NAC441A.435. Owner required to maintain dog, cat or ferret currently vaccinated; vaccination requirements; exemption by licensed veterinarian; proof that dog, cat or ferret is currently vaccinated or exempted from vaccination required before entering State; impoundment; review of revisions of recommendations for vaccination.

     1. An owner of a dog, cat or ferret shall maintain the dog, cat or ferret currently vaccinated against rabies in accordance with the provisions of this section and the recommendations set forth in the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2008 edition, published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc., which is hereby adopted by reference. The publication is available, free of charge, on the Internet at http://www.nasphv.org.

     2. A dog or cat must be vaccinated against rabies with a vaccine that is designed to provide protection from rabies for 3 years. The provisions of this subsection do not prohibit the vaccination of a dog or cat against rabies with a vaccine that is designed to provide protection from rabies for a longer period if recommended in the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, adopted by reference pursuant to subsection 1.

     3. A ferret must be vaccinated against rabies annually. The provisions of this subsection do not prohibit the vaccination of a ferret against rabies with a vaccine that is designed to provide protection from rabies for a longer period if recommended in the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, adopted by reference pursuant to subsection 1.

     4. A licensed veterinarian may exempt a dog, cat or ferret from vaccination for health reasons. The veterinarian shall record the reasons for the exemption and a specific description of the dog, cat or ferret, including the name, age, sex, breed and color on a rabies vaccination certificate which must bear the owner’s name and address. The veterinarian shall record whether the reason for the exemption is permanent and, if it is not, the date the exemption expires.

     5. A dog, cat or ferret that is exempted from or is too young for vaccination against rabies must be confined to the premises of the owner or kept under physical restraint by the owner.

     6. The owner shall not allow a dog, cat or ferret over 3 months of age to enter this State unless the owner has in his or her immediate possession written proof that the dog, cat or ferret is currently vaccinated against rabies or has an exemption for health reasons.

     7. If the owner of a dog, cat or ferret violates any provision of this section, the rabies control authority may impound the dog, cat or ferret.

     8. If the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, adopted by reference pursuant to subsection 1, is revised, the Board will review the revision to determine its suitability for this State. The Board will consider any objection to the revision filed by the Administrator of the Division of Animal Industry of the State Department of Agriculture pursuant to subsection 10. If the Board determines that the revision is not suitable for this State, the Board will:

     (a) Hold a public hearing to review its determination within 6 months after the date of publication of the revision; and

     (b) Give notice of that hearing.

     9. If, after a hearing held pursuant to subsection 8, the Board does not revise its determination, the Board will give notice within 30 days after the hearing that the revision is not suitable for this State. If the Board does not give such notice, the revision becomes part of the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, adopted by reference pursuant to subsection 1.

     10. The Administrator of the Division of Animal Industry of the State Department of Agriculture may review any revision of the recommendations for vaccination against rabies of dogs, cats and ferrets set forth in the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, adopted by reference pursuant to subsection 1, to determine whether the revision is appropriate for application in this State. For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this section, a revision of the recommendations shall be deemed to be effective in this State 10 days after its publication unless:

     (a) The Administrator of the Division of Animal Industry of the State Department of Agriculture files an objection to the revision with the Board; or

     (b) The Board gives notice, pursuant to subsection 9, that the revision is not suitable for this State.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 1-24-92; A by R047-99, 9-27-99; R087-08, 1-13-2011)