H. B. 2473
(By Delegates Prunty, Caputo and Manchin)
[Introduced February 22, 2001; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section two, article twenty-a, chapter
nineteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine
hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to vaccination of
dogs and cats for rabies; and authorizing the owner of such
animals as well as any other animal to personally vaccinate
them for rabies.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section two, article twenty-a, chapter nineteen of the
code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 20A. VACCINATION OF DOGS AND CATS FOR RABIES.
§19-20A-2. Vaccination of dogs and cats.
Whoever owns, keeps or harbors a dog or cat within the
boundaries of any county in the state of West Virginia shall, on
or before the first day of June, one thousand nine hundred
eighty-seven, have such the dog or cat properly vaccinated or
immunized against rabies with a vaccine capable of producing
immunity for two years and shall every second year thereafter have
such the dog or cat revaccinated with a vaccine capable of
producing immunity for two years. After the first day of June, one
thousand nine hundred eighty-seven, whoever obtains an unvaccinated
dog or cat shall at once have such the dog or cat properly
vaccinated against rabies with a vaccine capable of producing
immunity for two years and shall have such the vaccination repeated
every second year with a vaccine capable of producing immunity for
two years: Provided, That dogs and cats need not be vaccinated
before the age of three months, but must be vaccinated by the age
of six months: Provided, however, That dogs and cats entering the
state of West Virginia temporarily cannot be kept and maintained
within the state of West Virginia for a period of more than thirty
days unless properly vaccinated. Anyone owning a dog or cat can
have them vaccinated by any veterinarian or person working with or
under such the veterinarian, or if there be no resident veterinarian in the county, by such other qualified person as may
be appointed by the county commission, who shall work under the
supervision of the county health department.
The owner of a dog or
cat or any other animal may personally vaccinate the animal against
rabies. If the owner assumes that responsibility, the owner shall
maintain complete records of the vaccination and other information
required by this article.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit the owner of a dog
or cat or other animal to personally vaccinate that animal for
rabies.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.
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