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BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
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FROM: J Michael G. Ross, Acting Director
Animal Services Department County
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DATE: July 22, 1997 w couN
SUBJECT: Preadoption Rabies Vaccination of Animal Services Department Animals
SPECIFIC REOUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)3 BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Authorize the Acting Director of Animal Services to initiate a one-month
pilot program to determine the workload effect of requiring pre adoption
rabies vaccination of shelter dogs.
2. Require that the Acting Director of Animal Services report the results of
this pilot program along with recommendations relative to staffing to the
Board not later than the first meeting in September.
3. Authorize .the Acting Director of Animal Services to communicate with all
pet stores, breeders and community animal groups to inform them of the
necessity of vaccinating all dogs against rabies.
BACKGROUND:
The State Health Department has the authority, under section 121585 of the
Health and Safety Code, to declare any area within the State a "Rabies Area." All
of the Counties within the State are currently designated as "Rabies 'Areas."
Section 121690 of the Health and Safety Code provides that: "...Every dog
owner, after his or her dog attains the age of four months, shall, at intervals of
time not more often than once a year, as may be prescribed by the department,
procure its vaccination by a licensed veterinarian with a canine anti-rabies
vaccine approved by, and in a manner prescribed by the department."
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON Jul 22, 1997 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
�— I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
_UNANIMOUS(ABSENT t AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: _NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
cc: Director of Animal Services ATTESTED July 22, 1997
County Administrator PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Auditor-Controller SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
By DEPUTY
M382 (10/88)
urrently the Animal Services Department issues a certificate with a value of
$4.00 when a dog is adopted. The person who adopted the dog presents this
certificate to the veterinarian who vaccinates the dog and then returns the
certificate to the Animal Services Department for reimbursement. A review of the
last two years indicates that approximately 50% of certificates are not redeemed.
In calendar year 1996, the Animal Services Department sold 1,923 dogs to
persons wishing to adopt a pet. Requiring that County shelter animals be
vaccinated against rabies prior to adoption will mean that approximately 1,000
more dogs will be vaccinated against rabies each year. This is a small
percentage of the dogs that change ownership in the County. Private individuals,
breeders and commercial establishments either sell or give away thousands of
dogs each year. Therefore, vaccinating shelter dogs before adoption will mean
that some of the dogs changing hands in the County will be protected against
rabies but there would be no assurance that other new owners will inoculate their
animals.
The answer to increasing the total number of dogs vaccinated against rabies in
the County requires a multifaceted approach. The County must continue to
educate the public relative to the necessity of rabies vaccination. This disease
has faded from the public's consciousness because the public health and animal
control community have been successful in virtually eliminating human rabies
from the United States over the last 50 years. However, this success has led to
complacency on the part of the public. Therefore, the need for regular rabies
vaccinations must continue to emphasized in the Animal services Department's
public education programs. The Animal Services Department must also continue
to work with the community animal welfare groups to encourage that dogs placed
for adoption by them are vaccinated.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Vaccination of shelter dogs will require that two technicians identify, move,
restrain, vaccinate, complete paperwork and return the dog to its cage.
Animal Services Department Animal Center Technicians worked 887 hours of
overtime during calendar year 1996. Therefore it is unlikely that this change can
take place without adding additional staff.
A pilot study should be conducted to ascertain actual time requirements and to
correctly estimate the number of additional staff hours needed to fully implement
vaccination of shelter dogs. The above noted vaccination procedures have been
tested but these tests did not take into account normal work routines and the
inevitable interruptions that occur during the workday.
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