UPDATE: Assembly Member Curt Hagman and his staff are responding to the public outcry over the quarantine clause in AB 2000 and working hard to find suitable language to substitute.
Dog Owners Say Rabies Vaccination Exemption Could Lead To Quarantines, by Lonnie Wong Fox 40 May 20, 2010 http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-tv-rabiesvaccinationrestrictions,0,5632202.story
"That amounts to a lifetime quarantine for her dog.
But Hagman says that was not his intention. He says he's trying to remove the word "quarantine" from the bill so that animals in Louie's situation would not be confiscated."
THAT is ridiculous! If that were the case, Zina would never be allowed to live her life. Zina-because of a Veterinarian's stupidity, will never have any vaccines in her lifetime, nor flea meds, nor heartworm meds. So, in fact, because of their exact laws, my dog would suffer if I lived in CA. Stupidity at it's finest in government strikes again!
Yes, that is why we are working to get this language removed from the bill.
Yes, that is why we are working to get this language removed from the bill.
Again, nice work on this Kris!! These bills can be passed so quickly and quietly that we have to be very diligent in keeping an eye on what bills the CA assembly tries to put through.
Here is the current definition of Quarantine in the California code relating to rabies.
121580. "Quarantine," as used in this chapter, means the strict confinement, upon the private premises of the owner, under restraint by leash, closed cage, or paddock, of all animals specified in the order of the department.
I find all this vaccine info very interesting. Fortunately we do not have Rabies appear very often in the UK so there is no routine Rabies vaccination for UK born dogs unless they go abroad. It is good to know that there is a Rabies Chahlllenge Fund to keep an eye on such matters.
Not quite Rabies but currently however we have a campaign going against yearly vaccine boosters. Information/proof that these yearly boosters are unnecessary comes from scientists in the USA so thank you to all of them for information which is not however validated here.
It seems to be a hard struggle because the veterinary establishment in the main supports the drug companies who market these vaccines. We have had many instances of dogs having developed serious problems after vaccination and I myself had a Basenji eventually die after his initial vaccination. Obviously i feel very strongly about this and it is good to know that there are many enlightened people in the USA who keep us up to date with research.
I find all this vaccine info very interesting. Fortunately we do not have Rabies appear very often in the UK so there is no routine Rabies vaccination for UK born dogs unless they go abroad. It is good to know that there is a Rabies Chahlllenge Fund to keep an eye on such matters.
Not quite Rabies but currently however we have a campaign going against yearly vaccine boosters. Information/proof that these yearly boosters are unnecessary comes from scientists in the USA so thank you to all of them for information which is not however validated here.
It seems to be a hard struggle because the veterinary establishment in the main supports the drug companies who market these vaccines. We have had many instances of dogs having developed serious problems after vaccination and I myself had a Basenji eventually die after his initial vaccination. Obviously i feel very strongly about this and it is good to know that there are many enlightened people in the USA who keep us up to date with research.
Money and drugs! The pharmaceuticals have become as influential as the oil companies. I've never seen so many drug ads on TV.
Here is the current definition of Quarantine in the California code relating to rabies.
121580. "Quarantine," as used in this chapter, means the strict confinement, upon the private premises of the owner, under restraint by leash, closed cage, or paddock, of all animals specified in the order of the department.
That language is not referenced in Section 121690, and the quarantine language currently in the bill states that:
" (2) A dog exempt from the canine antirabies vaccination shall be kept quarantined as directed by the local health officer, until the dog's medical condition has resolved and the administration of the canine antirabies vaccine occurs."
The bill does not state that an exempt dog shall be quarantined pursuant to Section 121580.
Nor does it say the dog will be confiscated and quarantined off premises either.
I do not support this bill but I do not think it is the right tact to say things that are not stated in the bill. It does not say animals will be confiscated, it says they will be quarantined as directed by the local health officer. That does not mean impounded.
Ivoss,
Actually, The Rabies Challenge Fund wants to support this bill, which would provide a medical exemption clause; however we cannot support it with the current quarantine clause, which is why we are seeking its removal.
The quarantine clause states that quarantine shall be as directed by the local health officer.
Further in subsection (e) it states: The governing body of each city, city and county, or county shall maintain or provide for the maintenance of a pound system and a rabies control program for the purposes of carrying out and enforcing this section."
This language leaves open the possibility that a local health officer could determine that medically exempted dogs should be impounded.
It does but it does not say they must. In all honesty, I would expect that the bill will include language about restrictions on animals that are not current on their vaccinations even if the reason is medical. I would rather see language accepting titres for medically exempt animals.
Ivoss, we would LOVE to see titer language in the law, but there's next to no chance that will happen at this point. As far as I know, there is no state law with titer language in it, and the fact of the matter is, we don't have the scientific data setting a rabies titer standard for dogs yet. Dr. Schultz is working on that as part of the 5 and 7 year challenge studies The Rabies Challenge Fund is financing. Hopefully, we'll have that data in 1 1/2 years so we can get titer acceptance clauses written into the laws.
