Dec. 2008 - Every dog owner (and parent) owes Kris Christine a huge debt of gratitude. If you or your vet don’t know about the Rabies Challenge Fund and new vaccine protocol, learn how to protect your dog’s health.  Kids and dogs have delicate immune systems.

Wyoming dog owners, led by Volk of Karontara Irish Wolfhounds, who initially raised concerns about the city's outdated annual booster protocol prove it can be done!

CHEYENNE – The City’s Dogs and Cats will No Longer Need to Get Rabies Shots Every Year Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Page A3, Tuesday, December 9, 2008 by Jodi Rogstad

Pet owners now have the option to have their animal companions vaccinated once every three years. Monday, the Cheyenne City Council voted 8-2 to change the city’s rabies vaccine ordinance.

ARKANSAS Considers 3 Year Rabies Law

Health Department Discusses Change In Pet Vaccination Law The Morning News November 22, 2008 LITTLE ROCK -- Arkansas and Alabama are the only states that still require annual rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats, but that could change in the 2009 session."

What You Can Do to Help: Contact the Arkansas Legislature http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ and ask them to pass the 3 year rabies legislation when it is introduced and request that a medical exemption clause for sick animals be included.

WICHITA, Kansas Weighing 3 Year Rabies Ordinance

City Seeking Vets' Input on Rabies Wichita Eagle November 15, 2008  "The city of Wichita is asking area veterinarians if it should change its ordinance requiring dogs to be vaccinated yearly against rabies."

What You Can Do to Help: Give the Wichita City Council a call and ask them to adopt a 3 year protocol with a medical exemption clause for sick animals. http://www.wichita.gov/Government/CityCouncil/ (316) 268-4331. 

MISSISSIPPI & SOUTH CAROLINA 3 Year Rabies Laws

A number of pet owners in Mississippi and South Carolina have been under the mistaken impression that their states require annual rabies boosters. Both states have 3 year protocols.

MISSISSIPPI Rabies Laws (for questions about Mississippi's 3 year protocol, contact State Veterinarian, Mississippi State Veterinarian, Dr. Jim Watson 601-359-1170) http://www.mbah.state.ms.us/disease_programs/rabies/ms_rabies_laws.htm

All dogs and cats shall be vaccinated against rabies at three months of age, revaccinated one year later and every three years thereafter, using a rabies vaccine approved as providing a 3-year immunity.

SOUTH CAROLINA Rabies Control Title 47 SECTION 47-5-60 (for questions about the 3 year protocol in South Carolina, call State Veterinarian, Dr. Stephanie Cox 803-898-4042) http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t47c005.htm

Inoculation of pets; certificates and tags.  A pet owner must have his pet inoculated against rabies at a frequency to provide continuous protection of the pet from rabies using a vaccine approved by the department and licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Evidence of rabies inoculation is a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian.

TENNESSEE Rabies Laws

Tennessee dog owners have launched an effort requesting the state to consistently enforce the 3 year rabies immunization requirement set forth in Tennessee law Title 68 Chapter 8 http://tennessee.gov/sos/acts/103/pub/pc0765.pdf. 

The RabiesVaccinationChallenge in TN Yahoo Group they formed can be found at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/RabiesVaccinationChallengeinTN/?v=1&t=search&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=group&slk=3.

THE RABIES CHALLENGE FUND

The Rabies Challenge Fund earned the endorsements of canine celebrities, Rin Tin Tin and Benji http://www.RabiesChallengeFund.org, and Jan Rasmusen author of the national-award-winning health care book, Scared Poopless: The Straight Scoop on Dog Care, will send an autographed copy of her book for donations to The Rabies Challenge Fund above $500 http://www.dogs4dogs.com/truth4dogs.html.

November marked the one year anniversary since the concurrent 5 and 7 year challenge studies began at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, and the fund has raised $166,778 of the $209,000 needed to fund the studies' second year budget.

Editor’s Note: Please, go to the Rabies Challenge Fund website and DONATE NOW!!! TheDogPlace.org has worked with Kris for many years as she has single-handedly raised awareness, testified before state and local veterinary associations and lawmakers, and succeeded in getting some of the most highly respected vets and veterinary universities on board. Go to the site, the official backers and endorsement of the veterinary community will amaze you.

And forgive me for pointing out that one determined woman did this, initially by herself. Let this be an example to all dog clubs and legislative groups. Working alone is sometimes easier, no one interfering, but at some point, we have to do what Kris did – come together for the good of our dogs and their owners.