Code of Vermont Rules
Agency 20 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND MARKETS
Sub-Agency 022 - LIVESTOCK DIVISION
Chapter 018 - VACCINATION OF DOMESTIC PETS, WOLF/HYBRIDS AND LIVESTOCK AGAINST RABIES; RABIES VACCINATION CLINICS
Section 20 022 018 - VACCINATION OF DOMESTIC PETS, WOLF/HYBRIDS AND LIVESTOCK AGAINST RABIES; RABIES VACCINATION CLINICS

Universal Citation: VT Code of Rules 20 022 018

Current through August, 2024

RABIES VACCINATION IN GENERAL

Section 1 Definitions

a. "Commissioner" where no other department is referenced means the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and includes his or her designee.

b. "Domestic pet" or "pet" means any domestic dogs, domestic cats and ferrets and such other domestic animals as the commissioner shall establish by rule, provided that the commissioner finds that the animal has the potential to become an imminent danger to public health or welfare if not subjected to the provisions of Title 20, Chapter 193, "Domestic Pet or Wolf-hybrid control."

c. "Ferret" means only the European ferret (Mustela putorious furo).

d. "For-profit clinics" means any rabies vaccination clinic conducted by a veterinarian, or organization that does not qualify as a non-profit public rabies clinic.

e. "Livestock" means those domestic animals defined in 6 V.S.A. § 1151(2), including but not limited to cattle, sheep, goats, equines, fallow and red deer, American bison, swine, camelids.

f. "Non-profit public rabies clinic" or "non-profit clinic" means a clinic conducted for the public by a non-profit organization or a municipality. Income from operation of the clinic minus reasonable expenses, shall be used for rabies management. However, if the clinic is staffed by volunteers provided by a non-profit organization, the income from operation of the clinic, minus reasonable expenses, may be used to support the activities of that organization. Reasonable expenses of a non-profit public clinic may include the cost of: rabies vaccine; rabies certificates and tags; supplies needed to administer the vaccine; rental of a facility to hold the clinic; advertising; and a stipend paid to volunteers. The total stipend paid shall not exceed $ 2.00 per rabies vaccination for the first 100 rabies vaccinations and $ 1.00 per rabies vaccination thereafter.

g. "Volunteer", a volunteer for purposes of the immunity from liability set forth in 20 V.S.A. § 3812, means a lay person or veterinarian who works at a non-profit rabies vaccination clinic and receives no compensation for his or her services or time, other than the stipend authorized by these rules.

h. "Wolf-hybrid" means an animal which is the progeny or descendant of a domestic dog (Canis familiaris) and a wolf (Canis lupus or Canis rufus). "Wolf-hybrid" also means an animal which is advertised, registered, licensed or otherwise described or represented as a wolf-hybrid by its owner or an animal which exhibits primary physical and behavioral wolf characteristics, as defined by the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Section 2 Administration and Use of Rabies Vaccinations

a. The Commissioner shall maintain a list of rabies vaccines approved for domestic pets, livestock and when and if a vaccine becomes available, for wolf/hybrids, as required by 20 V.S.A. § 3581a(b), (c) and § 3801(a). No vaccine shall be used unless its use is first approved by the Commissioner.

b. The following persons may administer rabies vaccinations:

(1) To domestic pets & wolf/hybrids:

Rabies vaccinations must be performed by a licensed veterinarian or under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, which shall mean that the veterinarian has examined the animal, has authorized its immediate vaccination against rabies, and is on the premises at the time the animal is vaccinated. The person who administers the rabies vaccine must be employed in, or working at, the same veterinary practice as the supervising licensed veterinarian. All rabies certificates must be signed by the licensed veterinarian.

(2) To feral cats:

A person may use an approved vaccine to inoculate a feral feline that takes up residence in a building other than the person's home. A licensed veterinarian is not required.

(3) To livestock:

a. A person may administer an approved rabies vaccine for the species of livestock to be inoculated. The following should be considered:

1. When a licensed veterinarian individually identifies the livestock and uses an approved rabies vaccine for the species, the livestock will be considered officially vaccinated by public health officials and others who require proof of vaccination.

2. When rabies vaccine is administered by a person not licensed as a veterinarian, the livestock may not be considered vaccinated by public health officials and others who require proof of vaccination.

b. A licensed veterinarian may recommend a rabies vaccine for use in livestock for which there is no approved rabies vaccine commercially available. Any person may administer the rabies vaccine to livestock in accordance with the veterinarian's recommendation. Livestock vaccinated according to the veterinarian's recommendation may not be considered vaccinated by public health officials and others who require proof of vaccination.

c. Rabies vaccinations shall be administered as follows:

(1) To domestic pets: in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation.

(2) To wolf/hybrids: rabies vaccine approved for dogs must be administered to wolf/hybrids in a similar manner as recommended by the manufacturer for the inoculation of dogs against rabies until a rabies vaccine is approved for wolf/hybrids.

(3) To feral cats: in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

(4) To livestock: approved vaccines must be administered in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. A licensed veterinarian may recommend the administration of rabies vaccine to livestock for which there is no approved rabies vaccine commercially available, including the dosage and the route of administration.

d. Rabies vaccination must be administered to domestic pets and wolf/hybrids prior to the age of 4 months unless in the judgment of the veterinarian the animal's medical condition would prevent the development of adequate immunity to rabies. Animals so exempted must be inoculated against rabies as soon as their medical condition permits.

Section 3 Rabies Vaccination Clinics

a. The rules for administration and use of rabies vaccine shall apply to rabies vaccines administered at any non-profit clinics and for-profit clinics. In the case of a non-profit clinic, if the vaccine is administerd[administered] by other than a veterinarian, that person must be employed by or work at a veterinary practice. A licensed veterinarian shall be on site at all times any clinic is in operation.

b. Records:

1. Rabies vaccination certificates signed by a licensed veterinarian and rabies tags shall be provided for all domestic pets and wolf-hybrids vaccinated at rabies vaccination clinics.

2. Copies of all the rabies vaccination certificates issued at the clinic will be provided to the municipal clerk of the municipality where the clinic is conducted. The clerk shall maintain these records for a minimum of three years or allow a veterinarian to maintain the records under the clerk's supervision.

Section 4 Enforcement

A civil penalty up to $ 500.00 per violation of these rules may be imposed by an officer designated by the commissioner in accordance with 20 V.S.A. § 3550.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Vermont may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

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