UPDATE California Rabies Bill AB 2000 – Jan Rasmusen, a Friend of The Rabies Challenge Fund, contacted Saulo Londono in AM Hagman's office Tuesday (5/25/10). Mr. Londono sent her an e-mail which said:
"We have indeed come to the understanding that we will remove Paragraph 2. I have put the request into Leg Counsel to have language written as such and I expect to receive that before the week is over. I will then immediately pass the amendment to the Senate Health Committee, and it is up to them to put it in print. With that said, I think the final language should be available by middle of next week. I have requested a hearing for this bill on June 23rd, at 1:30pm, in the Senate Health Committee. "
We are waiting to see the revised bill in print.
REVISED CALIFORNIA AB 2000 – PLEASE SUPPORT
The quarantine clause in AB 2000 inserting a medical exemption in California's rabies law has been removed http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_1951-2000/ab_2000_bill_20100602_amended_sen_v97.pdf , and The Rabies Challenge Fund is asking dog owners to voice their support for this bill. The bill has a hearing set for June 23rd in the Senate Health Committee. Please contact the members of the Senate Health Committee below and ask them to pass the bill.
PERMISSION GRANTED TO CROSS-POST
http://www.senate.ca.gov/ftp/sen/committee/STANDING/HEALTH/_home1/PROFILE.HTM
Senate Health Committee Phone: (916) 651-4111
Elaine Alquist (Chair) senator.alquist@sen.ca.gov Phone: (916) 651-4013, Fax: (916)-324-283
Tony Stickland (Vice-Chair) senator.strickland@sen.ca.gov Phone: (916) 651-4019 Fax: (916) 324-7544
Samuel Aanestad Senator.Aanestad@senate.ca.gov Phone: (916) 651-4004 Fax: (916) 445-7750
Gilbert Cedillo Phone: (916) 651-4022 Fax: (916) 327-8817
Dave Cox senator.cox@senate.ca.gov Phone: (916) 651-4001 Fax: (916) 324-2680
Mark Leo senator.leo@senate.ca.gov Phone: (916) 651-4003 Fax: (916) 445-4722
Gloria Negrete McLeod senator.mcleod@senate.ca.gov Phone: (916) 651-4032 Fax: (916) 445-0128
Fran Pavley senator.pavley@senate.ca.gov Phone: (916) 651-4023 Fax: (916) 324-4823
Gloria Romero senator.romero@senate.ca.gov Phone: (916) 651-4024 Fax: (916) 445-0485
Bill Co-Sponsor Assembly Member Curt Hagman Assemblymember.Hagman@assembly.ca.gov Phone: (916) 319-2060 Fax: (916) 319-2160
Congratulations on winnig the fight to have the clause removed. I hope that now the bill will be passed.
Letter from The Rabies Challenge Fund
June 4, 2010
Senator Elaine K. Alquist, Chair
Senate Health Committee
State Capitol, Room 5080
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Revised Rabies Medical Exemption Bill AB 2000
Greetings Senator Alquist:
The Rabies Challenge Fund strongly supports the June 2nd revision of AB 2000, which will insert a medical exemption clause for dogs into Section 121690 of California?s Health and Safety Code, and we respectfully request that the Senate Health Committee vote to support this bill.
Sincerely,
Kris L. Christine
Founder, Co-Trustee
THE RABIES CHALLENGE FUND CHARITABLE TRUST
www.RabiesChallengeFund.org
ledgespring@lincoln.midcoast.com
cc: W. Jean Dodds, DVM
Ronald D. Schultz, PhD
Assembly Member Curt Hagman
Congratulations on winnig the fight to have the clause removed. I hope that now the bill will be passed.
Yes, so do we!
URGENT ACTION NEEDED – On June 8th Monica Wagoner, the Deputy Director of the California Department of Public Health (916) 440-7502, sent a letter to legislators opposing the revised medical exemption bill AB 2000. Her letter states: "There is no scientific evidence that canine rabies vaccines are associated with severe or a high rate of vaccination reactions. …Modern canine rabies vaccines are safe ...."
PLEASE make a brief call or send a short e-mail to the Senate Health Committee members below and tell them you support "Molly's Bill" AB 2000 and ask everyone you know to do the same. Opposition to this bill from the Health Department will require a very strong show of public support to overcome, and we do want this bill to pass. A hearing is set for June 23rd before the Senate Health Committee.
PERMISSION GRANTED TO CROSS-POST THIS MESSAGE.
Senate Health Committee Members
Elaine Alquist (Chair) senator.alquist@sen.ca.gov (916) 651-4013
Tony Stickland (Vice-Chair) senator.strickland@sen.ca.gov (916) 651-4019
Samuel Aanestad Senator.Aanestad@senate.ca.gov (916) 651-4004
Gilbert Cedillo (916) 651-4022
Dave Cox senator.cox@senate.ca.gov (916) 651-4001
Mark Leo senator.leo@senate.ca.gov (916) 651-4003
Gloria Negrete McLeod senator.mcleod@senate.ca.gov (916) 651-4032
Fran Pavley senator.pavley@senate.ca.gov (916) 651-4023
Gloria Romero senator.romero@senate.ca.gov (916) 651-4024
It's so frustrating to read this and not to be able to protest!
