The Pet Wellness Update
Dedicated to Rabies Medical Exemption Nationwide
About Us
This website provides information to responsible dog, cat and ferret owners who want to amend local and state rabies ordinances.
The rabies laws in every state should exempt companion animals under the care of a licensed veterinarian for acute or chronic health conditions, that could never be exposed to rabies or who are at the end of the lives.
In these physical states an animal's immune system is either not functioning at its peak or is 'busy' dealing with another challenge.
A multi-component live virus vaccine is a robust challenge to the immune system and when given on top of other existing factors, it can prove too much for the animal to cope with.
Yet state and local laws in Texas and many other states make no allowance for sick or senior companion animals.
We do not believe that any responsible pet owner should have to choose between harming a beloved companion animal with unnecessary booster shots or obeying the law.
Sign the petition here
About Us
We are a growing community of responsible pet owners from states nationwide.
Whether our animals are pedigreed or shelter rescues, they are members of our families. We love them dearly, we value them highly and we strive to provide them with the best health and living conditions possible.
We are concerned that too few pet owners are aware of potential adverse reactions from rabies immunization or re-immunization. Too many companion animals suffer, get treatment and die from them.
Adverse reactions to rabies vaccination can include autoimmune diseases affecting the thyroid, joints, blood, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel and central nervous system; anaphylactic shock; fearfulness, aggression; seizures; epilepsy; and fibrosarcomas at injection sites.
Unnecessary practice
There is also scientific evidence that re-vaccination is unnecessary for ongoing protection against rabies.
Bad medicine
We are concerned because many Texas veterinarians are slow - or refuse - to accept this current knowledge of vaccinology. They dispute the endorsements of 22 veterinary schools and every leading veterinary hospital and practitioner association in opting for few or no vaccinations.
As a result, there is little or no incentive to change laws that require a current rabies vaccination to license our companion animals. Many communities still require annual booster shots as the prerequisite to properly licensing dogs and cats.
No allowances are made for age, lifestyle or health conditions that preclude re-immunization.
Bad laws
Laws that require proof of vaccination within the previous year (annual vaccination) with a vaccine with scientifically-proven durations of immunity of more than 7 years run contrary to consumer protection laws and are seriously outdated.
They require pet owners (consumers) to pay for redundant vaccinations from which our animals derive no benefit.
Reasonable reform
We believe that the attending veterinarian should have some discretion in assessing the risk of exposure to rabies vs. the risk of an adverse and potentially fatal reaction to the vaccine.
Any pet that has had at least two rabies vaccinations in its lifetime is at very minimal risk of developing rabies. Further, it is unlikely that this patient will benefit from another vaccination.
Any pet that has had at least two rabies vaccinations in its lifetime is of extremely low risk of transmitting rabies to a human.
Finally, we believe that any companion animal that has had an
adverse reaction to a rabies vaccine in the past or who is under the care of a licensed veterinarian for any acute or chronic medical condition should be exempt in keeping with the manufacturer's label directions.
Therefore, we urge the Texas Department of Health Services, (TDHS), the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) and state health services nationwide to grant a medical exemption from rabies immunization and re-immunization for companion animals.
Sign the petition
Contact us
Should you have any questions, comments or suggestions for information you think should be included in our website, please contact us at info@pet-wellness-update.com. Or join our Yahoo group to discuss this issue and ideas for reform.
The rabies laws in every state should exempt companion animals under the care of a licensed veterinarian for acute or chronic health conditions, that could never be exposed to rabies or who are at the end of the lives.
According to vaccine manufacturers' labels, unless a dog or cat is healthy it should not be vaccinated.Veterinarians who are aware of the risks advise against vaccinating a dog or cat who is stressed, under a general anesthetic or recovering from surgery, who has a chronic illness, allergies, is on treatment for an infection or has a history of immune system disorder, etc.
In these physical states an animal's immune system is either not functioning at its peak or is 'busy' dealing with another challenge.
A multi-component live virus vaccine is a robust challenge to the immune system and when given on top of other existing factors, it can prove too much for the animal to cope with.
Yet state and local laws in Texas and many other states make no allowance for sick or senior companion animals.
We do not believe that any responsible pet owner should have to choose between harming a beloved companion animal with unnecessary booster shots or obeying the law.Sign the petition here
About Us
We are a growing community of responsible pet owners from states nationwide.
Whether our animals are pedigreed or shelter rescues, they are members of our families. We love them dearly, we value them highly and we strive to provide them with the best health and living conditions possible.
We are concerned that too few pet owners are aware of potential adverse reactions from rabies immunization or re-immunization. Too many companion animals suffer, get treatment and die from them.
Adverse reactions to rabies vaccination can include autoimmune diseases affecting the thyroid, joints, blood, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel and central nervous system; anaphylactic shock; fearfulness, aggression; seizures; epilepsy; and fibrosarcomas at injection sites.
Unnecessary practice
There is also scientific evidence that re-vaccination is unnecessary for ongoing protection against rabies.
Research by highly recognized, expert veterinary immunologists shows that the minimum duration of immunity following vaccination against rabies is seven years; it is believed this immunity actually lasts for the lifetime of a cat or dog.
Bad medicine
We are concerned because many Texas veterinarians are slow - or refuse - to accept this current knowledge of vaccinology. They dispute the endorsements of 22 veterinary schools and every leading veterinary hospital and practitioner association in opting for few or no vaccinations.
As a result, there is little or no incentive to change laws that require a current rabies vaccination to license our companion animals. Many communities still require annual booster shots as the prerequisite to properly licensing dogs and cats.
No allowances are made for age, lifestyle or health conditions that preclude re-immunization.
This means that the law requires a veterinarian to knowingly administer an overdose of a biologic drug to a companion animal already in a critical state of health.
Bad laws
Laws that require proof of vaccination within the previous year (annual vaccination) with a vaccine with scientifically-proven durations of immunity of more than 7 years run contrary to consumer protection laws and are seriously outdated.
They require pet owners (consumers) to pay for redundant vaccinations from which our animals derive no benefit.
Reasonable reform
We believe that the attending veterinarian should have some discretion in assessing the risk of exposure to rabies vs. the risk of an adverse and potentially fatal reaction to the vaccine.
Any pet that has had at least two rabies vaccinations in its lifetime is at very minimal risk of developing rabies. Further, it is unlikely that this patient will benefit from another vaccination.
Any pet that has had at least two rabies vaccinations in its lifetime is of extremely low risk of transmitting rabies to a human.
Finally, we believe that any companion animal that has had an
adverse reaction to a rabies vaccine in the past or who is under the care of a licensed veterinarian for any acute or chronic medical condition should be exempt in keeping with the manufacturer's label directions.Therefore, we urge the Texas Department of Health Services, (TDHS), the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) and state health services nationwide to grant a medical exemption from rabies immunization and re-immunization for companion animals.
Sign the petition
Contact us
Should you have any questions, comments or suggestions for information you think should be included in our website, please contact us at info@pet-wellness-update.com. Or join our Yahoo group to discuss this issue and ideas for reform.
