer's view on this because he's the ONLY holistic/homeopathic vet I've heard come out and advocate for NOT following the law. You are right: most will talk about how terrible the vaccine is and then in the same breath shrug and never talk about titering for Rabies. If there is one for people (and there is), and there is one for animals leaving the country (and there is), then there is NO medically sound reason why there cannot be and should not be one for animals within the U.S. I pray the Rabies Challenge Study will be completed next year and the push can begin right away. I had a "robust" discussion with our conventional vet about the 3 year vaccine requirements. I told him I couldn't wait until the Study was finished so the protocol could be extended and he said he didn't think that would ever happen because vets "don't see clients enough as it is". I told him that as vets they should be pushing this because they are supposed to stand for the animals! I told him he should let the human side be spoken for by the human medical community, but that I and people like me wanted the vets to lead the charge on this. The science does NOT support 1 or 3 year protocols!! He told me that I am the exception because most of his clients come in and only want vaccines and they don't come in on time as it is. I told him that would always be the case no matter WHEN the protocols say they are due! He said that the further the time between vaccination protocols, the less chance that when he saw an animal with a problem, that he could fix it. He said that most don't want to do the blood work. (We do a LOT of blood work -- full chem. panels on both dogs: younger once per year; older every 6 months -- in addition to titering.) I told him that the vets just needed to educate their clients, but that over-vaccinating my dogs was not something I could allow regardless. He reminded me that the Rabies laws were in place to protect the people. I said "Let the people take care of themselves; let the human medical profession speak to that. I want you to speak for the animals. Other people are not my problem. These are my responsibility (pointing to my dogs). Their health is my responsibility. Over-vaccinating is not in their best interest."
It's so easy to say "Talk to your vet. Consult with your vet", but the reality is that until people are educated about what they should be asking (what are titers, why titer, etc...), they don't know what to say! I feel like our mainstream vet should have told us about titers -- but the fact is I did my own research about vaccines, immunology, titering, and raw feeding -- without any vet input because it simply wasn't there. Please don't think I'm boasting, but I am the one who goes in and tells him what tests I want to run and why; what titers I want, etc... Hang tough. As I said, we were prepared to "go rogue" as we had for a year -- and will do so again if needed. If our parish were contacted, they might give out a different story. Don't know. I really don't want to rock the boat on this since it's a true gift this year, but I completely understand why others would want to push for the same with their own local cities/counties because when you have an animal who needs to be treated and you can't get it without the "legal proof"....it's an issue. You can't sacrifice your animal's immediate need for lack of a vaccine, but know he/she doesn't need it...so what do you do? It's a problem. A big one.